Chapter Seven #3
Bose emitted a heavy sigh, disappointed. “Very well,” his voice was calm and resigned. “I shall obey your wishes this time. However, I….”
His word were abruptly cut short and Stephan watched, startled, as the knight’s normally expressionless face took on a countenance of such ferocity that Stephan immediately turned to see what had disturbed him so.
Breck Kerry was poised before the lodges, speaking with Summer.
*
Summer had never seen him coming. One moment, she was gazing at Stephan and Bose in deep conversation and in the next, a knight bearing green and yellow standards was immediately before her.
His armor was beautiful, his banners unsullied with dirt or flaw, and atop his elaborate helm was the image of a great horned beast.
Startled by the unexpected appearance, she took a step away and openly studied the man.
For a moment, no one spoke, and then the knight reached up to raise his visor.
A pale, pock-marked face and small blue eyes gazed back at her intensely.
When he smiled, it was only to reveal large, slightly green teeth.
“My lady,” he said, his voice medium-pitched. “My name is Sir Breck Kerry. I am competing in the first round and was hoping if you have not yet given your favor to anyone, that you would graciously consider my solicitation.”
Summer did not like any aspect of the pale-faced, foul-breathed knight. Not his manners, nor his looks, nor the strangely annoying quality to his speaking tone. When she cleared her throat in a firm attempt to discourage him, Edward suddenly appeared at his daughter’s side, his round face taut.
“The lady is not dispensing favors, Sir Breck,” he said with more fortitude that Summer had heard in a long while. “Choose another.”
Breck, however, was undeterred and dipped his head gallantly in the baron’s direction.
“My lord,” he greeted. “My brother informed me this morn that the delightful creature seated next to you at yesterday’s melee was your only daughter.
Since I was unaware the du Bonne brothers had a sister, I was merely attempting to introduce myself. ”
Edward eyed the aggressive knight; he knew him to be the man who had broken Stephan’s wrist last year and in spite of his callous attitude in matters pertaining to his children, found himself leaping to Summer’s defense….
“They do indeed,” he replied coldly. “If you will excuse us, sir knight, the joust is about to commence.”
Breck continued to eye Summer, then Genisa when the woman took a position beside her sister-in-law and clutched her protectively. His small blue eyes raked Genisa suggestively before returning to Summer.
“I understand your father’s concern, Lady Summer. Even so, my intentions are purely honorable,” he said with mock sincerity. “Have you indeed given your favor this day?”
Before anyone could stop her, Summer stepped forward in a fit of disgust. “I have given my f-favor to Sir Bose,” she said. “Now, please go. I have no desire to speak with you.”
The smile on Breck’s lips faded with unnatural swiftness.
He continued to stare at her, digesting the flaw she had been unashamed to display with her insolent tongue.
Instantly, his excitement and lust banked as he pondered her defect; God’s Blood, what a tragedy her condition exhibited for, certainly, she was terribly beautiful.
But with her flagrant stammer, she was as worthless as a three-legged cow and his disappointment settled.
His discouragement, however, was of little matter; the fact remained that the lady and Bose were attracted to one another, so much so that she had given him her favor.
And the fact that Breck had sworn to avenge his failing in the melee against Bose merely fed his determination to sway her opinion against the mighty knight.
“I… I apologize if I have offended you, my lady,” he said as genuinely as he was able. “I had no idea that you and Sir Bose were… well, that is to say, I am distressed to learn that you have allowed a knight of such questionable character to bear your favor.”
Summer’s gaze was unnaturally piercing. “Sir Bose is a perfect knight and I am proud to have him b-bear my favor.”
Breck gave her his best anxious expression. “But he is a… God’s Blood, dare I say it? His reputation toward the fairer sex is certainly not the most solid.”
Summer cocked an eyebrow, angered and shaken with the knight’s implication. Good Lord, did everyone know of the lies regarding Bose’s past? Cheeks flushed, she tried her best not to shout her defensive reply.
“And the rumors you refer to are nothing but a pack of malicious f-fabrications,” she said, her voice acquiring an odd quiver. “Sir Bose never killed his wife. She died in childbirth.”
