Faith Hope and Charity

Chapter 9.......Battle of wills.

Guy was glad to have Alan riding back to Loxley with him. It was a relief to be able to discuss Vasey's order.
' I'd say someone's been talking out of turn'. Alan observed. He got a withering look from Guy ' Let's avoid stating the bl**dy obvious shall we'. He snapped.

Alan knew from last time he was in Giz's employ that this short temper was evidence that his Master was seriously worried.

The 2 men stabled their horses and headed back to the house. Charity went through her usual routine of removing Guy's boots with her own hands then handing him a cup of wine.
She sat herself on his lap laying her lovely head on his shoulder. Her breath was soft on his neck as she unfastened the first few clasps of his jacket and slid a hand inside his under shirt to stroke his skin.
' You're very quiet tonight My Lord'. She whispered. ' Is there something troubling you ?'

She felt so warm and comforting in his arms and her lips were soft on his neck along with her hand on his chest.
He felt as though telling her would somehow make it all less awful. And he found himself pouring out all the details into her patient ears. ' Didn't I say that Vasey would be a dangerous enemy ?' He ended with a wry smile.
Charity nodded. 'I see what you mean but I don't intend to let him intimidate me.
Let's go and have supper and later I'll see if I can dream up a way around this'.

Her head rested on one of Guy's broad shoulders and she felt nurtured and safe in the strength of his arms.
Easy then to let herself slip into reverie. Allowing her conscious mind to take flight.
Which left her subconscious free to chase ideas.
How indeed were they to pay off the tax shortfall in the required currency without robbing the village or ruining themselves ?
All many of plans floated by each one more ludicrous than the last. But the answer was there somewhere and she was determined to find it.

And finally it did reveal itself. A quiet unassuming little idea but blissfully workable.
Smiling to herself Charity planted a kiss on Guy's collar bone and snuggled down to rest. Sleep had become impossible now but she didn't mind. She could take a nap during the day. It was worth it to feel so much at peace.

******************

As the light of the sun flooded the chamber Charity slid under the bed clothes and began to trail her tongue down Guy's splendid torso.
She tickled the insides of his muscular thighs and the soft sacs of his balls before sliding her eager mouth over his c0ck.

It wasn't long before he became conscious enough to know what she was doing. He groaned with pleasure as the sensitive head was engulfed by Charity's throat and her head bobbed slowly sending waves of rapture through his body.
Then her mouth was removed to be shortly replaced by her c*nt.
' Good morning My Lord'. She greeted him. ' I have good news for you'.

The sharing of this was postponed until they had brought each other to a shuddering gasping climax and they lay together sated and glowing.

' Is this good news a plan by any chance ?' Guy asked kissing Charity's sweet pink mouth.
' It is'. She replied proudly and told him.

Father Tuck's 'means and a prayer' for getting money was neither more nor less than
' hush money'.
His 'doner' was the Bishop of Lincoln. A randy old goat whose vow of celibacy had not prevented him from luring young women and men to his home for sex.
His superior the Archbishop of York was very strict and upright and would be livid with anger if he ever found out what His Grace of Lincoln was up to.
Father Tuck had found out the secret by accident and also that the Bishop was willing to pay liberally for his silence. The lion's share of the proceeds being used to help the poor and needy Tuck felt no guilt about doing this.

Charity's plan was to ask the good Father for money to buy the required quota of animals at the market. These Guy could take to Vasey leaving the village un robbed.

' Of course we may need to find a way of helping the village to pay future taxes.' Charity mused. ' Or who knows how often this situation may arise and it's possible that Vasey will find us out and still punish me.
But I can stand that if the village keep their animals. At least the winter vegetables are not yet grown enough to be of interest'.

She found her mouth suddenly claimed in another passionate kiss. ' You're amazing. Bl**dy amazing'. Guy told her in delight.

Guy told Alan the plan as they collected their horses and they were both smirking as they rode to Nottingham that morning.

Charity sent Niamh to find Father Tuck and ask him to call on her at Loxsley.

The merry cleric giggled with childlike happiness as Charity made her request to him
I'm sure that his Grace can be prevailed upon to provide the funds to buy livestock for the poor tax ravaged people of Loxley' . He said melodramatically with a twinkle in his eye.

