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

Ch. 9 (PG-13, D): Secrets and Lies

"Sir Guy's Atonement" (Book 3), Ch. 9 (PG-13, D):  Secrets and Lies, 

February 23, 2015 by 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, Lee Ross as Sir Jasper, 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:  Having been warned away from seeking the eleven year old Lady Caroline's hand in marriage by Prince John's Toady Sir Jasper, Sir Roderick finds their hostess, Rebecca Lady Leicester, at the behest of her three year old son Lord Graham Oxbridge.  However, Sir Roderick has another motive for finding Lady Rebecca, for she is his childhood love Becca who was torn away from him--as he was torn away from her--five years ago, each of them forced to marry another.  Lady Rebecca wed the Earl of Leicester, Lord John Oxbridge and bore him two children--their daughter borne after he left to join King Richard at the crusades. 

Sadly, Sir Roderick's marriage ended with the death of his wife and heir in childbirth eighteen months ago.  And though he still mourns their passing, Sir Roderick is drawn to Lady Rebecca as if she holds the key to his future happiness.  But she is not free, locked within a loveless marriage for the sake of her children.  Both of them are unhappy and give in to their poignant longings in a tender heartfelt kiss, before coming to their senses. And though Sir Roderick vows to return to Lady Rebecca briefly this night after the feast celebrating Sir Guy of Gisborne's upcoming investiture to a Barony--a chaste meeting is all that they may entertain--there is still the feast to endure.  And their secret love might not be concealed for long.

Ch. 9 (PG-13, D)--Secrets and Lies

Sir Guy of Gisborne stands tall and imperious looking [(2) right] as he purposefully gazes about the crush of nobles in the busy Great Banquet Hall of Gordon Castle in Leicester this night of Friday, March 29th, 1199 celebrating his impending elevation to a Barony. Sir Guy of Gisborne's eyes are narrowed in worried concentration as he does not find what he expects to see.  His prominent nose appearing even more beak like as it strains forward from the tense muscles of his taut hawkish face and neck.

Forgotten is Sir Guy's discomfiture with his overly elegant indigo velvet tunic--his thoughts now replaced with a sense of foreboding.  His children Seth and Lady Helen nearly falling to their deaths from the top of the keep tower earlier today serves as a portent of a sinister nature--beyond the revelation of a plot to prevent his investiture to a Barony taking place, with his assassination being plotted.  Sir Guy's utmost concern is to protect and to defend his family--nothing is more important to him.

At the center of Sir Guy's concerns are this new knight, Sir Roderick Merton, who has come into their lives as the savior of his children from falling to their deaths from the top of Gordon Castle's keep tower. He wonders how certain are they about Sir Roderick's character and his intentions?  Did his and his wife Lady Roseanna's gratefulness to Sir Roderick over shadow their good judgment in being cautious about whom to bring in to their inner circle as they invited him to stay with them in their guest quarters as he healed from his dislocated shoulder injury.  Worst of all, Sir Guy worries that Sir Roderick might be a spy for Prince John and his cronies, him being especially suspicious of Sir Jasper--and that Sir Roderick saving his children was a serendipitous circumstance that might now put his family in danger.