"Sir Guy's Atonement” (Book 3), Ch. 18:  Sir Guy’s Baronial Investiture,   March 23, 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:  After informing the quite shocked Prince John of his toady courtier Sir Jasper’s death, Sir Guy of Gisborne sought and found comfort in his wife Lady Roseanna’s loving arms the night before his investiture to a barony.  The morrow will bring an elevation in rank for Sir Guy and his family--but not without some consternation.

“Sir Guys’ Atonement” (Book 3), Ch. 18:  Sir Guy’s Baronial Investiture

The bright Spring Tuesday morning of April 2, 1199, finds both Gordon Castle and Leicester Cathedral  abuzz with activity regarding the last minute preparations for the midday baronial investiture of Sir Guy of Gisborne.  And since the Prince Regent, Prince John had literally lost his aide de camp yesterday--the now deceased Sir Jasper--Prince John’s cousin George Lord Middleton somewhat fills that role for Prince John regarding the preparations for today’s ceremony.  And today’s investiture will prove more trying for everyone.

Being admitted into his sister Lady Roseanna’s and brother-in-law Sir Guy’s guest suite in Gordon Castle, Lord George finds the parenting pair surrounded by their children who are showing off their new ceremonial finery to their parents.  Lady Roseanna is even wearing a tiara--the Oxbridge-Middleton tiara that had been her mother’s.  Were Lord George’s wife Lady Mary not still confined to her bed after just giving birth to their third child Lady Juliana yesterday, she would be wearing the larger Middleton tiara that always pinches at her ears--so she is glad to be excused this day as a new mother still lying in bed resting.

The Gisborne children--10 year old Seth, 6 year old Lady Helen, 4 year old Louis, and even 2 year old Lady Sarah--are all bejeweled and attired in elegant ceremonial clothes for attending their father Sir Guy’s baronial investiture.  Their 6 month old baby Lady Diana will remain in her nursery with her nurse and a guard--for Sir Guy still does not trust Prince John as far as he can throw him.  Lady Roseanna will see to her baby’s needs again between the investiture ceremony and the feast to celebrate it. 

Seth: “Mama?  Will Lady Caroline think that I look older in my  fine new tunic of rusty red and gold?”  The ten year old preens like a young  man on the cusp of adulthood [(2) right]. 

Lady Roseanna:  “She will most certainly admire the fine young man before her, Seth Dear.  My how you have grown!  But you are still my little boy.”  She caresses his face and then kisses his cheek.

Seth: “Oh Mama.”  Seth whines as he wrinkles his nose and shyly pulls away from her.  “I am nearly eleven--too old for such motherly attentions.”  That age is significant to him because Lady Caroline is already eleven years--her being 6 months older than Seth.

Sir Guy:  “Mind your manners, Seth.  Your Mama only wishes to see you cared for.”  Sir Guy admonishes gently to his son.

Lady Roseanna: “Thank you, Guy, My Love.” Lady Roseanna smiles sweetly.  They are always in accord and supportive of one another in front of the children.

Seth nods agreeably in obeisance to his parents, then Seth takes Louis’ hand to take him to his nurse to tend to Louis’ personal need before the long ceremony, whilst Lady Helen and little Lady Sarah are holding hands and dancing in circles.  The girls’ heads are adorned with diamond studded pink velvet head bands rather than tiaras--which might topple off their rambunctious heads and be damaged.

Lady Roseanna:  “Girls, please don’t over do  your play whilst in your pretty dresses.  You have to stay nice for another hour before we leave for the cathedral. And then be certain to wear your linen bibs at the feast to prevent your clothes from getting food on them.”

Lady Helen: “Yes Mama.”  Lady Helen smiles in contrition as she curtsies to her mother.  Then Lady Helen demures to just swinging her little sister Lady Sarah’s arm as they smile adoringly at each other.  Theirs is a loving family and a loving home.

Sir Guy: “I wish you luck with that, My Love.”  Sir Guy smiles impishly, him knowing full well the mischief that their children can get up to.  Then Sir Guy leans down and chastely kisses his Lady Rose as they look deeply into each others’ eyes.

Standing at the suite doorway with a bemused expression, Lord George makes his presence known.

Lord George:  “Oh Guy.”  Lord George waves to get his brother-in-law’s attention amidst the childhood chaos.  “We must check the fit for the coronet you will be crowned with today.  I have brought the Middleton-Oxbridge coronet for you to borrow for the ceremony until your own is made.”

Lady Roseanna:  “How lovely!  Thank you, George.”

Lord George lifts the small gold crown coronet out of its box, it has 6 silver balls adorning its perimeter, with a bright  red velvet cap, and ermine serving as a cushion around the perimeter of the crown’s base for comfort in wearing it [(3) right]. Sir Guy looks at what his brother-in-law presents to him and blanches, before sneering.

Sir Guy: His countenance taking on a horrified pout as he looks away in disgust [(4) right],  Sir Guy hisses.  “I am not wearing that!”  At forty five years old, Sir Guy knows what he likes and does not like. And he does not like the coronet.

