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

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 1: A Brother's Burden, 11/14/12 Gratiana Lovelace

“Sir Guy’s Dilemma”, Ch. 1:  A Brother’s Burden

For Sir Guy of Gisborne to view his seemingly always scheming half brother Lord Archer--Earl of Huntington, Lord of Locksley, and now Sheriff of Nottingham--as a diamond in the rough, is to, perhaps, disparage the diamond.  This is not to say that Lord Archer is bereft of manly and honorable qualities.  It is just that these two aspects of his character do not often meet agreeably--nor exist in abundance independent of each other--as much as Sir Guy would like them to.  Though their brotherly bond grows stronger over time. 

Lord Archer’s character when contrasted to Sir Guy’s character is explained because they grew up so differently.  Sir Guy began his life to manhood with a loving family in his mother the Lady Ghislaine Gisborne--but he had to strike out on his own path as a young man, becoming a knight.  Though not as chivalrous to begin with as he would have liked, Sir Guy has mended his ways and become an honorable man.   Conversely, Lord Archer had to live by his wits from the very beginning of his existence, growing up as a foster child--the bastard and orphaned son of Sir Malcom of Locksley and the Lady Ghislaine of Gisborne.  So, Archer developed skills of cunning, bravado, charm, and allure--especially for the ladies. 

But that is the one of the dilemmas that Sir Guy now finds himself in--helping Lord Archer select a suitable wife and helpmate, while also keeping him out of trouble with Prince John.  Most nobles of Archer’s station have a wife selected for them in childhood by their parents--in order to strengthen and solidify family ties and alliances.  And the young couple is thrown together as they grow up--to hopefully cement their bond--of fealty, if not of love.  That is the case with Lady Roseanna’s brother the now 23 year old Lord George Oxbridge Middleton and his betrothed, the 18 year old Lady Sarah Madeline Talkington who have been engaged for ten years.  Her parents’ estate--owned by the Lord Denholm and the Lady Eliza Talkington--borders the Middleton estates and lands.  So it has always been considered most agreeable that Lord George and Lady Sarah Madeline would wed and combine their estates into an even larger estate--since the Talkingtons have no male heir and the inheritance uncharacteristically flows down the female line. 

But, Lady Sarah Madeline--or the Lady Saline as she is called by those closest to her as a blending of her two names--has grown weary of waiting for Lord George to come home from playing at being a soldier in the Crusades and make her his bride.   At eighteen years of age, Lady Saline is already three years past the age when most young ladies of nobility are wed.  And even were Lord George to come home this very day and wish to set a wedding date, Lady Saline is not altogether certain that she would have him for her husband anyway since she knows that he expects a traditional wife--something she does not aspire to be.  As an only child, Lady Saline grew up quite the jewel of her family--pampered and fawned over, while also well educated for a woman, as Lady Roseanna was also well educated.  The two young women are so friendly, in fact, that they quite think of each other as sisters--especially since Lady Saline has been betrothed to Lady Roseanna’s brother Lord George for ten years.  And, with Lady Saline having only recently returned from a tour of the continent with her parents, she is doubly eager to reacquaint herself with her friend Lady Roseanna Gisborne and her growing family.

***

It is almost the end of a long Friday morning in July for Sir Guy as he and his estate steward, Dawson, begin their journey back to Middleton Manor.  The morning has been spent traversing the estate on horseback visiting Sir Guy and Lady Roseanna’s estate tenants.  Sir Guy does not often accompany his steward, but from time to time he does so to make his presence known and felt amongst the peoples.  Sir Guy does this not to intimidate--as he did when he was Sheriff Vasey’s henchman lieutenant at Nottingham.  No, Sir Guy has learned that building trust and respect among the tenants and Middleton villagers in the small hamlet that is situated just to the west of Leicester, comes by him earning it.  And his sojourns with the tenants is developing into a friendly and respectful rapport.