The King of Sherwood Forest by Harleigh Beck EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Author: Harleigh Beck
- Language: English
- Formats: PDF / EPUB
- Status: Available For Free Download
- Series: None
- Price: Free
- File Size: 2 MB
MARIAN
PAST
Adela, my younger sister, bursts into my room while my maid braids my
dark hair. “Guess who’s coming to visit today?” Her brown eyes sparkle in
the morning sun.
My window is open to air out the room. Maid says it’s an unusually warm
summer, and the only respite we get is first thing in the morning before it gets
too warm.
She always uses big words I don’t understand, and I like to whisper them
under my breath every now and then or stand in front of my mirror when I’m
alone and raise my chin, saying, “Respite,” in my poshest accent.
I also like to think I will grow up and look like my mother. She was
beautiful with her brown curls and big eyes that used to crease at the corners
when she smiled.
I can’t remember her well anymore, and it scares me that her memory is
fading.
“Marian!” My sister’s high-pitched voice brings me back from my
thoughts. At twelve years old, she is almost as tall as me.
She looks more like Father with her amber hair, whereas I resemble
Mother. My sister and I look nothing alike, but we share the same humor.
“Who’s coming?”
“Sir Robin of Locksley and his father.”
I perk up and try to look at my sister, but the braids are too tight, and
Maid grumbles when I shift.
“His father is here to speak to King Richard. I heard the kitchen staff say
they’re staying for the week.”
Sir Robin’s parents were good friends with ours. We grew up together,
but then my parents passed away when their ship sank, and we’ve been King
Richard’s wards ever since. Not that we see him much. He’s a very busy
man.
“A week?”
Adela bounces next to me, excited to spend time with someone else our
age behind these stifling walls.
Castle life is not fun. We’re mostly left to our own devices when we don’t
have lessons.
Lately, Sir Guy of Gisborne has been around a few times to stay while his
father does business with King Richard.
My maid tells me I am to marry Guy when I become a lady. I don’t know
how I feel about that.
It’s a long way off. I’m only fifteen, and he’s sixteen—a year older than
me.
“There you go. Let’s put some flowers in your hair, too,” Maid says, and
I patiently wait for her to finish.
My wine-red, flowing gown trails the floor when I finally rise to my feet.
Maid wants me to wear a headdress, but I refuse.
“When is he arriving?” I ask Adela, who takes my hand and herds me
toward the door.
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