On the appointed day Guy got his men to take half of the Loxley livestock to Nottingham and behind them these were replaced with Father Tuck's purchases.

Vasey looked Guy over appraisingly. ' How did Lady Gisborne react ?' He asked almost hopeful of a reason to punish Charity.
He had to do something to end the increasing influence the girl was having over her husband.
' She was very distressed'. Guy told him. ' Though I made it clear that this was necessary for the payment of taxes. She's very p****d off with me today'.
He added trying hard not to smile at the memory of Charity's VERY friendly parting kiss.
They had play acted her protests for the benefit of the guards in case questions were asked.
There was still the unanswered question of who had let Vasey know about the animals at Loxley. Naturally the guards were all prime suspects.

Guy had left the office hardly able to contain his mirth much longer. He drilled the castle guard in his usual no nonsense, unsentimental way.
The men couldn't fail to notice however that when he called them ' useless, fatherless
d*ckheads !' It was with considerably less venom than usual.

Vasey was taking a moment with his birds. The poor creatures. When his steward came and told him that there was a man waiting in the Sheriff's private courtyard with a message.
'I asked him to come in My Lord'. The servant said. ' But he said that you must come to speak to him there. I'm sorry'.
Vasey actually looked pleased. ' No matter. It's likely to be worth the effort'.

The mysterious messenger stood in the shadows. Nothing could be seen of him just the same as last time when the man had stood here and told him about the animals at Loxley.
How the man had found this private area Vasey didn't know. But if it meant getting evidence against Charity he would let it pass.
The first time the man had disguised him voice with a Welsh accent. Now he had a German accent like that of the Count who had been a 'guest' at the castle some months ago.


' You will be interested to know that Lady Gisborne has replaced the animals you took for taxes. She's laughing at you My Lord'.

Vasey was grinning. Oh yes he had her now. She hadn't prevented the tax collection of course but she was showing an open defiance of what was meant as a punishment.
He found work for Guy and Allan that would take them away from the castle and in the opposite direction from Loxely.
Much better to get the wench into a cell and let Guy get home to find her gone.

Thornton answered the Manor door to find 2 of the castle guards. ' We have a warrant from Sheriff Vasey for the arrest of Lady Gisborne'. They told him.
Rather more gleefully than was proper at the thought of man handling Gizzy's beautiful wife.

'Step inside. Thornton told them. I will inform My Lady that you are here'.

Charity came in through the Manor door. She was dirty having been at work outside.
However such was her bearing that she was undoubtedly the mistress here and one who was served with love and devotion.

'On what charge are you here to arrest me ?' She asked Vasey's men. The 2 of them looked at each other and handed her the warrant.

Interference with the lawful punishment of the village known as Loxley for the non payment of the King's taxes.

She read and snorted derisively. A jumped up charge if ever there was one. But geared towards making her too afraid to show any more opposition.
Well. You try it Vasey. She thought. Just you try it.

Niamh suddenly in floods of tears made to follow her. Charity stalled her gently.
' No Niamh. Stay here and tell Sir Guy when he gets home.
Above all I need you and Allan to make him curb his temper. We need Vasey to see us calm, intelligent and working together. Will you do that for me ?'
Niamh nodded through her tears and Charity kissed her. 'God bless darling. I'll be back'.
And she allowed the guards to lead her away.


She stood before Vasey. Meeting his eyes without fear.
' So Lady Gisborne it seems you have been very slow to grasp my warnings of the danger you are in by adopting me as an enemy'.

'On the contrary Lord Vasey'. She answered. ' I relish being your enemy. There is so much that My Lord could be and do and all you do is mangle and manipulate him. Using his weakness and ambition for your own ends.
I will not allow that to continue if I can prevent it. So...what is my sentence to be ?'

Vasey grinned. He be lying if he pretended that this battle of wills did not thrill him.
If only it had been a man not this girl.
' 3 nights in the cells followed by a public flogging'.
Charity did not flinch. Though her stomach clenched in fear having seen enough floggings to know that it was going to be painful.

Proud and erect she allowed herself to be led to the cells and into the hands of a leering gaoler. Silently praying that Guy would be strong too.

TBC