Page 8 of Ladybird

“Don’t get your feathers all ruffled, Sister,” said Robin, chuckling softly at his play on words. “It is the perfect ploy, actually. Hunter will be able to keep a better eye on everyone while he is working with you. Plus, he’ll have access to the entire castle, being a noble.”

“But he’s not a noble!” Regina ground out.

“Nay, but everyone will think he is once you tell them so.”

“And if I refuse to help?” Regina crossed her arms over her chest again and her chin jutted up in the air.

“Regina, your brother needs your help,” said her father in a soft voice. “Please. I had intended on aiding him, but now that your grandfather has passed away, I am needed back home.”

“I don’t know.” Regina pouted. “I would really like to be home to comfort Mother in her time of need instead of helping a commoner pretend he is someone that he isn’t.”

“One of the castle guards has had his sword stolen,” Robin told her.

“I am sure he just misplaced it.” Regina wasn’t going to give in so easily.

“Sir Elwood’s horse has gone missing, too,” continued Robin. “Not to mention the brooch I gave Sage for our anniversary has mysteriously vanished into thin air.”

“What?” Regina blinked several times in succession. “Sage’s brooch that looks like a hawk in flight in gone? That is terrible. How could that have happened? And how can anyone lose a horse? Really, Robin! What kind of castle are you running here?”

“Now do you see why he needs your cooperation as well as the help of Hunter Chase?” asked her father. “It hasn’t been easy for Robin to be accepted as the new lord of Shrewsbury.”

“It’s been three years now,” spat Regina. “He has had plenty of time to be accepted.”

“Change isn’t always easy for people,” said Madoc. “It seems most of the nobles and knights of Shrewsbury were hoping for a new lord that was a little…older than Robin.”

“More like Father’s age,” said Robin, a disgusted look painting his face.

“Oh.” Regina dropped her arms to her side. “I’m sorry about that, Robin. I had no idea you were having trouble being accepted here.”

“It won’t matter once I find the thief and imprison him. Then, I’ll earn the respect I truly deserve,” Robin answered.

“You mean once the thief-taker finds him,” Regina corrected him.

“You know what I mean. I will be helping Hunter every minute, so it will be by my efforts as well.”

“Yes. Yes, I guess you will.” Regina’s heart went out to her brother. He had been so proud to become lord of a castle at such a young age. Irritatingly cocky about it, actually. But by the stress showing on his face right now she could tell that it wasn’t as wonderful as he had hoped it would be.

“Regina, I think Father’s right. You should stay here and help Robin.” Dot suddenly sided with the men. “I will comfort Mother and give her your regards. This way you can be here for Sage as well. I am sure knowing that she is going to birth twins when she already has little Martin to look after is a lot for someone who has been feeling so ill lately.”

Guilt ate away at Regina. She couldn’t abandon her brother or her sister-by-marriage in their time of great need. Still, she wasn’t sure she wanted to train this man named Hunter to do anything that involved her birds. She only wanted him to catch the damned thief and get out of here as soon as possible.

“Well, I…” She wasn’t sure what to say.

“This robber will stop at nothing,” Robin added. “Your birds are valuable and very coveted by all. They would bring in a lot of money for a thief. It would be best if you were here to keep an eye on the mews.”

“What?” That took her by surprise. “Do you really think this petty thief would actually try to steal my birds?”

“He’s already been bold enough to enter the castle and steal a valuable brooch. Not to mention, he was able to walk out of here with a horse without anyone noticing,” Robin told her. “I don’t think this thief is petty at all. He’s after wealth, and lots of it. This is on a whole different scale than a bandit you meet on the road. I am sure he would not bat an eye about taking one of the most valuable things that a noble can own. A hawk or a falcon, that is.”

Robin was saying all the right things to upset her and he knew it. Whether it was just to get her to agree or if he were truly concerned, it didn’t matter. She couldn’t—wouldn’t take the risk. The last thing she wanted was for Cloud or any of her birds to be in grave danger. They were like children to her. Regina would do whatever it took to protect them.

“All right.” She sighed and nodded. “I will not put my birds in danger.” Regina felt as fierce as a mother bear watching over her cubs right now. “I will do what you ask, but I will not like it.”

“Thank you, Regina,” said Robin. The stress tainting his face diminished. “I am sure doing the right thing will make you feel better about all of this in the end.”

“The only thing that will make me feel better is to know that I am here to watch over my birds. And I promise you, while I am here, no one will get close enough to even touch them. So, let’s get this thief-finder in here fast and hopefully he’ll do his job and be out of here in a few days.”

“Thief-taker,” her father corrected her. “Although I’ve sent a missive by carrier pigeon to my brother, William, I am not sure if he will have had time to go to the woods to find Hunter. Being a master tailor, your uncle is very busy, you realize. Therefore, I want you and Robin to go to William’s home and see if you can be of any help. You might have to track down the man yourself. I hear he’s been very busy with jobs lately that cause him to travel.”

“Does this man live in town?” asked Regina. “It shouldn’t be hard to find him.”

“Nay. He prefers the solitude of the woods,” said Madoc.

“Well, what if we can’t find him?” asked Regina. “Then what will you do?”

“Hopefully, luck will be on our side,” answered her father. “Now go. Find him and bring him back to the castle quickly before anything else is stolen.”

“Fine,” Regina answered, thinking this all a fool’s task and something that a page could do just as easily as she. “I will go, but I swear this man is already naught but a thorn in my side. I do not like this idea in the least.”