Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Guy awoke with the sun. Even as he pushed himself up and out of the bed he knew that everything was different. A glanced to his left showed that Marian was no longer beside him. He remembered her tears the night before, the way that she had curled into herself away from his touch. He had not hurt her. He knew that he had not. She had moved against him, she had been wet for him; he’d made sure of it. But afterwards… afterwards she had wept as if her heart were breaking. The wedding had not been what he had wanted. In all his dreams of marriage, forcing her had never entered into it. He remembered the way he had gripped her arm, forcing her to stay. He had prayed never to have to do that to her and now that it was over, his only consolation was that he hadn’t seriously injured her. Her strength had caught him by surprise, and his only hope had been to twist her arm and trust that the threat of injury would be enough. He knew that he had had little choice; he knew that as angry as she was sure to be with him, he had saved her and protected her father. Vaszey wouldn’t dare come near them now. The rest could and would be dealt with, no matter how long it took. A glance about the room revealed her sitting in a chair, gazing out of the window. She had dressed in her shift and robe, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her hair was tangled around her shoulders and her face was unusually pale. She looked like a small lost child.
“Marian,”
Her head turned and her eyes caught his. They were blank and cold, but dry. Somehow he imagined that her hate would have been more welcoming.
“Why are you awake?”
She held his gaze for a moment and then turned her gaze back to the window. “I was done sleeping.”
Guy pulled on his braies from the night before and walked over to her resting his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened and rose to her feet walking towards the window.
“I’m sure that you have many important duties to see to.” She continued in that flat, stale voice, “Good day.”
He felt those words like a physical blow, decided that if he was going to be forced into an argument he’d best have some clothes on. “I need to speak to you.”
“There is nothing to say.”
“I feel that there is.” She needed to understand. If she understood then they could move past this, whatever the hell this was. Finally she turned to face him. There was a hard anger in her beautiful blue-grey eyes. He swallowed back the dryness in his throat and fought for courage, “Marian-”
“What could you possibly have to say to me? You forced me to marry you. You blackmailed me into accepting your proposals and then broke your promise to me and lied about it so that I would marry you-”
“-I did not want it to be like that-”
“-When I learned of your deception, you man-handled me and threatened me until the deed was complete.”
“And last night?” he sneered, “Did I force you then as well?”
Her cheeks flushed with either anger or shame. “Last night you took advantage of my inexperience. Now I am trapped in a marriage to a man that I do not and cannot respect or care for.”
He scoffed and tugged on his pants. “Yes, and I am the very devil, and now you curse the day that you ever met me.”
“Do not mock me.” Her voice was low and threatening.
He grabbed a shirt from his trunk and pulled it over his head. “There is no other response. You are so intent on your own desires that there is no room for anyone else’s-”
“How dare you!”
“-not even you fathers.” He continued over her outburst. That shocked her into outraged silence. “Do you think nothing of him?”
“How dare you even pretend to care more for him than I do?!” She moved forward, her eyes flashing. “I have cared for him my whole life! I cared for him when your precious Sheriff came here and stole away everything that we had!”
“Yes, and because of the Sheriff your protection was no longer enough.” He replied. “You needed a husband-”
She scoffed and turned away.
“-A husband who can give you the protection that you and your father need. Your father understood the truth of this. I can protect you from Vaszey better than anyone else in Nottingham; I have the wealth and security to ensure that you will want for nothing.”
“Yes,” she mocked, “wealth and security that you have taken by the blood and sweat of others.”
“Yes, just like everyone else, even your precious King.”
“How can you speak ill of the King!” She was in full outrage now. It would have been entertaining if he wasn’t the one dealing with it.
“How can I not speak ill of him?” he exclaimed. “You claim to be a champion of the people but you serve the biggest despot of all.”
“You have no right to-”
“Oh no, he is our sovereign ruler and therefore must be revered and respected no matter how much blood is on his hands. All his sins are pardoned.”
“It is not for us to question his motives or actions.”
