Page 47 of Rogue of the Greenwood
“I don’t know,” Marianne said with a shrug. “The style of it seems to be no more ancient than the furnishings in your home.”
“But surely the clothing is much older,” Meg said, wrinkling her nose. “I’ve never seen anyone wear such ridiculous attire in all my life.”
“Gentlemen haven’t worn hosen for a hundred years or more.”
“Well these certainly can’t be that old. They are in remarkably good condition.”
Marianne studied the items more closely. “Yes, I believe you are correct. The style is quite ancient, yet the fabric could be almost current. Perhaps it was someone’s fancy dress costume for a masquerade.”
“Perhaps,” Meg said with a shrug. “But only if someone intended to dress as a frog. Look, the whole lot of it is dyed the same color green.”
Marianne realized she was correct. She began to realize another thing, too. “I believe this shade is called Lincoln green.”
Meg was unimpressed. “It would make anyone who wore it look like a tree. And heavens, but these woolen hosen are quite rough! I can’t imagine they would be comfortable. What sort of Bedlamite would wear such a costume?”
“I know exactly who wore them,” Marianne announced.
“Who on earth was it?”
Marianne couldn’t help but smile as she answered her cousin.
“Robin Hood, of course.”
Robert had left the women alone to give them time to compose themselves and do whatever it was women needed to do when they had been through an ordeal. Miss Maidland seemed little worse for the wear, but he could not be sure Miss St. John wasn’t planning a fit of the vapors at any moment. He’d been very happy to leave Miss Maidland to deal with her nervous cousin when he went to his men to find where things stood after his short absence.
The vicar had been entertaining the children with stories and games. It was good to keep them occupied—and indoors. The woods was likely crawling with men hunting for the missing women. Those children were much safer indoors just now.
Gathering up his friends, Robert suggested they sit down and fabricate a quick solution to the problem at hand. How were they to avoid detection, and what would they do if they failed? Mr. Fraytuck excused himself from the children with promises of another visit—and more sweets—soon.
“We can meet in the room upstairs,” Robert offered.
They’d been using a drawing room up there as their conference area. It was comfortable, away from the chaos of the Grover family, and the windows gave an excellent view of the outside. If anyone was approaching, Robert wanted to know about it right away.
They all traipsed up the stairs and he let the men settle in the drawing room. Conversation went immediately to the most pressing matter; what werethey to do with Miss Maidland and Miss St. John? Much had very strong opinions on the matter, as did Robert’s men. John in particular seemed to think they should send both ladies off with Much and lessen the risk of searchers stumbling upon the lodge.
Much was in agreement with that until Robert reminded him that the roads were likely blocked and things would not go well for him if he was found with either of the young ladies.
“It is quite an impasse,” Alan said. “Perhaps we ought to take up whatever arms we can find and go storm the estate.”
John especially liked that idea. “It is, after all, your own home, Rob. We can set that ruddy steward of yours out on his ear, then devil take him and anyone who tries to help him.”
“It’s no good, John,” Robert sighed. “I’ve thought it through and there’s just too much risk. The man’s already tried to murder us once, what’s to prevent him from trying again, and again? He’s got the sheriff in his pocket and made the magistrate his partner. With all the resources at hand, we’d find ourselves handily outnumbered.”
“We’ve been outnumbered before,” Will pointed out.
“But we didn’t have a dozen helpless dependents to look out for at the time,” Robert reminded. “We can’t put ourselves at risk until we can be certain the Grovers and the two ladies are safe.”
The men grumbled, but the couldn’t argue his point. Indeed, they were right back where they started, and the clock was still ticking. The sheriff’s men could be closer to finding them with every passing moment.
“Perhaps we should get the ladies in here and ask them what they’d rather do,” Will suggested after a pause.
Robert couldn’t see how it would help, but surely the women deserved some say in what was to happen to them. He left the drawing room and went to their chamber. Tapping at the door, he heard muffled whispers and the scuffle of feet before he was invited in. Gingerly, he pushed the door open. Happily, no one seemed hysterical.
They stood at attention across the room, next to an old chest. He was glad to see they had taken his advice to avoid the windows. They faced him with forced smiles and he instantly wondered if he’d been wrong about the level of hysteria. There was a distinct tension in the room.
“Er… perhaps the two of you should join us as we discuss a solution to our current dilemma,” he offered.
Miss Maidland nodded with far too much cheer. “Of course! Yes, that is just what we should do. Thank you.”
