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Authors: Sara Ansted

Tags: #Robin Hood never existed, #but Marion did.

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BOOK: The Greenwood Shadow
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"Don't be ridiculous Emeric. If there were robbers around here, I think I'd know about it."

Then she, too, hastily left the room.

 

 

CHAPTER SIX

 

For the rest of that night, and most of the next day, Evey avoided Emeric. He repeated over and over again that he "tried to get out of it, but wasn't in a position to refuse such a marriage offer."

Blah blah blah.

She tried going on a long walk around the village, both to get away from Emeric, and to semi-covertly check up on everyone in it.

The day was cool for that time of year. A nice sort of cool, that almost made Evey feel better about everything. The smell of the fields in the pleasant, humid weather was so familiar, she found it soothing and peaceful.

Off to the southwest, she spotted a group of people in one of the fallow fields. She knew exactly what they were up to. Sure enough, as she came closer, the whole group drew back. Seconds later, a cloud of arrows hissed forward and buried themselves in the ground. Well, if thirteen could be considered a 'cloud'.

The walk had definitely been a good idea. Her mood lifted by the second. Fond memories of her own archery practice flitted through her mind. Shadowing the boys in the fallow fields. Practicing in secret, just inside the tree-line.

She'd lost quite a few arrows that way, before she learned to get the aim right. It was only too bad that mandatory practice for the boys was all about warfare and group shots. None of the drill instructors ever taught anyone to solo shoot. She could have used a bit of help in those early days.

As she finished that thought, Evey neared the village center. It wasn't much of a center. Just a dingy chapel next to a packed down square of dirt, where people could stand around and listen to announcements.

Alaine crossed the square with little Gwin close behind. Not many people could pull a full-fledged smiled from Evey like Gwin could. She waved at the young girl, who immediately waved back. Alaine glanced up, then immediately ducked into a deep curtsy.

"M'lady."

"You don't have to..." Evey began, but the mother and child had already hurried away with averted eyes.

Her good feeling dissolved instantly.

Most people did a lot of bowing and "m'lady-ing" before they just hurried away. The innkeeper pretended not to notice her at all. Fendrick, who was normally the jolliest man she knew, eyed her with suspicion as she passed.

As Lady Evelyne, she scared everyone off as much as when she was 'Evey the wild orphan girl'. Aristocrats - even the poorest of them - were not generally trusted. When times were hard, it was always worse. And times were as hard as ever.

Blast it, that wasn't her fault. Other lords and barons squeezed the people dry. Not her. And never Emeric. It hurt that the people didn't realize that. If only the villagers knew how much she tried to help. They didn't understand what she did for them. Or what they meant to her.

She wasn't just upset anymore. Now she was upset and devastated. Was there any place she could go without being judged? Anywhere at all?

With a sigh, she turned back to the castle. She'd have to face Emeric at some point. Maybe yelling at him would make her feel better.

When he finally came around to her room, she curled up in the window again.

"Don't try to lie to me."

He stopped in the doorway and held his hands up defensively.

"I am not lying. I did ask him to reconsider, but he was adamant. I imagine he wants his son married as soon as possible."

"You asked him to reconsider? HA! What did you say? 'We'd love to accept, but your son surely deserves a higher ranked wife'?"

"Well, more or less," Emeric mumbled.

"Yeah, I thought so." She pulled her knees to her chest and turned her back to him. "You said you'd look after me. You said you would try your best to make sure I don't have to marry a buffoon."

"You haven't even met him."

"Well..." She hesitated. Actually she had. Sort of. It was enough for her, anyway, but she couldn't tell Emeric that. "Even so, can you imagine having Sir Robert for a father?"

Emeric cleared his throat. "Better as your father than your husband."

She glanced back over her shoulder. "How do you know little Robert isn't the same? How do you know they aren't just a whole family of gold-loving snobs? Let me guess. His mother is the daughter of a senior baron?"

"Yes, actually, but she-"

"Seriously?" She huffed loudly. "I guess I should have known."

Again she looked away, pointedly picking at a red thread in her dress to avoid making eye contact with Emeric.

"Evelyne, show some respect. Sir Robert has been nothing but generous to us, in a time when we most certainly need it."

"We've always gotten along. We always make it."

"Barely."

She pointed dramatically at nothing. "But we always have."

Emeric paused.

"Well, yes. Somehow." He looked away from her, and went silent for a moment. Evey picked at the thread again.

What was that?

Something had definitely caught her eye. She scanned the courtyard, but nothing looked out of place. Nobody looked out of place either. Why did she feel like someone had been watching her? She rubbed her eyes and turned toward her uncle.

"We've always done fine on our own. I don't want to get married. Not right now. And I certainly don't want to marry someone because I'm told I must."

Emeric sighed deeply.

"Evelyne, you have no dowry. Nothing but this old keep, and me. By title, you're a lady. In all reality, we're both peasants. We're stuck between worlds, and that leaves us in a very awkward position. If we turn down Sir Robert, you'll have less than nothing."

Evey shrugged.

"You can't be so nonchalant about this." He massaged the bridge of his nose. "I know how you feel. I do. Maybe a wedding should be about love, but it IS about money and status. That's the way things are. That's the way they always have been."

Evey lowered her eyes, and tapped a rhythm with her thumbs.

"Love comes in time." He touched her shoulder gently.

She shrugged his hand away.

"What would you know about love?"

