Guy and Agnes

It had been a worrying few months for Guy. On his visit home at Easter in April, he had discovered that his mother was ill. At his Christmas visit, he had been determined not to go back to Lincoln, but his mother had told him he must ' Alys will keep you informed how I do. The herbalist from the abbey is treating me, there is nothing more you can do darling. Now it was February, and he was told that he had a visitor. When he saw Alys, his childhood nurse, like a second mother to him, he knew it was not good news. 'Your mother is much worse Guy, it came on all of a sudden. I've asked permission for you to come home with me'.

A few hours later Guy walked into his mother's room, shocked at how white and frail she was, but she smiled brightly as always at the sight of him.

The herbalist Brother Andrew, on his daily visit spoke to Guy. 'All I can do for her now is ease the pain, it's only a matter of time. The best thing you could have done is be here eith her. she's been asking for you'.

In two weeks time Alys fetched the priest to Lady Mary for the last rites.

It was the middle of the night, but Alys and Guy sat up sleeping by her side. Guy held his mother in his arms and kissed her just as he did at 13 when leaving for Lincoln 'I love you mother'. Mary smiled and touched her son's face. A few minutes later she was gone.

4 days later Lady Mary of Gisborne was laid to rest in the church yard .The small church packed with mourners. When it was over Guy escorted his beloved nurse home, and set off back to Lincoln, his heart feeling as if it were made of lead.
March saw his 18th birthday though he had little heart to celebrate it.

When Easter, which he spent with Alys, was over, Guy and several other young men began to prepare for June when they would go to London to be knighted by the king.

The Sheriff was walking in the castle grounds, with Guy. He felt almost paternal towards this young man, whose own father had let his family down, compounding their shame with suicide.

Guy's sense of ambition and drive had bordered on the obsessive, but small wonder thought the Sherrif. The lad had talent which should get him far. He had loved his mother and his old nurse with very real passion, and he was capable of loving, fiercely loyal friendships. In particular with young Lambert, who had just left to study at Oxford. He hoped this friendship would be rekindled one day.

He showed some rather worrying traits too however. He had a tendency towards bearing grudges and malice, and his ambition needed to be steered in the right direction by a caring mentor, or who knew where it would lead him. The Sherrif would have willingly taken the lad on himself, but he had no junior positions vacant.

'It has been a pleasure to work with you Gisborne'. He was saying. 'From the beginning you had determination and plenty of raw talent, that I've seen develop well. Make the right choices and you'll go far'.

He stopped and looked at the younger man with real concern. 'Be careful though lad, there are many men who will see your ambition and passion and find some very un savoury uses for them. Never forget to use that brain of yours. Guy shook him by the hand. 'Thank you for all you've done for me sir. I want more than anything to make a name for myself, and bring back my family's dignity'.

He would never, the Sheriff thought with amusement be hampered by over modesty. Guy was as vain as a peacock. Well aware of his own talent, charm and good looks. Many of the castle's maids were in love with him, and he had bedded most of them (one of his talents according to rumour). At least he'd had the sense not to get any of them pregnant.

Guy set off for London. En route he had promised to visit his friend Agnes De Vere. This visit had taken an un-expected turn.

He had always seen Agnes as a sister. Sweet, warm and intelligent her company had always been a pleasure, but he'd never had any sexual attraction to her before.

In the garden though he had suddenly embraced her and they had made love under an apple tree. It had been wonderful, so much so that Guy had the uncomfortable suspicion that he had not pulled out in time.

After the ceremony in London, the new knights were expected to mingle with the assembled nobility. A form of net working. Guy was talking to Sir Edward Knighton, Sheriff of Nottingham, who was showing an interest in offering him
a position, in his household, which Guy was happy to accept.

Guy made ready to travel back to the north. He would spend a few days with Alys, before taking up his position at Knighton. He considered also making a detour to visit Agnes again, but was not sure enough of his feelings to know how to proceed with her. Best he thought to leave it and keep their friend ship in tact.

As he headed towards the stables he was waylaid by a man some 10 years his senior, who was vaguely familiar. ' Gisborne' the man greeted him, he had a slightly slimy way about him that did not encourage close interaction. . 'Allow me to introduce myself, Vasey's the name. I believe you've had a professional animosity with my lump of a cousin'. Guy was not keen to talk but decided to be polite at least. 'You could put it that way. We were never friends certainly. He seemed to get some pleasure from fantasising that I was having sex with my friend Lambert, until I made my inclination towards the ladies, and they to me very clear'. 'Yes', said Vasey, unpleasantly amused.

'I heard about that little episode, his balls ached for days I'm told. I hear you are to work for Sir Edward at Nottingham. You may have noticed, he is getting on in years, I may well succeed him before too long. I shall certainly be bearing you in mind'. The look he gave Guy, rather hot and steamy left the younger man feeling in need of a bath.

TBC