"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3) by Gratiana Lovelace, 2015 (a Wattys2015 Nominee)

Ch. 19 (PG-13): Alliances and Betrothals

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 19 (PG-13):  Alliances and Betrothals,    March 27, 2015 Gratiana Lovelace

[An Original Fan Fiction adaptation of the characters from the BBC's Robin Hood; 

& a Sequel to "Sir Guy's Dilemma" (Book 2) by Gratiana Lovelace]

(All Rights Reserved; No copyright infringement intended)  [(1) story logo, top right]

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Sir Guy of Gisborne, Clive Standen as Lord Archer of Locksley, Emma Watson as Lady Roseanna Gisborne, Tommy Bastow as the young Seth Gisborne, Lucy Griffiths as the spectre of Lady Marian, James McAvoy as Lord George Middleton, Toby Stephens as Prince John, Dakota Fanning as Lady Caroline Havorford,  Chris Hemsworth as Sir Roderick Merton, Tamsin Egerton as Lady Rebecca Oxbridge, Lee Ross as Sir Jasper, and Sir Derek Jacobi as Fr. Bale, etc.]

Author's Mature Content Note:  "Sir Guy's Atonement" 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 (S) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments (D), or foul language (L).  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. 

Nota Bene:  And though I refer to some historical timelines, events, and personages, I reconfigure them somewhat for this storyline--and they should not be taken as literal historical fact.    The citation links are provided for you to find out what really happened historically. 

Author's Recap from the previous installment:  Sir Guy Baron of Gisborne's, Baronial investiture was sober and dignified as befits such a ceremony.  And the celebration after was quite merry.  But there are still many unknowns with regard to extended family alliances and betrothals.

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 19 (PG-13): Alliances and Betrothals

The days leading up to Sir Guy Baron of Gisborne's investiture as a Baron at the investiture ceremony in Leicester Cathedral had been merry and filled with tournaments and games.  There are indeed several young knights from good families in attendance who try to impress the sweet and pretty eleven year old Lady Caroline Havorford [(2) right]   in the hope that they might press their suit and win her hand in betrothal--and her handsome 10,000 pound dowry upon their marriage in four or five years time.   

And Lady Caroline's father, the now fifty five year old Lord Edward Havorford, has finally arrived back in Leicester from his extended travels--sadly having missed Sir Guy Baron of Gisborne's's elevation to Baron--but eager to see his daughter Lady Mary Middleton's newest baby he is quickly informed of, and then to assess if his other daughter Lady Caroline has met anyone she likes since last he saw her.

Naturally, this knowledge  of competitors for Lady Carolyn's hand rankles the ten and a half year old Seth Gisborne who feels that his true admiration and nascent love for the 6 months older Lady Caroline is pure and sincere--unlike the others who are only interested in her dowry.  But Lady Caroline still has eyes only for Sir Roderick Merton--for his gallant rescue of Seth and his six year old sister Lady Helen from toppling off the keep tower. And Lady Caroline shyly gazes at Sir Roderick through the fluttering eyelashes of her bowed head.

However the tall and muscular and handsome and affable Sir Roderick Merton [(3) right]  has been moved from the children's dining table to a head table extended to accommodate both he and Lord Havorford.  What with Prince John learning of Sir Roderick's role in uncovering the plot against  Prince John--and the possibility of matching Rebecca Lady Leicester to him for a dowry tax, if her husband Lord John is dead or if he can be legally declared so--Prince John looks more favorably upon Sir Roderick.  But as yet, Lady Caroline has not been made aware of Sir Roderick being spoken for. Nor is Sir Roderick aware of the very young Lady Caroline's admiration of him since etiquette demands that everyone guard and shield their true feelings--and she does so quite convincingly.