Emeric looked truly injured, and sat silently for a long time. Longer than even he usually did. Whatever Emeric had done, he didn't deserve what she had said. But she was still mad, and still refused to apologize.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Evey felt even worse, but steeled her expression and tapped her thumbs a little faster.

"Understand, Evelyne." Emeric scooted a bit closer. "For some reason that I can't fathom, Sir Robert likes you. He, of all people, has agreed to a marriage, even with no dowry. He might be many things we don't like, but he is honestly trying to do right by his boy. Maybe he thinks you're someone the young Robert could really match. And whether you believe me or not, I'm inclined to agree."

Evey thought of the conversation in the barn, and shuddered. A good match for that?

"But this is Sir Robert we're talking about," she retorted. "He'd never do anything for altruism."

He sighed. "Between you and me, I agree. I think he wants our land. It's not worth much, but the location is good. His holdings are farther to the south. I can think of a few things that he might have in mind. Trade schemes, and the like."

Evey grunted. He might be right, but that almost made it worse. If Sir Robert wanted land in the north, he'd obviously chosen theirs because he was sure of getting it without much trouble.

"I won't do it," she said firmly.

Inexplicably, Emeric laughed.

"You really are too much like your father. That stubbornness is almost legendary."

"I'll take that as a compliment," she said. "But I still mean it. You heard what I said last night. I won't be made to marry someone I don't even like."

His smile disappeared.

"Evelyne, you're the lady of this castle. You're almost seventeen. It's time for you to learn that being an adult isn't just about doing whatever you want. Other people's lives are involved here too."

She jumped to her feet. "But, it's my marriage. My entire future life!"

Emeric took her hand and pulled her to the bench next to him.

"I know. It's only fair to count that in. You're a good girl, Evelyne, and you've earned the right to a fair choice. If..." He paused, as if in disbelief at what he was about to say. "If you honestly think about it, and you find it all too much to ask, I'll try to talk Sir Robert out of it. I really will."

She folded her arms. "That's not much of a promise. I don't think Sir Robert is in the habit of being talked out of anything."

"No, he isn't, but it's the best I can do."

Evey sat silently. There wasn't a whole lot more to say on the matter.

Emeric cleared his throat. "Before you decide, consider one more thing. This village, and its people. You have a responsibility to them as well. I know you care about them. I've seen it. And if Sir Robert brings new trade through this area, everything will improve for them."

Evey sucked in a deep breath. That was a blow straight through the heart. Protecting her people was the one thing she cared about more than anything else.

"Think about it, Evelyne. But I stand by my offer. If you ask me, I'll try to get it canceled before they announce it at the chapel."

"I can't ask you to do that for me," she interjected.

He patted her hand. "I'm hoping you won't. I feel like this is best for both of us. You've made more sacrifices than a lady should have had to endure, and you deserve better than I can give you. But, if you can't bring yourself to it, I understand. At least promise to give both sides a fair chance."

She stayed silent for a moment.

"I will. I promise. It's the least I can do for you," she said. "It really will be two weeks this time?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Okay." Then before he could stand up, she asked, "Is it really so bad? I know we never had a lot of nice stuff, but I never cared about that. We always made it just fine."

"I know." He chucked her chin, just like he used to when she was little. "You might be the wildest castle lady that ever ran rampant through Sherwood, but you've been more of a blessing than I can say. We made so many sacrifices, and yet you never noticed. All the work you've done in the fields. All the repairs, and basic craft-work you had to learn. Most ladies couldn't pick up a scythe, let alone reap a field as fast as you can."

She winked at him. "Another compliment. Uncle Emeric, you're going soft on me."

"A momentary lapse," he replied, and smiled sadly. "I never told you this before, but there have been years where the only reason I wasn't thrown into the king's dungeons was the unexpected appearance of a few stray silvers. We've certainly been lucky. But how long will that last?"

Evey nodded, but didn't trust herself to reply. After all, she knew exactly where those 'lucky' silver pieces came from. He was right. It wouldn't last forever. Whether it was sooner, or much later, she wouldn't always be there to help him.

She thought about his words for several silent minutes. If she married into Sir Robert's family, Emeric's position would improve. She would be helping him in a different way. No more living from day to day. No more scraping by.

She would be well taken care of herself. Then there were her people. Most of all, her people. They would benefit too. But Sir Robert and son? Could she? The conflict was more than she wanted to have on her shoulders.

"I..." she began, though she didn't know quite what to say.

"You don't have to answer now," Emeric reminded her.

"I know. But I know what I should do." She grimaced as she said it. But she had to think about more than just herself.

"I appreciate your answer. Are you sure that you don't want to think about it for a while?"

"I..." she stuttered, lost for words again. "Oh, I don't know what I'm doing either way. Two weeks to stew over it won't help."

Emeric nodded gratefully and turned to leave. Before he reached the door, though, he turned and asked one last question.

"By the way, I always wondered how you slip away so often, before I even notice you're gone? And how do you return so suddenly?"

She grinned. "The window, of course."

The look on his face was priceless. "You climb fifteen feet up that wall?"

"It's not so hard. The rocks are all broken up. It's easy to get a good grip on them."

"Really? Well, that's one mystery solved."

He shook his head, and walked out.

The moment he left, she almost regretted her words. What was she thinking? She couldn't marry Robert's son! Emeric had just given her a way out, and she'd turned it down!

To keep from panicking, she repeated the reasons over and over again. Why she was selling herself into a marriage contract. The more she said them, the feebler they sounded. But, despite it all, she knew it was the right thing. Or at least, she hoped it was.

BOOK: The Greenwood Shadow
13.08Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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