He drew a deep breath. “Now.” The breath ran out of him, and he rolled up onto his side, laying me on my back and looking at me. “If we’re going to be Earl and Lady Huntingdon, Scar, we will do it right. Together. We’ll protect the shire.”

“Make it prosperous again,” I told him, running my hand up his arm as his thumb stroked my waist. “Make it so there are stores and reserves and these things won’t affect us in the future.”

He nodded, his eyes navy and serious. “And if we have any children, we are going to protect them. Watch them grow. Not let them run away to holy wars or London.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Do you really think any children of ours won’t be awful troublemakers, Robin Hood?”

He shook his head, smiling. Hair fell on his forehead and I brushed it back. “Last we spoke of it, you didn’t sound keen about the idea of children,” he said soft.

“It terrifies me,” I whispered.

“Why?” he asked.

“If a child ever got hurt because of me—” I started, but the awful thought choked me and I stopped, shaking my head. “But I trust God. If He wants us to have babies, Rob, I swear I will find a way to protect them with everything we have. With everyone we have.”

He nodded, pulling me up to him and kissing me. “We should probably leave this cave at some time, shouldn’t we?” he asked between kisses.

“We have to talk to Eleanor. But not yet,” I told him with a smile.

He grinned. “Remind me to petition Richard to have this cave attached to the Huntingdon lands,” he murmured.

I laughed, and he kissed me.

We left the cave in the noon sun, and it felt strange to put on the same clothes as the day before, like I couldn’t wear the same thing when I felt like a different person. Rob held my hand tight and kissed it. “Let’s go talk to Eleanor,” he said.

I nodded.

We brought the horse but walked together. It were like stealing a little extra time for ourselves, refusing to go fast back to the world. When we reached the castle people saw us and shouted, hugging and kissing and giving us their good wishes. Even the knights came to us, pledging themselves now to Rob as well.

It were late afternoon by the time we made it to the keep itself. There we found Eleanor, holding court in front of the fireplace, looking very grand. Margaret were sitting with her, but she were staring at the ground, and Eleanor were holding her hand. Winchester were pacing, his arms crossed over his big chest, glancing back at Margaret.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking at Rob as dread crept over my heart. We hadn’t even been married a whole day yet.

Eleanor and Winchester both looked at Margaret, and she lifted her head to show me tears tracked all over her face. Rob squeezed my hand, but we didn’t move.

Margaret held up a letter in her lap. “My father,” she whispered. “He’s ordered me to travel to London. To marry the future Earl of Hertford.”

Winchester made a low growling sound, like a wolf, and I looked to him. “De Clare?” I demanded. “She’s meant to marry de Clare?”

“Yes,” Winchester gritted out. “The man who arguably took the most pleasure in the prince’s cruel treatment of you. Yes, I’m sure he’ll be a suitable husband.”

Rob looked fast at me. “Quincy, come with me. Let’s take some air.”

“Air?” Winchester snapped. “Air? Prince John is doing this because of me!” he roared. “You think de Clare just woke up and decided to be married? No. ‘Bold words,’ he said. Prince John is ordering this and I swear to God I will see him bleed for it.”

Eleanor stiffened, and Rob pushed at Winchester’s shoulders. “Outside with you,” he ordered, and then, much quieter, “You’re scaring her, Quin.”

He glanced at Margaret, who were looking at him with wide, lost eyes, and he hung his head. He let Rob push him out of the room.

I went to them. “All is not lost,” I told her, kneeling in front of her.

“It is,” she sniffed. “My father won’t change his mind. He’s going to meet me in London within a fortnight and the marriage will happen within the month.”

“Winchester will change his mind,” I told her. “Let him ask for your hand.”

“Winchester is right,” Eleanor said soft. “I can’t imagine this happened without my son’s urging. And if my son has promised your father something, it may be difficult to match.” She looked at me, and back to Margaret. “Particularly,” she added with a sigh, “if your theory about his plans for Richard is correct.”

Margaret drew a breath and it came out with tears. I caught her hands in mine. “No,” I told her. “I won’t let this happen. I promise. The only way you’ll marry de Clare is if you damn well want to.”

She shook her head. “I don’t. But my father—”

“We’ll deal with him.”

“You must escort her down to London,” Eleanor told me.

I shook my head. “I can’t leave Nottingham. Not now.”

“You must,” Eleanor told me. “I gave you the option of a strong, protective alliance, and you chose your own path,” she said, her eyebrow arching up.

“You never thought I’d marry Essex,” I scoffed.

The eyebrow dropped. “Well. Still, you need more of the nobility at your side to quell John, Marian.”