Lady Thief: A Scarlet Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

asked, going over to him.
    He nodded, red cheeked and huffing. “I saw ’im,” he gasped. “I saw him!”
    My breath flew. “Where?”
    “On the road. To. To Notting. Ham,” he huffed.
    “How long?”
    He put his fists on his hips, thinking. “S’long as it took me to run,” he told me.
    I nodded and set off running. He groaned and started running behind me. “Go home, Will!” I yelled. He kept on running.
    “Mam says he’ll kill you!” he shouted.
    “He’ll kill you first!” I yelled, and I heard his footsteps slow. “Thank you, Will!” I shouted, and ran on, leaping over a fallen tree.
    Sure as sunups, Gisbourne were in Nottingham Castle. The whole place were in a tizzy for him too. Maids running every which way. Knights kitted up in full order. He left quick as he came, though, on a fresh horse and headed straight for Edwinstowe.
    I tracked him with a wide berth. He didn’t bother anyone in the village, and he just went straight to Tuck’s. I were fair far back when I saw him go in, but I ran for the place then, slipping in the back and staying low.
    No one were screaming, which were a fair good sign.
    “—all. I trust you’ll give him the message.”
    Someone touched my arm, and I turned to see Rob crouching beside me, John behind him. John pushed a finger against his mouth, and I glared at him. Did he think I were thick? What were I like to do, announce myself?
    “Yes, milord,” Tuck said.
    There were footsteps, and a moment later Tuck called, “John? Rob? You still back there?”
    They stood and I stood with them. “Scar too,” John said.
    “How much of that did you lot catch?” he asked.
    We came to the front side of the bar. “None,” I said.
    “He said he wants to meet with Robin,” John said. “After Vespers, at the well.”
    “Vespers? He said Vespers?” I asked. “Do you think he knows about the monastery? Or the ribbons and the barn?”
    “Vespers is just faster than saying a little after sunset, and the well is a central place,” Tuck said with a shrug. “He probably doesn’t.”
    “What else?” I asked. “Did he say what he’s about?”
    “No. Just said he reckoned I knew how to get a message to Robin Hood.”
    Rob’s hands settled on my shoulders, his body warm along my back. “It has to be some sort of a trap.”
    “He doesn’t have men with him; I’m sure he’s free to use the knights, but he doesn’t have men of his own,” I told Rob, turning to look at him.
    He crossed his arms, frowning at me. “Oh? How long have you known he was back?”
    My face ran hot. “I heard things. Just found out he were back today.”
    “And you didn’t tell me.” His eyes met mine, and I looked away. “Of course you didn’t,” he said, and this were low and sad.
    Much burst into the room. “Rob! Rob! Gisbourne’s back!”
    We all just stared at him.
    “Little late, Much,” John told him. “He wants to meet with Rob.”
    “Well, all of us,” I said. “It ain’t like you’re going alone.”
    “You’re not going,” John and Rob said at the same time.
    “Of course she is,” Much said. “Even if you ignore the fact that whatever he wants from Rob will definitely have something to do with Scar, don’t be stupid and think she’d be at home knitting, lads. Better to know where she is.”
    “Thank you,” I told Much. He grinned at me.
    “Up high and well armed,” Rob said.
    “Fine,” I said. “But don’t think I’ll sit idly by if he tries something.”
    “We wouldn’t expect you to ever keep yourself out of needless danger, Scar. Don’t worry,” John said.
    I glared at him.
    “Am I the only one who thinks we just shouldn’t bother? Who gives a damn what he has to say? I’ll kill this or hurt that—doesn’t that pretty much cover it?” John asked.
    “Why come back at all?” I said. “He’s been gone for months.”
    They all looked at me.
    “Oh, for Heaven’s sake, I don’t think he cares that we’re married.”
    “No man