“Up high and well armed,” Rob said.
“Fine,” I said. “But don’t think I’ll sit idly by if he tries something.”
“We wouldn’t expect you to ever keep yourself out of needless danger, Scar. Don’t worry,” John said.
I glared at him.
“Am I the only one who thinks we just shouldn’t bother? Who gives a damn what he has to say? I’ll kill this or hurt that—doesn’t that pretty much cover it?” John asked.
“Why come back at all?” I said. “He’s been gone for months.”
They all looked at me.
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake, I don’t think he cares that we’re married.”
“No man doesn’t care that he’s married,” John grunted, looking at the stairs. “Much is right, whatever it is definitely has to do with Scar. Without a sheriff to hire him on as a thief taker, he doesn’t have any interest in Nottinghamshire.”
“Well, he can’t have Scar. No matter what,” Rob said, looking at me. “I think we have to find out what he wants. He simply causes too much carnage for us to ignore him entirely.” I looked down and Rob came closer, catching my hand and running his fingers through mine. “Can you do this?”
I nodded, meeting his eyes. “I’m not afraid of him.”
Rob leaned closer and kissed my cheek.
“Let’s get going,” Rob said. “We need to get to the monastery and back by sunset.”
After such strange quiet in the past few months, it felt fair right to be walking through Sherwood, armed to the teeth the four of us. John and I went high on rooftops and Much were hidden behind a house while Robin stayed behind another house.
Gisbourne rode in alone on a dark gray horse, and I gave Much a nod. He started to move round the back to look for Gisbourne’s fellows. “Do I have an audience with the elusive Master Hood?”
“Yes,” Rob said, still hidden.
“And I imagine my darling wife is here as well. Missed me, Marian?”
John caught my eye and shook his head before I moved. I scowled evil at him.
“You can talk to me, Gisbourne,” Rob said.
He smiled. “You can call me Lord Leaford now, Hood,” Gisbourne said.
Angry heat rushed over me, and I raised myself over the edge of the roof. “What have you done to my father, Gisbourne?” I yelled, even over John swearing at me.
Gisbourne looked up and touched his fingers to his forehead, mocking a bow to me. “Apparently it’s easier than I thought to draw you out, my dear.”
The sight of him made my scar itch. He looked well enough—a little thinner, but still tall, harsh, clothed entirely in black with spots of silver gleaming from his weapons, his fastenings, his sword belt. I had spent so long fighting this man, running from him, fearing him, and he were here, alone. He almost seemed unimpressive.
I couldn’t help peering round him to look for some sort of ambush. I caught sight of Much, and he shrugged and shook his head.
“I’m alone,” Gisbourne assured. “I called for Robin to speak to you, in fact.”
“Speak.”
“No pleasantries? Haven’t you missed me, wife? Everyone at court was quite devastated to have missed the wedding. I accepted their best wishes on your behalf, naturally.”
“Tell me what you did to my father, Gisbourne!”
“You needn’t worry about him,” Gisbourne said. “Lord Leaford is quite unharmed. I only meant that when I married you I assumed the land and title that were promised in our contract—something, you’ll be delighted to learn, that gave me the right to petition the prince for the position of sheriff.”
My heart went to lead in my chest. I hadn’t thought of that.
“Which he is coming to Nottinghamshire to give to me, within a few days. And when he arrives, you will be living under my roof like a proper, dutiful wife.”
“Like hell I will!” I roared.
He threw his head back and laughed. “I’ve missed this, sweeting. Witty banter. Well, I needn’t remind you of the cruelty I can inflict upon your people as sheriff. Clearly it’s even entered your mind what I could do to your parents, your home, and dependents as the rightful landholder. But I won’t force you with violence, my love. I will entice you.”
“I doubt that,” I snapped back.
Even through the dusk, his dark eyes glittered fierce. “We can play these games all I want, Marian, but we both know you don’t want to be married to me. You married me to save Robin’s life, and I will offer you a bargain—perhaps the Devil’s bargain, as it were.”
He took a breath, still smiling at me.
“I’ll annul our marriage as soon as the prince leaves if you live with me while he is here.”
Hope rushed fast like a flood into my chest. An annulment? I could live with Robin without the cloud of sin over us. I could marry Robin.
“You’d kill me,” I said. “There’s no trusting you. The second I was close enough you’d gut me like a deer.”
He shrugged. “My temper can get the better of me, of course, but I don’t intend to kill you. Besides, I recall you telling me you were rather difficult to kill, yes?”
“Why would you even want this, Gisbourne?” I asked. “It’s a fool offer.”
“You have my word that I won’t kill you, and that once the prince leaves you will have your annulment. Should you accept, you will dress, speak, act, and be fully disarmed the way a lady befitting your station should. These are my terms, and if you would accept them, you need only come to the castle and join me in my chambers.”
“Tell me why.”
“Why isn’t important,” he told me, smiling a little. “The only thing you need to consider is what you’re willing to do to marry your dear hero. Because trust me, love, you’ll never get an annulment from me otherwise. And if this doesn’t go the way I want and you are not under my roof, when I become sheriff I will have no guarantee for what blood my displeasure will purchase. I’m being—what’s the word—kind.” He smirked at me in the darkness. “You’re looking quite fetching these days. I can see your scar from here. Lovely.”
I turned from him, hiding behind the ridge of the roof. He laughed, and it were ghoulish and echoed round me in the dark.
“Feeling shy, love?” Gisbourne taunted.
“She gave you her answer,” Rob said. “You can go. Unless you would like for us to entice you.”