“You are a hypocrite and a fool to follow one man so blindly when the injustices you are so opposed to are caused by him.”
“The injustices I fight against were caused by men like Vaszey!”
“The war your King started opened the door to men like Vaszey! Who do you think put him in charge?”
She paused and stared at him with wide eyes full of shock. He watched the shock turn to disbelief and then the familiar cold anger. “You are a liar.”
He stared at her, wondering how on earth he ended up fighting with her. He had meant to wake up and see to their breakfast. They would have a cordial if not loving meal and he would leave for Nottingham. Now they stood there, his nerves were frayed already and he’d not been awake an hour. He didn’t have the time to argue with her, or explain his motives. She wasn’t interested in his reasons. He sighed and shook his head grabbing his jacket, boots and sword, heading for the door. “Good day Marian.”
Two days later Guy returned home from a long day to see the house in a bustle. Servants were cleaning and re-arranging the whole interior of his manor, carrying furniture or vases of flowers or towels. Amidst the clamor was his wife. She wore a tunic the colour of fresh, peach roses underneath a sleeveless bliaunt of brown wool that laced up at her sides. Ribbon the color of violets was wrapped around her upper arms and her dark hair was covered by a pale peach scarf. Locks of hair had escaped their confines, curling against her neck and forehead and falling into her eyes. She looked fresh and in her element, giving orders, supervising and even demonstrating when necessary. She laughed with a maid and joked with a foot man. When she turned and saw him, the light in her eyes died, and her smile melted away like the morning mist under the sun. He buried the hurt, told himself that he’d better get used to it and took another step into his house.
“Good evening Marian,” he gave a slight bow.
“Guy,” she replied and then turned her attention to one of her ladies maids.
“I see you have found something to keep yourself busy.” He side stepped another servant with a chair and looked around.
“Your manor was in need of a thorough cleaning. I may be forced to live here but I am not forced to deal with your lax ideas of house cleaning.”
He noted the not so subtle barb but didn’t respond to it. “I am glad you found an occupation.”
“Is that all?” she asked.
He felt his temper spike but he forced it back. She wanted a response and he’d be dammed if he gave it to her. “When you find time go to the dress makers, you need clothes.”
“My dresses are fine.”
“They were fine for a maiden. Now you are a married woman of means and property and you must look the part. As my wife you will need to make appearances at the castle.”
“I’d rather not be reminded of that just yet.” She replied evenly. “The day began with such promise.”
To hell with it. His temper snapped and he grabbed her wrist turning her palm upwards before dropping the purse of coins into it. “Have dresses made.”
She winced at his grip and he shoved her hand back at her, turned, and stalked up the stairs unwilling to spend another second with her.
“Where are you going?” she called after him, but he made no reply. He very much doubted that she truly cared whether he slept in the castle, their bedroom or the damn woods.
Marian stared after him, an odd mix of anger, guilt and resentment burning and coiling her insides. Have dresses made, as if she were some doll to ornament. A glance to the left revealed a group of servants watching her carefully. She raised an eyebrow and they resumed their tasks with single minded determination. Her hand closed around the satin purse and for a moment she had a mind to use the money to feed the people. She didn’t want to obey him, but he was right. Her clothes were not those of a wealthy member of the gentry. There was enough vanity in her to feel frumpy and small in her threadbare clothes while the other courtiers paraded their silks and velvets, and for all her bravado, a part of her was afraid of what Guy would do if she dishonored him publicly. He was not a man to cross on any subject.
She wanted to ignore the look in his eyes when she met them at the door. He had seemed pleased to see her leaving her mark. Within minutes of their eyes meeting, the tender regard had faded into the blank mask she knew and hated. She knew that her words were partly to blame, but she hadn’t been able to stop them. The sight of him had brought to mind their wedding night, and just like that the anger was back. The only thing she had left was her resentment, and she would cling with both hands before she let him make her shame herself again. She heard his thudding footsteps again and knew that he had seen his trunk. Rather than create another scene in front of the servants, she walked up the stairs. Guy stood at the top of the stairs with his arms crossed before his chest. His jacket and undershirt was gone, leaving him in only his leather pants and the scowl on his face.
