Everything I Do: a Robin Hood romance (Rosa Fitzwalter Book 1) by M.C. Frank Page A

effort to discover the way the outlaw or outlaws had managed to intrude the sacredness of the Sheriff’s domain.
    Rosa’s father fell heavily back in his chair, motioning to a servant to bring him the offending arrow. There was, as expected, a small note attached to it.
    Enjoy your feast, Sheriff , it said laconically, and was signed R.H.
    The Sheriff turned an alarming shade of purple, and his guests tried to collect their wits and restore something of the former splendor of their feast. However, the Sheriff was not to be consoled.
    “They’re mine !” he kept shouting at the outrageous robber, imagining him right there, at throttling distance. “I don’t need your permission to enjoy my deer, you thief, you abominable-”
    “Thought you said he was dead, that forest fellow,” a voice muttered sarcastically next to him. The Sheriff stood to his feet, rage distorting his face in an ugly grimace.
    “And so he shall be, I swear! My horse. Saddle it! Immediately.”
    “Good Sheriff, it is the middle of the night…” Someone tried to dissuade his from further folly.
    “At once, I said!” the Sheriff swept the hall in what he considered to be a majestic gesture and was gone.
     
     
    The Sheriff rushed from the room as fast as his heavy cloak, lined with fur, and his increased weight allowed him, amid snickers from his guests.  Damn that Robin Hood, he thought. The wretch took pleasure in humiliating him, but no more. He vowed it to himself right then and there. No more.
     
     
    Amid all the commotion no one had noticed it, but one person was absent from the room -one who would have had a great deal of interest in witnessing this vehement outburst. But Rosa had left the banquet hall a couple of moments previous to that. And this is how it happened.
    Sir Hugh was still holding her hand in his reverently when the arrow flew in through the window. He felt her trembling violently next to him and reached out a hand to support her. But then he looked in her face and discovered that she had gone completely white.
    “My lady… what is the matter?” he asked, alarmed. “Play, do not be concerned. I do not believe there is any real threat…”
    Rosa tried to speak, but her lips were trembling. How could he be so stupid, was all she could think. To do a thing so dangerous, to so blatantly laugh straight at the face of danger, of certain death even… Was there any solid reason for Robin to risk his head that way?
    She was so afraid that she couldn’t breathe for a moment. And then she started to feel the familiar dull pain beginning to throb at her side. Immediately, she was alert. It certainly wouldn’t do to have an attack right now. She tried to breathe regularly, rhythmically, but already the pain had grown to an almost insupportable pitch. She felt her face drain of blood and fought to remain conscious. Next to her, Sir Hugh was holding her upright and looking at her with something akin to panic.
    “Are you unwell, Rosa?” he said again, in his haste using her Christian name. “No, no do not close your eyes. Stay with me!” he commanded. Then, “Maybe you should breathe some fresh air. Yes, that’s it.”
    Decisively he helped her stand, encircling one arm about her waist. When he found that her legs would not support her, he put his other arm around her as well and thus holding her, he all but carried her from the room. As soon as they were on the terrace, he made her sit on a stone bench and returned in a minute with a glass of wine in his hand. He helped her drink, while holding her upright, and then sat and gazed at the expressions that were taking form on her face. She was silent, but her eyes shone like stars with intensity and excitement. And pain, although, mercifully, it seemed to be subsiding a bit.
    In a moment it was evident in his face that he suddenly knew that this trembling, which still shook her, wasn’t terror for her own safety.
    “So that’s how it is, eh?” he said quietly, as if