Scarlet (Page 41)

I jumped for it and he grinned, catching me and holding me off the ground so our noses were level.

I stared straight at him, not afraid of him none. “Not what I were jumping after, John.”

“You sure?” he asked, his eyes fixing on my mouth.

He leaned toward me a tiny bit and I kicked his shins before he might do some fool thing like kiss me.

John dropped me with a groan and I snatched the knife from him, catching Rob’s eyes and seeing the dead scowl on his face.

Even Much were frowning at me, and I turned away, feeling my belly twist. It weren’t fair. Rob wouldn’t never be the sort to get his belly in a twist for me, but if me and John got any bit of friendly, he acted like I were wrenching the band apart.

We had a decent haul on the road that morning, all told, and Rob and I headed to Trent to sell the more expensive bits.

“I think it’s been too long,” I told him.

He looked at me, curious. “What?”

“Too long. Since we were in a tussle or something. Something feels wrong today.”

“Maybe it’s because John isn’t with you.” He smiled, but his teeth looked sharp. “World not right without him?”

I glared. “It ain’t that way. Needn’t be mean about it.”

“That wasn’t mean.”

“Well, don’t tell me you’re just starting in on me.”

His smile got a little soft. “No.”

“Honestly, though. I have an awful sick feeling.”

He looked at me. “About going to Trent? Or selling the jewels?”

I rolled over the two ideas. “Trent, I think.”

He nodded. “We have to be double-sharp, then.”

I smiled. I liked that about Rob. He teased me a bit, he scowled at me more, but he trusted me.

“So what ’bout you?” I asked. I felt my mug heat up for asking the question.

“Me?”

“And girls. Ladies. You don’t . . . I mean, John’s always in love with someone, but you never seem much interested.”

“Is that what you think you are to John? The affair of a moment?”

I kicked a stone. “Weren’t my question.”

“I was like John, before I left. Every girl was a new adventure. But then came the Crusades, and then came this mess, and now I’m a noble without a title.” He shook his head. “To marry a commoner would dishonor my family’s lineage, but I have nothing to offer a noblewoman.”

“It’s not like Bess or Ellie would want you to marry them none.”

He pulled up his shoulders. “I’ll leave the tumbling to John.” He looked sharp to me. “I don’t mean to say he’s been unfaithful to you, Scar.”

I shook my head. “I hope he ain’t faithful to me.”

“What?”

“I told you before, I’m none sure ’bout him. I’m hardly sure he even likes me and isn’t just after nabbing a tumble.”

Rob rubbed his head. “He seems pretty sure about you.”

I chuckled. “I reckon Bess or Ellie would tell you the same.” I pulled my long coat tighter; the wind were creeping through the rubbed-down elbows. “’Sides, I told you I won’t marry.”

He smiled. “So you refuse to be sure about him so you won’t have to marry him.”

“Something like that.” I looked at his feet. “Don’t it get lonely, though?”

“Is that why you’re with John?”

“I’m not with him. But if I ever were, I reckon that’d be the cause. It’s fair nice, you know. Someone holding on to you makes you feel like you’re really there.”

He nodded. “I know. Nice isn’t for me right now, though. I need to focus on protecting the people so they can feel that comfort, not selfishly take it for myself.”

“Maybe you just think you don’t deserve it.” I felt like that, mostways.

“Maybe I don’t.”

I nodded, walking on beside him. Me and Rob could be fair kindred sometimes.

When we got to Trent, it were midday and no better time to do the selling. We put our hoods up, set deep so our faces hid back. Knives were better cover than a bow in a crowded sort of place, so I split off from Rob and watched him, ready to throw a blade if needed.

While he circled round the place, I cast an eye over the weapons on offer in the market. I had only seen the like of the blade I wanted to fetch for Much but once, and I didn’t expect to find it here, but it were always worth looking. Maybe John could make it for him once things got a bit quieter.

I settled in and watched the jeweler. His eyes were darting about, and he ain’t even looked at Rob yet. There were no reason for him to be so nervous. I whistled twice, two short tweets, and Rob halted, veering from the jeweler’s stall and looking at the tanner’s goods. I stayed close to the shop, following the squirrel looks of the jeweler. Gisbourne’s men, in their black with crimson trim, were in the market.

My blood set to rush like river water and I gave three short whistles this time. Rob turned away sharp and started moving through the crowd.

A hand clamped on my head, grabbing the hood and my hat and ripping backward. I jerked and twisted, and all my secret hair flew round like streamers from my head.

It were one of Gisbourne’s men, and he were staring at the hood like I were staring at him.

“Help!” I shrieked in the highest voice I could muster. “Help, please!”

Men seem to like helping ladies that need it, so when I turned to run through the crowd, men saw my long hair and smooth chin without noting the breeches and all, and they stopped Gisbourne’s men long enough for me to clear the market.

I ran past Rob, who were waiting for me, fisting his shirt and jerking it along while he gawped at me. “Christ’s blood, Rob, come on!” I yelled.

He ran with me then, and we both bolted into the trees like a crash of thunder. When Rob slowed down, I tried to keep running, looking back over my shoulder.

“Scar, it’s fine. They didn’t mark where we went,” he told me.

I stopped running and took a deep gulp of air. Then I spat out every foul curse word I’d ever learned, even knowing I’d have to confess them all on Sunday.

Rob looked a little shocked. “Don’t you look at me like that,” I snapped at him. “Just because I can’t trim a beard don’t mean I can’t swear.”

“Like a sailor,” he added. “I’ve never heard so many curses in my whole life. All combined.”