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

Ch. 41 (PG-13): A Day Like Any Other

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 41 (PG-13): A Day Like Any Other,
June 22, 2015 by Gratiana Lovelace 
[An Original Historical Fiction Fan 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)

[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/King John, Dakota Fanning as Lady Caroline Havorford, Chris Hemsworth as Sir Roderick Merton, Tamsin Egerton as Lady Rebecca Oxbridge Merton, Lee Ross as Sir Jasper, Sir Derek Jacobi as Fr. Bale, Judi Dench as Mother Superior, David Harewood as Brother Tuck, Kevin McKidd as Lord John Oxbridge Earl of Leicester, and Lucy Griffiths as Lady Anne/Marian, Sam Troughton as Much, and Gordon Kennedy as Little John, 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). 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: Traveling by horse as they ride along the carriage and wagon caravan containing Lord Archer's Locksley family joining them in returning to the Gisborne-Middleton Manor, Baron Guy and his son Seth have a frank talk about Baron Guy's childhood and his past with Seth's mother. It is a lot for the not quite eleven year old Seth to understand--it would be for an adult. Yet Baron Guy strives to be honest to a fault with his son in future to hopefully allay his son's concerns. Meanwhile, Baron Guy's wife Lady Roseanna has a houseful to tend to. And Lord John Oxbridge needs to become better acquainted with his children.

Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 41 (PG-13) A Day Like Any Other

Earlier that Friday morning of July 11th, 1199 at Gisborne-Middleton Manor, it has begun like any other day. The Gisborne and Oxbridge children being roused from their beds by their nurses, bathed, dressed, and presented for the morning meal with their Mama Lady Roseanna Baroness Gisborne--after she has partially nursed her now almost weaned ten month old baby Lady Diana before giving her some mashed foods.

Lady Roseanna is still worried by their son Seth running away after learning Baron Guy had been the one to stab Lady Anne/Marian and nearly kill her--and with her husband Baron Guy having hurried to Nottingham in hopes of finding Seth there. Their guests Brother Tuck, Lady Anne/Marian, and their cousin Lord John Oxbridge Earl of Leicester also join them at table.

But it is Lady Roseanna's brother, Lord George Middleton who gallops over from his nearby larger manor home known as Middleton Hall, and barges in on the family morning meal of eggs, toast, jam, and such. Sauntering into the airy conservatory room used for their morning meals because it is bright and faces the garden, Lord George [(2) right] invites himself to partake of their morning meal.

Lord George: "Morning, Rosie! Might you have room for one more at table?"

Lady Roseanna: "Of course, George." She replies graciously--despite him using her family childhood nickname. Her brother had been enormously helpful when the estates search of Seth ensued yesterday.

So despite Lord George eating her out of manor and home with his frequenty popping in around mealtimes, Lady Roseanna will not tease him about it this morning. Though Lady Roseanna does wonder if she should loan one of her assistant cooks to his wife, her sister-in-law, Lady Mary for her household in hopes of helping Middleton Hall to provide more enticing meals.