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

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 22 (PG-13)--Betrothal Bridal Brinksmanship, Part 2

"Sir Guy's Dilemma",  Ch. 22 (PG-13)--Betrothal Bridal Brinksmanship, Part 2   3/01/13  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, and James McAvoy as Lord George, 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:  The mixed up betrothal pairs revealed themselves and their true loves to each other, and eventually to their families at dinner--to some dismay, including Sir Guy's

"Sir Guy's Dilemma",  Ch. 22 End (PG-13)--Betrothal Bridal Brinksmanship, Part 2

After tempers cooled that fateful night when the true love matches were revealed--Lord Archer with Lady Saline, and Lord George with Lady Mary--the families come together to accept this new reality as the double weddings planning goes forward.  Even Sir Guy has begrudgingly given his blessing, though he is still worried about what Prince John might say or do in possibly thwarting  the new betrothals. 

Several stratagems were put forth by the men in Sir Guy's study and by the ladies in Lady Roseanna's large parlor. Ultimately, when the men joined the ladies in the parlor, they also joined forces.  The first salvo to Prince John is to be a missive of thanks from Sir Guy and Lady Roseanna for Prince John's royal decree legitimizing Seth as Sir Guy's first born son and titular heir.

Sir Guy and Lady Roseanna also invite Prince John to join the family the week before the double weddings en famille--the goal being to encourage Prince John to respond to the new betrothal requests as a cousin might--rather than as a scheming weasel of a sovereign in waiting.  But of course, they veil their invitation to Prince John and make no mention of vermin. 

Part of their strategem is for the men--Sir Guy, the Lords Talkington and Havorford as bridal fathers, and the bridegrooms, Lord Archer and Lord George--all travel to London  this very week to deliver the royal decree thanks,issue Prince John's invitation, and to broker the new betrothal's with Prince John.  Meanwhile, the ladies  are conducting planning in earnest with seamstresses for wedding gowns and bridal attendants--the two other Havorford sisters who will descend upon them for Lady Mary, and Lady Roseanna for Lady Saline.   All is organized pandemonium.

So, the men are actually quite pleased to be out from under direct wedding planning and the inevitable husbandly and soon to be husbands' patience that is so required of them at such trying times.  Their two day journey to London by carriage for Sir Guy and Lords Talkington and Havorford allow them time to become better acquainted.  As is the case for Lord George and Lord Archer riding their mounts along side. 

As London looms upon the horizon, both bridegrooms realize the import of what they hope to do--negotiate with Prince John for the brides of their choice and lessening the pain of Prince John's dowry marriage tax for their brides' fathers.