Page 6 of Robin and Marian
She swatted at him in her irritation and then smothered a giggle. How a girl could hold so many emotions at once, he’d never know, but he watched her curvaceous form as she went ahead, her dark hair sweeping against her back. Scarlett was right—he should’ve gotten to know her better before this. He’d known his childhood friend had been rooming with his sister, but he’d been so caught up in his own life—and the other women in it.
Lately that had been Jana Prinz. He’d known better than to get together with a potential business partner, but she was all legs and beautiful blonde hair and she seemed so excited about his plans to develop Nottingham into a tourist attraction—Jana had pretended to listen to him for hours. She was going to put in a skiing resort. They already had the Nottingham theme, the investors and locations, the town’s enthusiasm. But when he’d found out that her excitement had more to do with his family connections than love, he’d ended things. Of course, there was no wrath greater than that of a woman scorned—especially when she was a manipulative shrew.
Guy and Scarlett had been furious with him; his cousin had even suggested leading her on until certain papers had been signed, but Robin couldn’t do it. After the expected fireworks, his ex-girlfriend had cut her funding for her share of the tourist attractions—a partially-constructed ski resort. And thus, Jana Prinz earned her very own (private) Nottingham nickname of “Princess John.”
Somehow their stocks hadn’t plummeted, even though the initial investors had lost a great deal of money. It had been a lucky break, but Robin wouldn’t press his luck like that again. He’d stick to the pretty girl next door with a spatter of light freckles over her cheeks, sparkling eyes and a gentle sway of her hips.
Marian had no idea, but this was different than anything he’d ever felt.
She hesitated outside of a door at the end of the hallway and backed into his chest, which brought him to attention, especially when her hair tickled against his neck as she looked up at him. “They’re in there,” she whispered. He watched her lips, trying to care. “Get them out!”
What had she said? Forcing his gaze away, he saw his sister and future brother-in-law through the crack in the door. They were caught in an embrace in the bridal room. It all seemed very sweet—and obviously had to be broken up—but before he could intervene, he saw his sister’s tears.
“Are you crying?” Alan asked her from inside. He threw the jacket of his gray tux over a chair so that he could hold her. “What did you want to tell me?”
Scarlett wiped at her eyes. She leaned forward in a white dress as adorable as she was. The close-fitting bodice had false buttons down the striped pleated front with a ribbon tied loosely around her tiny waist. The bustle of her hoop skirt pushed up behind her. “Tell me that you’ll love me, Alan—no matter what happens in our life together.”
“What brought this on?” Alan asked.
Robin wanted to know too, but he was caught between that and giving them privacy. He wasn’t a kid anymore where this would be horribly amusing. He felt nothing but concern. “I don’t want to be like my parents,” Scarlett confided. “My father’s first wife died and he adored her—Jacqueline! She was Robin’s mother—but, but I think when she died,” she sniffed, “I think… my father just marriedmymother because he wanted to fill a void. She wasn’t very nice to him, and I think the only reason my parents stayed together was because—because my father knew he was dying too. He wanted someone to take care of us when he passed.”
The truth of her words twisted like a knife in Robin’s gut.
“He must’ve loved you very much,” Alan said with troubled eyes.
“It took years for the cancer to take him. It was too long to be with someone who didn’t love him… and I never want that to happen to us.” Her lip trembled. “I want you to know how much I love you and why. And we have to tell each other every day. We do! Here!” Scarlett thrust a scrap of paper into Alan’s palm. “I want you to read it. They’re all the reasons that I want to marry you.”
Alan looked pleased—this was the sort of thing that his poetic soul would love—but his expression turned stern and he set the paper aside. “That’s not good enough. No, you need to know all the reasons I’m marrying you, too—I’d never want you to think that you’re the only one who’s in love here.” Scarlett smiled through her tears and he tipped her chin with his fingers. “I’m serious. You belong to me. I’ve always felt it. And my future? It wasn’t there without you. Our future dreams, our conversations, our laughter, our home, even our children. You’re my purpose, and I’m lost without you.”
“Oh!” Scarlett was hugging him again. “Read my paper. Read it.”