“Marian.” His voice was clipped. “Where are the rest of my shirts?”
“Can you not find them?” she asked, trying not to focus on his naked torso. For a moment it looked as if he might strangle her but he instead turned and walked back to their bedroom. She followed him, closing the door behind them.
“Evidently not,” He replied once they were alone.
She toyed with the idea of playing a game and then decided against it. Now was not the time. “They are being washed.”
“What, all of them?” Exasperation was better than anger.
“Yes, though some of them are only fit for rags.”
“Rags?”
She crossed over to the bed where blankets needed to be folded and started on them, needing something to do. “Yes, some could be mended but not all.”
“I have no shirts.” His tone was flat, as if he was still processing the idea.
“I did not expect you back,” she picked up another blanket and started on it. “You’ve not been here for two days now.”
“And I am sure you missed me terribly.” His tone was drier than dust.
“How was I to know that you’d return today demanding a shirt?”
“Am I to call ahead for arrival to my own house?”
“Only if you require a shirt,” She replied evenly.
“This is ridiculous.” He grumbled rummaging through his trunk. “The sheriff expects me back in two hours, and I have no clothes.”
“You are not staying here tonight?”
“I think it’s best if I stay at the castle don’t you?”
“I don’t care either way.” She kept her tone light. “Stay where you like.” He paused and then shook his head rising to his feet. She heard him leave, closing the door behind him.
It would be near upon two weeks before she saw him again.
Three days after Guy left Robin came to her. She had gone up to bed, seen him standing there and her eyes had filled with tears. In three strides he had her in his arms, kissing her hair, whispering sweet nothings to her. She let herself exhale as her fingers curled into the material of his tunic, and felt her world right itself.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered and she closed her eyes shivering against him. “I’m so sorry,” His arms tightened, and he kissed her hair again.
“It wasn’t your fault.” She replied softly, breathing in his scent of woodlands.
“I’m meant to protect you.”
“You couldn’t have stopped it.”
“I should have stopped it!” he pulled away his expression fierce and took her face in his hands. “What good is it protecting the people of Nottingham if I cannot protect you?”
“They need more protection than I do.” She tried to hold back her tears, her trepidation. She didn’t want him feeling worse than he did already.
“My brave Marian,” he whispered fondly, gently sweeping his rough thumbs over her cheek bones. She smiled slightly and shrugged. “Has he hurt you?”
She looked down and shook her head in the negative.
“Has he… taken you?”
She bit her lip, and when she met his eyes, a fresh wave of guilt had fresh tears brewing.
“I’ll kill him.” The rage was ice cold.
“Don’t.” she gripped his arms. “He didn’t hurt me.”
“He must have.”
She didn’t want to dwell on that. He hadn’t hurt her and she had done more than bare his touch stoically. “He didn’t. He wouldn’t, he wants me to love him.”
“We will fix this. You will not have to stay married to him, when Richard returns we will fix this, I swear to you.”
“Fix it how?”
“Do you want to stay married to him?”
“No.” she didn’t hesitate, even as flashes of their wedding night sent her heart racing.
“Then I’ll find a way.”
She smiled and leaned into his kiss, allowing herself to believe that he could and would fix it all.
A week later Marian paid a visit to Knighton. She had received a note from Guy, tersely instructing her to pay a visit to her father as he was growing ill. She fought back the initial desire to go against anything he asked of her and instead took perverse delight in burning the letter, telling herself that she would be rid of him soon. She picked one of her older riding habits, simply because she knew it would annoy Guy. The top was separate from the bottom which allowed for either piece to be mixed and matched with others. The skirt was a golden tan and full enough for riding a horse the short distance to Knighton and the tunic was the color of dark raspberries with forest green edging. The collar was high, although wide enough to show her shoulders. Her maid braided a section of her hair and coiled it around her head as a sort of band to keep the rest of her hair out of her face and curled the ends. She packed an extra dress intending to spend the night. If Guy was not there she saw no reason for her to be stuck in his morose house. No matter how many changes she made it would never be her home until she shared it with Robin.
