Marian by Ella Lyons

Author:Ella Lyons [Lyons, Ella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult
ISBN: 978-1-63477-421-5
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-11-03T04:00:00+00:00

THE NEXT morning, Marian awoke to find all of Lucy’s careful unpacking was wasted, for Papa was standing beside her bed, clutching an armload of dresses and shaking Marian’s shoulder.

“Marian,” he said urgently. “Marian, wake up.”

“Wha—?” Marian bolted upright, her mouth going dry at the look on Papa’s face. “Papa, what’s wrong?”

“The fever,” Papa said tersely.

“Where? You? Are you ill? Come here,” Marian demanded, launching herself out of bed. “Let me feel your forehead.”

“No,” Papa said, and he smiled, but it was feeble and gone as quickly as it had come. “Not me, thankfully. And not you, if I have anything to say about it. Get dressed; you’re going to Loxley.”

“I’m… what?”

“Loxley.” Papa tossed a dress at Marian and shoved the rest of his armload into a bag. “I’ve already spoken to your friend Robin’s father. You ride within the hour.”

“The hour…. Papa, how long have you been awake?”

“I haven’t slept. Seven people died from the fever last night, four of them children. King John is leaving for his home in the south, and I will ride with him.”

“You’re sending me to Loxley,” Marian said slowly. She shook her head, then dragged a hand down her face. Maybe it was her midnight break-in to the physician’s office, but she was having a hard time making her brain function properly. Then Marian realized what Papa was saying, and she leaped to her feet and started casting around for her boots. Seven dead, four of them children. She had to get to Gilbert, had to make sure….

“Marian,” Papa said, his voice sharp. “You can’t go out in your nightgown. Get dressed.”

“I have to go. I have to go… check on something.”

“Oh no,” Papa said, and he caught Marian’s arm, propelling her toward her dressing screen. “You need to change right now.”

“But—”

“Now,” he said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

Within half an hour, Marian had a bag slung over each shoulder as Papa marched her down to the city gate. Her head was still reeling. She clutched Papa’s arm, her head swiveling as she looked desperately for the sight of Gilbert’s faded cloak.

They reached the gate, and Papa stopped, still gripping Marian’s hand. He turned to her, raked his gaze over her face, then pulled her into a hug.

“You’ll take care.”

“Of course I will.” Marian wrapped her arms around him, one of her bags squashed between their chests. “And I’ll write. My letters are much better now.”

“Lady Charlotte says you’ve fine penmanship indeed.”

Marian did not scowl at the mention of Lady Charlotte’s name. She was too busy squeezing Papa so tightly she feared she’d bruise him. “And you’ll take care as well, won’t you? Don’t get caught by any arrows on your ride south.”

Papa exhaled a laugh into her hair. “I’ll be perfectly fine. Don’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself, and write when you reach Loxley. Robin’s father will know how to get a letter to me.”

“All right.” Marian squeezed him one last time. Down the way she could see Robin standing atop a cart, unraveling a rope from a tree branch.

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