"Sir Guy's Dilemma" (Book 2), by Gratiana Lovelace, 2012-2013

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 11(PG-13): Lord George Returns to Recuperate & Reclaim

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 11 (PG-13):  Lord George Returns to Recuperate and to Reclaim Lady Saline, 12/28/12  Gratiana Lovelace

(An Original Fan Fiction adaptation of the characters from the BBC's Robin Hood;  & a Sequel to "Guy's Rose" by Gratiana Lovelace)

(All Rights Reserved; No copyright infringement intended)

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Sir Guy, Clive Standen as Lord Archer, Emma Watson as Lady Rose, etc.]

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Author's Mature Content Note:  "Sir Guy's Dilemma" is a story of romance and intrigue set amidst Medieval times.  As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes (R rated) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments.  I will label the maturity rating of those chapters accordingly.  Otherwise, the general rating for this story is PG or PG-13 due to some mature situations and topics.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read the chapters with those labels.  This is my disclaimer.

Author's Recap from the previous installment:  Sir Guy was in such a tizzy getting ready for Prince John's visit that Lady Roseanna feigned a faint to distract him.  But in trying to carry her to the manor for help, it strained Sir Guy's old wound to her regret.  And with what turned out to be Prince John's brief several hour visit--due to the closing days of Seth's measles--Prince John manages to continue his hopeful dowery plundering matchmaking schemes for Lord Archer and the very young Lady Mary Havorford--as well as for Lord George Middleton and the not so eager Lady Saline Talkington.  Lady Roseanna and others are quite charmed by the sweet 15 year old Lady Mary.  But Lady Saline decides to take her under her wing to gain an ally against their respective arranged marriages by their parents.  However, after Lady Mary is informed that Seth is Sir Guy's blood son--not some child of the never existed cousin Lenore that Lady Talkington had been mislead about--Lady Mary inadvertently shares Seth's parentage with everyone, thinking that Sir Guy had a previous wife who died.  And the ever scheming Prince John ferrets out that Seth is Sir Guy's illegitimate son--but offers to legitimize him legally for Sir Guy.  This poses a quandary for Sir Guy, whose upcoming child with Lady Roseanna might be his son and legitimate heir.  How can Sir Guy recognize Seth legitimately, without dispossessing his and Lady Rose's possible boy child?  And Sir Guy also ruminates about losing his position as estate agent when Lord George returns.

So, much is broiling in the background as the Middleton Estate prepares for the return of its Lord and Master, Lord George Middleton, who will recuperate from wounds received in the holy land.  Lord George will be coming home to find that he is a suspiciously viewed brother-in-law, an uncle several times over, and a disdainfully resented fiancé.  A happy homecoming might be too much to ask for.

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 11 (PG-13):  Lord George Returns to Recuperate and to Reclaim Lady Saline

The next few days through the weekend at Middleton Manor are a whirlwind of getting ready for the injured Lord George Middleton's return from the Holy Land.  There are several details to attend to.  Sir Guy informs the estate tenants that Lord George is returning and that the lands will likely be under someone else's stewardship other than his own.  There is some grumbling about that because the tenants have gotten used to Sir Guy and come to respect him--not the least of which is because Sir Guy took a holistic view of the estates and land management, including land drainage and conservation  costs being paid for by the estate and not the tenants.  It is a lesson he learned in managing Locksley Manor and estates.  If he wants the villagers and tenants to care about the estate's well being then the estate needs to do its part as well for the tenants.  However, there is no guarantee that Lord George will continue with Sir Guy's management style.