Faith Hope and Charity

Chapter 10..........Vasey fights dirty.

As they rode into the grounds of Loxley Manor Guy and Allan knew that something was amiss.
People here still rarely met Guy's eyes still getting used to him as they were. The tension had been slowly but surely dispersing. Suddenly it was back with a vengeance.

Two stable boys took their horses. Guy was about to ask them what the hell was wrong with everyone.
Allan put a hand on his arm. ' I wouldn't. The poor things would die of fright. Let's get to the house and find out'.

When the Manor door opened and Thornton came out followed by Niamh Guy shot forward.
' Where's Lady Gisborne ?' He asked with chilling quietness.

Thornton looked terrified as he told his master about Charity's arrest.
Guy said nothing. He just turned on his heel and headed back to the stables.
Bellowing for a horse.

Vasey had been waiting for the sight of his office door to fly open to reveal a furious Gisborne. And the man didn't disappoint him.

He was beautiful when angry the Sheriff thought. A fierce, sleek, chained animal breathing fire at him.
'Why am I not allowed to see my wife ?' He growled.
Vasey sat back stretching luxuriously. ' Ooh now Gisborne. I can't risk you trying to just carry her off. Can I ? She defied me and must be punished.
How much she is punished however does depend on you'.

' I'm in no mood for your games'. Ooh that ominous but sinfully sexy snarl.

' I'm not playing anything Gisborne'. Vasey replied calmly. Just a little matter of
'you scratch my back and I won't mark your lady's back as much'.
As it stands Lady Gisborne will be in the cells for 3 nights followed by 30 lashes.
You could cut that to just 1 night and shall we say 15 lashes...........
Do you recall a Black Knight by the name of Sir David of Doncaster?

Well it seems he has had a change of heart. You can imagine that I am not happy to have him at large knowing all that he does. So you will go and send him to his forefathers bringing his head as proof.
Then you may go and give the news of her reduced sentence to your Little Woman.'

Guy shot him a withering look. ' How do I know you will keep your word if I do this ?'

' You don't'. Came the careless reply. ' But if you refuse then I will be forced to add another night and another 10 lashes to the sentence'.

Guy stalked from the room back to the stables and Vasey chuckled. ' Charity, Charity.
How can you imagine that you could win him away from me ?'


David of Doncaster was surprised to see Guy of Gisborne arrive unannounced at his home.
He was even more surprised when the man produced a small curved blade and thrust it into his heart.


Back in Vasey's office Guy thrust a bag at his Lord and the Sheriff opened it.
' Gisborne. He purred. ' Doncaster's head. Just what I always wanted'.

He called for a guard and ordered him to put his trophy on a spike. Then he turned to the seething Guy as though just realising he was there.

' Still here Gisborne ? Go and see your little Charity then'. Let Guy have this little sweetmeat. He thought. Keep him loyal.

Guy ran down the steps to the dungeons and grabbed the repulsive gaoler. ' Lady Gisborne'. He hissed. ' And if I find out you've laid a fingernail more than was necessary on her then this..........' He grabbed the man's crotch roughly.'.......Comes off with a blunt knife'.

Rubbing his nether regions the gaoler sullenly showed Guy to a cell at the far end of the corridor and unlocked the door.
' Guy !' Charity was on her feet. ' I thought you'd abandoned me'. Her voice cracked. Then as Guy gathered her into his arms the tears began to flow.

Squeezing her close and breathing in the sweet smell of her soft hair Guy was close to tears too. 'He wanted you to think that. That's why he sent me off to do another job. But the good thing is that it means you'll only have one night here and in the morning just 15 lashes'.
He kissed her tear stained cheeks and red eyes wiping away the wetness as though she was a child.
' What did you have to do ?' She asked warily.
Guy couldn't meet her eyes. ' Best you don't know about this I think'.
He'd forgotten for the moment just how Charity's eyes had a knack of seeing right through him. She pulled away and seemed to be trying to study his soul.
' He has got to you very effectively hasn't he ?' She remarked. ' Already he has you keeping secrets from me'.

