“You wouldn’t believe the fine levied at him—my cousin, I mean. The amount they asked—just for a bit of hunting that crossed a wee way over the property line. Why, if it weren’t for Robin Hood, he would have lost his land to be sure.”
“Robin Hood?”
The sound of his name on her lips sent a shiver down Robin’s back. Oh, he hoped to hear her say his name again, perhaps under the moonlight, when she looked into his eyes and saw him as he was.
“Yes, Robin Hood.” Robin made a show of looking over his shoulder before leaning close. “You didn’t hear this from me, but there’s a man in these woods who follows his own code. Robs from the rich and gives to the poor, so they say.”
“You cannot be serious.” Marian’s voice was flat, completely absent of any lilt of awe or even interest.
Robin frowned. “I am very serious.”
“You’re telling me there’s a grown man who runs about the forest stealing and redistributing wealth on a whim? All out of the kindness of his heart, I suppose?”
“Such judgment in your tone.” Robin stopped walking and crossed his arms, forgotten pelts sliding off his back to the ground. “Perhaps I was wrong to share such knowledge with you.” He shrugged and forced himself to bend down and gather the pelts without waiting to see if she stopped walking. “After all, I’m sure you’re much smarter than my cousin. What sort of person is foolish enough to be caught hunting on another man’s lands? And my cousin was caught twice, the dunce.”
Marian halted, body vibrating like a tuning fork. Her shoulders rose and fell a little faster with each labored breath.
That’s right, pretty one, get angry. And a little interest wouldn’t kill you either. “Yes, well, I’ll be going then.” He set off at a sedate, but steady pace, not bothering to hide his smile anymore. The skin between his shoulders itched with the weight of Marian’s stare.#p#分页标题#e#
“Wait.”
He stopped, but didn’t turn to face her, merely tilted his head to the side to show he was listening.
“This Robin Hood your cousin spoke of. Where is he?”
“In the center of the wood, where the ash crosses limbs with the rowan and the willow. It’s not far from here.”
Marian was silent for so long Robin thought she might have left. He was just about to give in to the urge to turn around and see for himself when she spoke again.
“And what price did he ask of your cousin for this loan?”
Hearing that sultry and still semi-angry voice without seeing her face was too much. Robin turned, smoothing his smile to look more casual, not quite so predatory. “Nothing. He gave my cousin the money and told him to pay it back in his own good time—never if that suited him.” He shrugged. “It seems Robin Hood has very little need for gold.”
Marian’s eyes grew distant and she bit her lip. “I wonder.”
“According to my cousin, Robin Hood can be found at those trees when the sun sets. That is all I know.” Robin turned, leaving the huntress to her thoughts.
Until tonight, Lady Marian.
Chapter Three
“Robin Hood can be found at those trees when the sun sets.”
The fur trader’s words echoed in Marian’s head as she prowled through a myriad of twisted tree trunks and high arching roots. Dry twigs and leaves dared her to keep her silence, threatening to give away her position with every step. Every footfall was planned, every shift of her weight slow and calculated to make the least amount of noise so that she could catch her quarry unaware. She moved her gaze back and forth in smooth, steady sweeps, searching the forest for the three trees the trader had spoken of.
It was close. She remembered that fallen birch, the raven’s nest tucked in the slender silver vee of its highest branches. She paused, searching her memory. She’d come into the woods immediately after speaking with the trader, wanting to find the spot he’d spoken of for herself, to get the lay of the land before meeting with this Robin Hood. The sun had been barely sliding to her right then, and it was nearly sunset now, so that meant the clearing was…
Marian pulled the hood of her brown cloak down farther, hiding as much of her pale skin as she could. Her red hair was plaited so tight it tugged uncomfortably at the corners of her eyes, the wild strands oiled down in the hopes the plait would hold a little longer, would keep those chaotic crimson strands from sticking out every which way like beacons to whatever predator wanted to find her.
“That was not as entertaining as I’d hoped.”