"Marianne! Where are you?"
Worried, she hurried from her bedroom and ran to the flight of stairs from which she could look down into the living room, and see who came through the front door.
It was Guy of Gisbourne, obviously in distress, frantically looking around himself in search of her.
"What is it?" she said, leaning down the balustrade. Her long, black hair hung down from her face and she was wearing a simple dress with a wide neckline and a thin underskirt underneath, not her normal fancy lady dresses, accentuating her natural elegance and beauty.
She had just come home from seeing Robin. Robin, who had used to be a young lord from Locksley, the manor next to her father's in the district of Nottingham, but who had been outlawed for years now, since he had started to openly rebel against the Sheriff. Still, she saw him when she could. They were lovers, and she helped him execute his plans, as the innocent and unsuspected helper from the aristocracy, and sabotage the Sheriff's.
She had just changed back into her normal clothes, when Guy had come bashing through the door.
"I need to talk to you," he said, climbing up the stairs.
He took her by the arm and pushed the door of her bedroom open, nodding with his head for her to come inside.
She stumbled in the bedroom, turning to him with a look of questions on her face. Guy closed the door behind him.
Guy, with his black leather armour, wild, dark halflong hair and sharp, handsome features, had been in love with her from since she had come of age. He was a lord of his own and would with that have been a perfect partner for her to marry, but he was the right hand of the sheriff, having been forced to serve him in return for keeping his land after his father had died. Still, he had a good heart, and certainly kept an eye out for her.
"It's the council," he said. "the kings advisor has come and they have decided to investigate all the nobles who have had ties with Locksley." "Your father is in jeopardy," he added importunately, whispering.
"My father's not here," Marianne said. "He's momentarily visiting my aunt in Leicester. He won't be back for days. Surely they'll have come to senses by the time he's back?"
"No Marianne, they wont," Guy said urgently, squeezing her upper arms. "They'll put your family to trial and take it as a chance to get rid of you, for supporting Robin".
Worriedly, she looked around herself, trying to come up with a plan of action.
"Marianne..."
She felt his hands slide upwards, halting to cup her face. She had known him for years, and while they had been close, never had he been so much as alone in a room with her, careful not to compromise her honour. Now he was not only alone in her bedroom, he was holding her face. Hearing her father was not at home must have given him some courage.