' Charity'. He sighed. ' The world isn't simple black and white. If I hadn't done this job for him then he'd have punished you worse to get at me.
I want to get away from him. I haven't abandoned that idea by any means but I have to protect you.'

He drew her against him again and sighed with relief as she melted into him.
' You mean that there are things it would do me no good to know?' She whispered into his leather clad chest.
' Exactly'. Guy answered kissing her hair.

' I won't pretend that the thought of 15 lashes instead of 30 isn't a blessed relief'. She looked up and Guy was pleased to see the slightly mischievous gleam had returned to her eyes. She hadn't lost her nerve.

' Vasey says I have to be at your flogging'. He told her. ' So I'll get a bed here tonight.
Let's at least be in the same building'.

Soft pink lips prised his own apart and for 5 minutes they lost themselves in a sizzling kiss.

' Be strong tomorrow My Love'. A small hand stroked Guy's rough cheek as he reluctantly let her out of his embrace. ' Keep your temper while I'm flogged'.

The castle court yard was full of people most of whom were simply curious to see Gisborne's new bride who was already in trouble with Vasey and rumour had it in love with her husband.

The Sheriff made his speech. A lot of utter drivel about taxes and how essential to the kingdom they were. Therefore all those who did not pay them had to be punished as an example. So, he reasoned, how could it be permitted for a high born lady to give aid those being rightfully punished ?
Lady Gisborne was one such perpetrator of this crime and today she would feel the force of the law.

He was so clearly enjoying himself that Guy had to clench his fists to prevent himself from strangling the vile slug or else punching him.

Charity was led out and Guy felt his heart stir with pride. If she felt any fear then it didn't show.
She glowed with a dignified calm and even in her shift had a regal air that had the crowd murmuring in partisan sympathy.

She was chained to the post on the scaffold and the back of her shift ripped to bare her flesh. Guy wanted to yell out a protest as the rear view of his wife was displayed to the world. He couldn't entirely sniffle an anguished groan at which Vasey's hand gripped his arm. ' One word out of you and we'll add 5 more lashes'.

Then the lash cracked for the first time and Charity bit her lip to avoid crying out as an angry red welt marred her creamy skin.
Again and again the lash was applied until the executioner had counted 15 and it was over.
Guy's relief came out on a long silent sigh and before Vasey could say a word he was at Charity's side forcing a guard to unchain her.

' Just get her out of my sight Gisborne.' Vasey said coldly. ' And keep her under better control. I may not be so lenient next time'.

He was aware that Charity had very much won hearts and minds today. Though he was sure that Gisbourne would be as loathed as ever. Standing there and watching his wife's suffering with not a word of protest. Inspired. Vasey thought.


Guy got a guard to ride his horse back to Loxley and he hired a farmer's cart so that Charity could lie on her front and he could sit with her.
The gossip that the farmer and his wife set in motion was that Gisborne had cradled his lady's head in his lap, stroking her hair if you please. And he had been talking to her. Softly and gently as though he loved her.

Home at last. He laid her on their bed and got Niamh and Mary to bathe her wounds and put on a goose grass ointment to aid healing.

Mary also brought a tisane with a slightly odd smell and when Charity sipped it found it tasted no better. ' It's for the pain My Lord'. Mary told Guy. ' And to help her have some sleep'.
Guy took the cup and held it to his wife's lips. ' You need some rest and this will help. Come on. Sleep, and dream of me'. He grinned roguishly.
Charity gave a weak but still sweet smile. ' All right. I'll buy it'. And she drank the tea down wincing.
Guy kissed her and lay down beside her. Within half an hour she was lulled to sleep by the herbal draught and Guy's lilting voice telling her the old story of Sir Galahad finding the Holy Grail'.

Guy left her to her slumber and went downstairs. He beckoned Allan out side.

'Someone it seems has it in for my wife and I think it time we found out who'.
Allan grimly agreed and he had a sick suspicion in his belly about who it might be.

TBC