He shook his head, slowly. “I don’t even know how, Scarlet. I would give you everything I am, but I can’t say these things.”
I moved closer to him and curled against his body, and he rested his head on mine. “I love you, Rob, don’t you know that?” I whispered.
“I know. I love you too. I wouldn’t wish that on a soul, but I love you more than anything, Scar. And I’d die if I … if I ever …,” he said.
“No dying,” I said. Truth was, I didn’t want him to finish that bit. I didn’t want to know what he thought he might be capable of doing to me. Not with Gisbourne back, not with the prince coming. I couldn’t lose the safety of Robin’s arms. “We just need you to sleep. Maybe you should try Brother Ralf’s tincture.”
His fingers ran along my arm, and even through so many clothes it burned and made me feel like I was some delicate, precious thing. “I’ve seen men on such sleeping draughts,” he told me. “It dulls everything. If the knights caused trouble, I’d be useless. I’d go sleeping right through.”
“Rob,” I whispered. “It ain’t the nighttime we need to worry after. We need you to rest so you can lead. Nothing would happen to you while you slept.” I turned a little and sniffed my nose against his cheek. “And if it did, I would defend you with my life.”
Both his arms came around me, hauling me over him to sit a step lower than him, between his legs with his body tight around mine. He rested his head on my neck and I leaned back against him, resting my elbows on his knees. “I’ll do it for you, Scarlet. I’ll talk to Ralf today.”
I trembled but I nodded my head, twisting my eyes shut tight. Please, I prayed. Let this work. Let him just need sleep. Let me defend him and his hero’s heart.
“It’s strange,” he said low in my ear. “When night falls my chest is full of fear, but holding you like this, Scar, I can’t help but feel grateful. Joyous. By the light of day, I still cannot fathom that I’m the one you love.”
I turned a little to look at him. “I do love you. I always will.” I found myself staring at his mouth, my breath gone, desperate to kiss him and see what it felt like, to love a body so very much and have your lips touch, to taste him.
I ducked my head down, shutting my eyes tight and feeling a shudder like pain go through my bones. I weren’t going to risk God’s wrath more by having adultery added to my sins.
His arms squeezed tight around me, and I weren’t sure if he knew my mind, but it felt like he understood.
I were on my way to Edwinstowe already when I saw a body darting through the woods. I hid and watched, but soon enough called out when I realized who it were. “Will!” I yelled. “Will Clarke!”
The fair-headed boy stopped.
“You running for me?” I asked, going over to him.
He nodded, red cheeked and huffing. “I saw ’im,” he gasped. “I saw him!”
My breath flew. “Where?”
“On the road. To. To Notting. Ham,” he huffed.
“How long?”
He put his fists on his hips, thinking. “S’long as it took me to run,” he told me.
I nodded and set off running. He groaned and started running behind me. “Go home, Will!” I yelled. He kept on running.
“Mam says he’ll kill you!” he shouted.
“He’ll kill you first!” I yelled, and I heard his footsteps slow. “Thank you, Will!” I shouted, and ran on, leaping over a fallen tree.
Sure as sunups, Gisbourne were in Nottingham Castle. The whole place were in a tizzy for him too. Maids running every which way. Knights kitted up in full order. He left quick as he came, though, on a fresh horse and headed straight for Edwinstowe.
I tracked him with a wide berth. He didn’t bother anyone in the village, and he just went straight to Tuck’s. I were fair far back when I saw him go in, but I ran for the place then, slipping in the back and staying low.
No one were screaming, which were a fair good sign.
“—all. I trust you’ll give him the message.”
Someone touched my arm, and I turned to see Rob crouching beside me, John behind him. John pushed a finger against his mouth, and I glared at him. Did he think I were thick? What were I like to do, announce myself?
“Yes, milord,” Tuck said.
There were footsteps, and a moment later Tuck called, “John? Rob? You still back there?”
They stood and I stood with them. “Scar too,” John said.
“How much of that did you lot catch?” he asked.
We came to the front side of the bar. “None,” I said.
“He said he wants to meet with Robin,” John said. “After Vespers, at the well.”
“Vespers? He said Vespers?” I asked. “Do you think he knows about the monastery? Or the ribbons and the barn?”
“Vespers is just faster than saying a little after sunset, and the well is a central place,” Tuck said with a shrug. “He probably doesn’t.”
“What else?” I asked. “Did he say what he’s about?”
“No. Just said he reckoned I knew how to get a message to Robin Hood.”
Rob’s hands settled on my shoulders, his body warm along my back. “It has to be some sort of a trap.”
“He doesn’t have men with him; I’m sure he’s free to use the knights, but he doesn’t have men of his own,” I told Rob, turning to look at him.
He crossed his arms, frowning at me. “Oh? How long have you known he was back?”
My face ran hot. “I heard things. Just found out he were back today.”
“And you didn’t tell me.” His eyes met mine, and I looked away. “Of course you didn’t,” he said, and this were low and sad.
Much burst into the room. “Rob! Rob! Gisbourne’s back!”
We all just stared at him.
“Little late, Much,” John told him. “He wants to meet with Rob.”
“Well, all of us,” I said. “It ain’t like you’re going alone.”
“You’re not going,” John and Rob said at the same time.
“Of course she is,” Much said. “Even if you ignore the fact that whatever he wants from Rob will definitely have something to do with Scar, don’t be stupid and think she’d be at home knitting, lads. Better to know where she is.”
“Thank you,” I told Much. He grinned at me.