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

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 12--Too many Lords at the estate, 1/04/13

Sir Guy’s Dilemma”, Ch. 12--Too many Lords at the estate, 1/04/13  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:  Lord George Middleton returns from the Holy Land to recuperate from his injuries, to reclaim his lands and betrothed, and to rest.

Sir Guy’s Dilemma”, Ch. 12--Too many Lords at the estate

Sir Guy is determined to act with honor and probity with regard to his much younger brother-in law Lord George reclaiming control of managing the Middleton Estates--despite Sir Guy’s feelings of being dispossessed by Lord George shunting him aside as the Middleton Estates Land Agent.  And Lord Archer is feeling quite territorial about Lady Saline Talkington--Lord George’s betrothed--even though his own betrothed Lady Mary and her father Lord Havorford are still guests of Lady Roseanna and Sir Guy. 

The intentions by the various parties are complex--and the hoped for outcomes are not altogether clear and focused.  So at Lady Roseanna’s urging, the next day Sir Guy, Lord Archer, and Lord George have a man to man chat over luncheon--to settle the air between them.  Lord George was too busy being tended to by the healer woman Althea in the morning to join them in breaking their fast.  And in truth, Lord George is not necessarily the better for it.

The men will have their luncheon in Sir Guy’s private study in his and Lady Roseanna’s Middleton Manor home.  Sir Guy’s very knightly Study is filled with floor to ceiling dark wood but only shelves sparsely containing books and other artifacts of Sir Guy’s peripatetic existence before he met and married his Lady Rose--the wreckage of his life, including the metal guards  for  one of his hands from an ill fated suit of armor, a bejeweled dagger for cutting fruit that had belonged to Sir Guy’s mother as a child (a gift from his French relations), and ledgers of varying  sizes having  to do with the management and running of Sir Guy and Lady Roseanna’s estate surrounding Middleton Manor and also pertaining to the much larger estates of Lord George.

In the center of the impressive room--and around which the seating and tables are arranged--is a large stone hearth that is almost big enough for a man to walk into without ducking his head.  Though it is certainly not as high as to accommodate the over six foot tall Sir Guy.  Over the imposing stone mantel is the Gisborne coat of arms [(2) and right] in the party per fess shield format displaying the French fleur de lis and the horse heads indicating some Saxon heritage.  The diamond center with chevron and three dots refer to the trinity.  Finally, the motto below the shield is honor meus, mea vita--my honor, my life. It is the coat of arms of an honorable  knight--a knight Sir Guy continues to strive to become.

Sir Guy is not trying to impress Lord George and Lord Archer with his study--nor give himself the advantage of being in his own  domain--but he  ends up doing both. Across from the hearth is a large multi paned bay window into which a small dining table rests with their midday repast. And the men take their seats, say a prayer for their meal, then begin to eat and discuss the matters at hand.