For although Sir Guy will wear an ermin edged navy velvet cape and he has his father’s gold and silver ceremonial sword that his son Seth will carry in front of him in the processional--and that Prince John will ceremonially affix to his person--Sir Guy had completely forgotten about the baronial headgear.

Lord George: “Guy!  You have to wear it!  It is a sign of your new office as Baron of Gisborne, when Prince John places it upon your head.  We will all be wearing them--each design according to our rank of Marquess, Earl, or Prince.”  Lord George makes a wincing face, as if to convey, we will all look silly, so you will be in good company.

Sir Guy:  “Can not you say that the coronet was forgotten at home?  Then I could do without it.”  Sir Guy whines manfully as he looks hopefully at his brother-in-law Lord  George, only to have his hopes dashed.

Lord George: “Nay Guy.  Even if that were the case, Gordon Castle is awash with all manner of ceremonial accoutrements to choose from.”

Sir Guy looks pleadingly at his wife Lady Roseanna, who smiles knowingly at her proud husband.

Lady  Roseanna:   “Guy, it is  how this is done.  And once your own coronet is made, you will be required to wear it at all royal ceremonial occasions as befits your elevated rank and status.”  She smiles serenely at her roguish husband.  He is his most charming to her when he adopts this pouty boyish attitude.

Sir Guy: “And yet I see that you do not wear the ladies’ version of the coronet.”  He points to her delicate diamond tiara sitting  regally upon her head as she wears her lovely pink velvet gown that he so admires her in [(5) right].

Lady Roseanna:  “Oh this?”  She smiles beguilingly.  “Ladies’ choice.”  Lady Rose squinches up her nose cutely as she executes a graceful sashay of her velvet skirts.

Lord George:  “Just try it on, Guy.”   Lord George urges.  Lord George holds out the coronet to Sir Guy who begrudgingly plops it atop his head.

Sir Guy: “There!  Happy now?  I look like a popinjay!”  Sir Guy grumbles. He knows that he looks silly in the coronet, like a fop or a popinjay [(6)].  Unfortunately, he is right.

And to all of their dismay, the coronet is much too small for Sir Guy’s  head.  The small coronet makes Sir Guy look big headed--which he is.

Lady Roseanna:  “Ohhhh!  This coronet is too small for you, Guy My Love.”  She sighs and shakes her head.  “George, please ask Lady Rebecca to open Gordon Castle’s tower vault to bring us two larger baronial coronets for Guy to try on.”  Lord George nods and leaves to attend to his task.

Sir Guy scowls.  This coronet headgear is one more reason for Sir Guy to be disabused of the notion that being elevated to a Barony is worth the trouble.  The only good thing to come out of this in Sir Guy’s mind has been the death of the conniving and devious Sir Jasper by the boar--so his hands were not soiled by the deed. But Sir Guy’s ill thoughts about the demise of the nefarious courtier are enough to let him into ill favor with the almighty--were it not for Sir Guy’s other sins already quite out weighing Sir Guy’s thoughts.

***

Standing in a small anteroom also used as a necessary room at the back of the stately Leicester Cathedral [(7) right]  while waiting for everyone to take their seats for Sir Guy’s Baronial Investiture Ceremony, Fr. Bale, Prince John, Sir Guy, Lord George as Marquess of Middleton, little 3 year old Lord Graham as his absent father Lord John Earl of Oxbridge’s representative, and Lord Archer as Earl of Huntington all wait patiently for their cue--which will be when the brass fanfare begins. 

Of course, seeing the chamber pot in the corner behind the privacy screen necessitates Little Lord Graham wanting to use it.  So he walks over to it, hikes up his tunic and pees into the chamber pot.  In fact, Lord Graham’s aim is quite good for a three year old.  Seth and the fathers in the room roll their eyes in bemusement.  However, the Royal Prince John is disgusted as he frowns.

Prince John:  “Lord!  Save me from children!”

Fr. Bale: “Now now, My Prince.  Be careful what you wish for.”

Little Lord Graham finishes, arranges his tunic again, dips his hands in the bowl of cleansing water on the nearby table as his Mama has taught him, then he dries his hands on the  towel on the table.

Sir Guy: “Well done, Lord Graham!”  Sir Guy praises the little boy by patting his shoulders, for Sir Guy remembers how difficult it was to train their sons Seth and Louis to wash their hands after.

Cocking his head up at his very tall cousin by marriage, Sir Guy, little Lord Graham smiles broadly.

Lord  Graham:  “Thank you, My Lord Gisborne!  May I have my treat now?”  For Lord Graham receives treats for aiming well and for remembering to wash his hands.

Sir Guy:  Speaking kindly and softly to the little boy, Sir Guy promises.  “After the ceremony, we will go back to Gordon Castle for a feast.  I am certain that there will be treats for you, Lord Graham.  And I will insure that your Mama knows that you earned an extra treat.”  Lord Graham smiles even harder at that, eagerly anticipating his treats.  And Sir Guy warmly smiles as he looks down at the little boy while still caringly patting the child’s back.

Prince John looks at the fierce warrior knight Sir Guy of Gisborne--soon to be Baron of Gisborne--as if Sir Guy had grown a second head.

