Chapter Five #3
“You believe me to be laughing at you?” When she refused to reply, he shook her gently. “Answer me. Do you believe me to be laughing at you?”
After brief consideration, during which she realized that she had little choice but to respond to him, Summer nodded once. He released her and she stumbled away from him, her eyes wide and accusing. But she did not run.
“I wasn’t laughing at you, my lady, I swear it,” his voice was soothing and sincere. “’Twas your words I found humorous and nothing more. You are entirely correct in your description of the melee. ’Tis a contest to promote the male ego.”
She continued to stare at him, the shame and fury fading from her expression.
Near the tree, Antony continued to scamper about and above her tumultuous thoughts, Summer realized that she had virtually thrown the animal from her lap in her haste.
Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze and returned to the tree.
“I am sorry, Antony. I did not mean to be brutal,” her apology was whisper-soft as she scooped up the fuzzy creature. Rubbing noses with her newest friend, she could feel Bose’s massive presence over her shoulder.
She did not know why she should believe him; the man was a stranger. But there was something in his tone that relaxed and enchanted her at the same time. True, she had wanted to know of his reaction to her defect; even so, the process of discovery was a frightening, overwhelming thing.
“My f-father would not allow you to speak with me today for obvious reasons, my lord,” slowly, she turned to Bose, raising her eyes to meet with those of piercing black. “You must understand that they do not wish for my… imperfection to b-become public knowledge. They do their best to protect me.”
Bose met her gaze, feeling anguish for her plight. “That is why Stephan refused to allow me to speak with you after I won the melee.” He watched her nod her head. “And your father. That is why he discouraged me, as well.”
Again, she nodded. He studied her closely as she continued to clutch Antony, knowing from experience of the shame she had encountered. After a moment, he reached out and gently stroked the animal within her grip, succeeding in capturing her hooded gaze.
When their eyes met, he smiled his charming, lop-sided grin. “In their defense, I will say that I can understand their fear. However, regardless of their shielding instincts, there is nothing on this earth powerful enough to discourage my attention toward you.”
He watched with delight as her golden orbs widened with surprise. In spite of the colorless moon glow, he caught an unmistakable mottle to her cheeks.
“Why would you say this, my lord?” she asked breathlessly.
“Because it’s true. You, my lady, are the embodiment of the perfection God has intended for all womankind.
I knew it from the first moment I saw you.
And if your father and brother believe that an insignificant speech irregularity is going to discourage me from coming to know you, they are sadly mistaken. ”
Summer’s expression grew more intense, filled with astonishment. It was all she had ever hoped to hear, but in faith, never truly expected to. Indeed, she wondered if she was dreaming as she gazed into sharp black eyes, gentle and warm as they blazed upon her.
“You are serious?”
“Never more so.”
A well-arched blond brow rose. “You are… you are not embarrassed by my speech? You do not f-find it repulsive or discomforting?”
“Not at all. In fact, I am used to it.”
“Used to it? What on earth do you mean b-by that?”
He continued to stare at her. In fact, he’d done nothing but stare at her since the moment they had met. “Because my mother spoke as you do.”
Summer gazed at him as if she did not fully understand his words. Then, as reality settled, her jaw popped open. “Your mother?”
He nodded and turned away to regain his seat underneath the massive oak tree. Without hesitation, Summer followed and deposited herself next to his outstretched legs. He crossed his ankles, smiling at her awed expression.
“You find that surprising?” he asked. “Surely you did not believe yourself to be the only individual who has ever suffered from such an affliction?”
She blinked in thought; in faith, she’d never considered such a concept and after a moment, she shrugged. “Sometimes I feel as if I am,” she said softly. “B-but, I suppose, now that I think on it, it would be selfish of me to consider that God saved this imperfection for me alone.”
He laughed softly, displaying a row of even white teeth.
The right side of his mouth was far more pliable than the left, the cheek moving stiffly, and even within the dim illumination of the moonlight Summer could see three fierce scars, in parallel succession, gracing his chiseled cheekbone and disappearing into his hairline.
She found herself wondering what animal could have caused such scars.
“I would hardly call it an imperfection where it pertains to you, my lady,” he said, his laughter fading as he interrupted her train of thought. “For certain, I have never seen such magnificence.”
With a shy smile and a fierce mottle of red flooding her cheeks, Summer forgot all about his lopsided grin and lowered her gaze, staring to her lap and listening to his soft chuckle, casting him another coy glance when he continued to snort.
As Antony once again moved from her grasp and onto his master’s massive legs, she realized she was growing quite comfortable with the presence of the beast’s gentle master.
“Is your mother still living, my lord?” she asked, attempting to divert the focus from her reddened face.
“Nay, she is not,” he replied, without sorrow. “My mother passed away several years ago. And yours?”
“She died shortly after my b-birth,” Summer answered, also without sorrow. “My father tells me I resemble her a great deal.”
“Then she was a beautiful woman,” Bose said sincerely.
Summer nodded in agreement to his assertion of her mother’s grace, coming to feel comfortable enough that she could look the man in the face without averting her gaze shyly or uncertainly.
Above their heads, the owl hooted again and Antony paused in his busy inspection of Bose’s leg, looking into the darkened branches of the tree.
Summer watched the ferret and Bose watched Summer.
“He is most threatened by the owl,” she said. “Mayhap we should return him home.”
“’Twill be my pleasure to escort you safely back to Chaldon,” Bose replied, then paused a moment to eye her strangely beneath the silver moon.
“Tell me, my lady; was there a reason why you were loitering about the knights’ camp this eve?
Considering how protective your family is, I can hardly imagine they let you wander about the encampment alone. ”
So much for her fading blush. Her cheeks ignited with color again and Summer lowered her gaze yet again, toying with the grass beneath her hand. She did not want to tell him why she was here, running from her family.
“I shall answer your question, my lord, if you will answer m-mine,” the golden orbs came up from the grass, ensnaring him within their power. “Why did you wish to speak with me after the melee?”
“To ask for your favor. Now, why are you wandering alone amongst the shelters?”
“Do you still wish for my favor?”