He nodded and grew silent. After scanning through it, he kissed her—both of them were ecstatic to start their new life together. Robin let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He’d misjudged his new brother-in-law. Even though they had been as thick as thieves in high school, a reckless and irresponsible prankster didn’t exactly top the list as a prospective husband for his sister. In fact, when Robin had first heard that Alan was pursuing Scarlett again, he’d been furious. Watching them now, he realized that no one could be a better match for his sister.
Glancing down at Marian, Robin remembered himself enough to pull her away before they were caught eavesdropping. Her big eyes went to him, and he enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. “You still want me to get in between those two?” he asked.
She didn’t answer, seemingly out of breath. Robin wasn’t sure that either of them were thinking of the errant bride and groom anymore. Her skin was creamy against her dark hair, and he reached out, brushing back that mass of curls from her face, wanting a repeat of last night. He didn’t need a wager to get his kiss.
But she caught her breath. “Pachelbel Canon has played three times so far,” she whispered. “It’s time to get them in their places.”
He laughed low. This thing between them could wait, but he’d make sure it happened. More than anything, he wanted to date his Maid Marian, maybe marry her. With difficulty, he extricated himself from her to address the lovebirds in the other room. “Scarlett! Alan!” he called in an overly loud voice, giving them time to recover before he interrupted. “Isn’t this bad luck or something?” He pushed open the door.
They looked up guiltily. Robin put his arm over Marian’s head to lean on the doorframe, catching her hair again. “Sorry,” he apologized and retracted his hand. Then sparing a smile for Alan, he gestured to him. “C’mon, buddy, let’s get you two married.”
Alan looked almost giddy at the prospect as he blew Scarlett a kiss. She caught it in the air before Marian found her side. The two women left to get into place.
Collecting his jacket, Alan allowed Robin to adjust his tie. “You realize if you break my sister’s heart that I break your pretty face?”
That earned Robin a laugh. “Sounds fair.”
Robin clapped Alan on the arm then hugged him on their way out. They walked through the adjoining door to approach the pastor by the altar—slightly late—but not enough to cause a scene… at least, not by Robin’s standards. Studying Alan’s serene face, Robin no longer worried that his sister was one of his best friend’s passing fancies. The man had proved himself this past year. He’d found his niche as their sales agent, bringing in key investors from Nottingham, the least of them being Elinor and her husband Tom—Marian’s aunt and uncle.
Robin picked them out at the back of the pews where they sat in regal anticipation. Elinor had long dark hair like her niece, and laugh lines around her blue eyes that crinkled at the corners whenever she broke into one of her beautiful smiles. Tom exuded a more distinguished air with a full head of white hair. His arm rested protectively on his wife’s shoulder. If stocks from their Sherwood branch continued to climb, Elinor and Tom would enjoy a plush retirement. Marian would be pleased.
The French swinging doors at the back of the church opened and Scarlett’s bridesmaids poured into the aisle with their escorts, Guy and Little John. John had also invested heavily in the Sherwood branch, and Alan had convinced him to do it. Their old friend had inherited his father’s sawmill and borrowed money from his assets to fund his investments. The venture was paying off. Thankfully… because Robin partly suspected John had invested for Scarlett’s benefit. He should at least get something out of his unrequited love.
Marian came last through the line, as Scarlett’s Maid of Honor. Robin’s attention veered past the others and their eyes connected. Marian’s hands tightened on her bouquet, and she looked as gorgeous as she had when he had kissed her. Her lips parted slightly before breaking into a broad smile as Midge suddenly bowled into her from behind. Robin’s uncle wasn’t watching where he was going. The small boy’s eyes were pinned on the two rings sewn to a silk pillow in his hands. Marian brightened and quickened her steps to give the little ring bearer more room.
Robin almost forgot to breathe while he watched them. She’d fit perfectly into his life. Was this how Alan felt with Scarlett? Alan straightened next to him as Robin’s sister, resplendent in a flowy white dress, floated gracefully into the chapel, looking celestial on the arm of their grandfather. Richard was a tall, lanky man with snowy white hair that stood on end, a hawkish nose, and heavy-lidded blue eyes like Frank Sinatra’s. The pants of his white Brioni suit were pulled up higher than looked comfortable, and one of the pant legs was tucked into a sock.