The ride to Knighton was uneventful and as the manor came into sight she picked up her speed, anticipation building within her. She had not seen her father since before her wedding and it had not occurred to her until then how much she had missed him. Sir Edward came out to greet her before she had even come to a stop. She swung down from her mount and allowed him to welcome her with a fierce hug, something he had not done in quite some time. He looked older. Perhaps it was because of worry, perhaps it was more to do with sickness but either way it bothered her. After they had settled within, she expressed her concern.
“Father I’ve been told you are worsening.”
He shook his head. “It was a slight cough, it’s all but gone now. I am more worried for you.”
“Don’t be worried for me.” She took his hand in hers, noticing for the first time how frail it was.
“You married to that man.” He shook his head and sighed, “It was not what I wanted for you.”
“It was not what I wanted for myself, but as you said I could have done worse.”
“I wanted you to be happy.”
“I will be happy father.” She replied thinking of Robin and his promise. “Do not worry, I am well cared for.”
He smiled at her and covered her hand with his. “I have missed you daughter; you always were a help and comfort to me.”
She smiled at him. “I am sure I was neither father.”
“Oh you are wild to be sure and willful even to a fault but I have never regretted you.”
“Am I so very willful?” she asked. Edward’s laugh ended on a cough but it was no less amused.
“Just ask your husband.”
Marian started to answer and then pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “I will stay the night here with you.”
“Guy will not mind?”
“Guy is away. He has not been home in almost two weeks.”
“I hope he is not neglecting you.” He was concerned again.
“I find that I can bear the solitude quite cheerfully.” Marian replied lightly. “He has his duties, and I do not require his company. It suits me well.”
“I do not want you to be lonely.” He began.
“Never when you are here father,” She replied warmly, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
The next day, as they broke their fast, there came a pounding at the door. Edward answered it and saw Guy standing there, looking tired and harried. There were dark smudges under his eyes, his color was paler than usual and the set of his mouth was tight.
“Is Marian here?” he asked, his voice rough but low.
“Yes my daughter is here.” Edward replied already anxious as to the response. Guy sighed and rubbed his eyes before closing them for a moment. For a reason he could not understand, Edward felt a strange sense of sympathy for the man. He knew him to be he looked simply exhausted and tense. “Do you wish to see her?”
Guy let out a short laugh and shook his head. “No I’d rather not until I have to. Tell her that she is needed at the castle immediately. She will need clothing for at least a week, and four of her dresses had better be fit for court.”
“What is going on?” her voice came and Guy let out an explosive sigh and rolled his eyes up to the heavens. “Father, what is it?” She caught sight of him and her face fell. “Oh, it’s you.”
Guy wondered for a moment if her general reaction to him would ever stop hurting and then pushed it aside. “You are needed at the castle.”
“I had already made plans to spend my day here.”
“I had made plans for five hours of uninterrupted sleep last night but that didn’t happen and probably won’t happen for another week. I will see you there tonight. A carriage will be waiting for you at Locksley along with an escort.”
“And what if I refuse?”
“Marian-” Edward began but Guy shook his head to stop him.
“Then I will have to come back, hog tie you and drag you there myself, but either way my lady you will be in Nottingham Castle by nightfall. Good day Sir Edward.” He gave him a brief nod and stalked back to his horse, swinging up onto the steed with an ease that spoke of experience and riding off.
Marian gritted her teeth and considered for a brief moment refusing just to make him have to come back. If he was going to make her life miserable the least she could do is return the favor.
“You should try not to anger him Marian.” Edward began and she glanced at him, “It is foolish and not worth the risk.”
“I wanted to spend the day with you father.”
“There will be other visits.” He replied with a smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”