Breck’s eyes widened with mock concern. “And he told you this version of the truth, my lady?”
“He did. And you will believe him w-without question.”
Breck blinked innocently, as if digesting her forceful statement. Clearing his throat delicately, in a fashion suggesting he was shocked by the entire conversation, he shook his head feebly.
“My lady, did it not occur to you that he would parlay any convenient tale so that you would disbelieve the reality of his darker reputation? Surely you realize that a smitten man will do or say anything to gain your trust,” his gaze moved to Edward, round and short and perspiring under the bright morning sun.
“My lord, you must protect your daughter from de Moray’s evil. I fear that….”
Breck’s words were abruptly cut short by the powerful thunder of hooves, startling his warhorse and causing the animal to dance about nervously. Summer was vaguely aware of a red and white banner before her as the brilliant sunlight reflected off portions of plate armor, nearly blinding her.
Amidst the red and white and bolts of silver, however, she caught a glimpse of black and white. The very next she realized, Breck Kerry lay on the ground and Bose was already dismounted, stalking the downed knight.
The tension in the air was unmistakable as the crowd in the lodges jockeyed for a better position from which to watch the extra-curricular event.
Summer was aware that Stephan had placed himself between his sister and the green and yellow knight, his powerful warhorse snorting and foaming.
She heard Genisa gasp as Bose reached down and grasped Breck by the neck, heaving the man to his feet in one effortless motion.
Summer was truly shocked by the swiftness of the entire event, but her surprise had not robbed her of her senses. Grasping her skirts, she dashed to the edge of the platform where Bose was preparing to deal Breck a harsh lesson.
“Bose!” she cried softly. “What are you d-doing?”
At the sound of her sweet, shaken voice, Bose’s helmed head immediately turned in her direction. With Breck still clutched in one massive gauntlet, he raised his visor with the other.
“I am preparing to punish him for speaking to you,” he said frankly. “Did he offend you, my lady? Was his manner bold and intolerable?”
Gazing into his piercing black eyes, Summer’s astonishment faded as a tremendous sense of flattery took hold.
Aye, Stephan and Ian and Lance had punished her tormenters and old Kermit the tutor had been quite free with his cane when he deciphered a slanderous insult toward his young charge.
But her thanks for their shielding behavior had never mounted to the warm, fluid excitement she was feeling with Bose’s chivalry.
She could not help the smile that creased her lips. “Nay, my lord, he was not b-bold or aggressive toward me. Truly, there is no need to punish him, though I thank you deeply for your concern.”
Bose paused a moment, his face unreadable, before releasing Breck completely. The knight stumbled back, rubbing at his neck and glaring daggers at the massive warrior at least a head taller than himself.
“Damn you, de Moray,” he hissed. “Your foolish heroics were uncalled for. There is no law against my speaking to the lady.”
Planted between his sister and the two scuffling knights, Stephan cocked an eyebrow as he joined the conversation.
“Nay, Kerry, there is no law against you speaking with my sister. But I will only tell you one time; stay clear of her. If I ever see you speaking or even so much as looking in her direction, you’ll most certainly not like my reaction. ”
Breck’s gaze was even as he beheld Stephan with small blue eyes. “Yet you would allow de Moray, a known murderer, to bear your sister’s favor. Most strange, Sir Stephan.”
Although Bose did not react, Stephan drew in a long, intolerant breath.
“If I must make a choice between the two of you, I suppose I would rather see Sir Bose bear my sister’s favor,” unwilling to say any more, he reined his charger in the opposite direction and motioned to the heralds at the corner of the field.
“I believe you gentle knights are scheduled to joust. Mayhap you can settle your dispute with the aid of a lance in your grip.”
Bose immediately turned away from Breck and regained his steed, mounting effortlessly.
Breck, still shaking off the shock of having been unseated quite brutally, moved slowly to his snorting mount and cuffed the horse when it snapped at him.
Emitting a yelp when his unprotected wrist made contact with the strip of armor secured to the horse’s face, he grumbled and grunted angrily as he mounted his charger.