Prince John: “Who are you?”  Prince John asks Sir Guy incredulously at the kindly man before him.

Sir Guy instantly straightens up to his full height and he glowers at Prince John.

Sir Guy:  “I am a father whose delightful children are well behaved and mind their manners.  Would that other parents could make so bold a claim.”

Sir Guy intones, intimating that Prince John’s own parents the late King Henry II and the very much alive but  exiled in France Queen Eleanor [(8)]  would be displeased with Prince John’s antics.  However, King Henry and Queen Eleanor were not without their own contretemps.  But as usual, Prince John as a child of his parents, does not make the connection that Sir Guy is inferring to himself.

Seeing a page give him the nod, the cordially  smiling old cleric and Middleton family friend Fr. Bale ushers everyone to the beautiful nave [(9)  right]  just before one enters the sanctuary of Leicester Cathedral.

Fr. Bale: “Gentlemen, Lords, and My Prince.  Our presence is requested for Sir Guy’s Baronial Investiture Ceremony.”  He opens the doors.

Sir Guy: “Lord!”  Sir Guy sighs with displeasure as he gazes heavenward for aid.

But Seth is all smiles as he takes his place in the processional line in front of his father Sir Guy while holding his late grandfather Crispin Edward, Sir Roger of Gisborne’s ceremonial sword in front of him.  His Papa will be named  Baron of Gisborne this day.  And in due time, many years from now--long after Seth has become a knight of the realm and served the crown--Seth will inherit the Barony as his father’s legacy, and the Gisborne line will endure. 

Then the prelude begins and then the brass fanfare that will play during their processional march [(10)].

The other nobles quickly take their places as well in the beautiful nave behind the sanctuary doors.  The processional line up is Fr. Bale, Prince John, Little Lord Graham as proxy Earl of Oxbridge carrying Sir  Guy’s borrowed coronet securely lashed to a velvet pillow so that he does not accidently drop it, Lord Archer Earl of Huntington, Lord George Marquess of Middleton, the Squire Seth Gisborne, and Sir Guy of Gisborne.  Everyone is wearing their coronets--except for Sir Guy who will receive his coronet during the ceremony and Seth who is wearing a bejeweled velvet cap--and ermine lined capes.  Then Fr. Bale leads them into the sanctuary of the great Leicester Cathedral as they walk slowly and regally up the center aisle.  They present quite a spectacular vision of nobles. 

Of course as they walk up the aisle, Sir Guy and his brother Lord Archer and brother-in-law Lord George can not help but make sideways glances at the pews on the sides and up into the viewing gallery above to see if some rogue assassin might still be lurking about.  Though blessedly, their worries are unfounded.  And they have the good knight Sir Roderick Merton sitting with their wives Lady Roseanna, Lady Saline, and Rebecca Lady Leicester and their families for protection--with Lord George’s two older boys included, whilst their mother and new baby sister rest in their guest suite in Gordon Castle under guard.  They will return to them as soon as this ceremony is over--before the feast begins. 

And even Prince John has relented about his reluctance for Sir Guy’s elevation to a Barony by his brother King Richard.  Oh Prince John is still put out, but Prince John now has a further way to wield influence upon Sir Guy, as one of his barons swearing fealty to him, Prince John, the Prince Regent, as King Richard’s representative.  Sir Guy can not dishonor himself by breaking his oath before god.  Yes, if ever there were a silver lining in this whole Sir Guy Baronial investiture situation, that is it for Prince John.

And in due course, with full pomp and majesty on display--in the form of the Prince Regent, Prince John--Sir Guy of Gisborne is  invested as The Right Honourable Lord Guy Crispin Roger, Baron of Gisborne [(11)]  as commanded by Royal Proclamation by King Richard [(12) right]. 

[Translation: On this day of April 2, in the year of 1199, in the presence of these nobles, and with the Great Seal of England affixed, for his bravery and honour in the service of his country, Crispin Roger, Sir Guy of Gisborne is hereby annointed and invested as The Right Honourable Lord Guy Crispin Roger Baron of Gisborne    

Richard the King ]

And though Sir Guy Baron of Gisborne would say otherwise, his ermin edged velvet cape and his father’s ceremonial sword--and even his crowning but borrowed coronet--make him a fine vision of a noble aristocrat.  But as soon as they are away from the ceremony in their Gordon Castle guest suite before the feast, Sir Guy eagerly removes the said loaned coronet and relishes being without what he deems to be pompous  headgear. 

Well, you cannot change everything about a man--no matter his elevation in rank.  The essentials of Sir Guy now Baron of Gisborne are the same--his knightly prowess , his commanding presence, and his strategic leadership abilities--only with his intentions and actions more noble and honorable these past seven years with the kind and loving influence of his beloved wife and now his Baroness, the Right Honourable Roseanna, Lady Gisborne.

But there is a dark cloud hanging over England that none of them know of, as of yet. And the morrow will bring dire news to England’s shores.  And what these tidings will bring for Baron Gisborne and his extended family are not at all glad ones.

To be continued with Chapter 19

P.S.  Due to the continuing glitches I have in uploading, you will find the full illustrations and the reference citations on my blog Something About Love.