Chapter Eleven #2
Summer’s breathing gained pace, her fury spreading like the ripples on the surface of a pond. Of course she did not believe the knight’s lies for one moment. But for the fact that he was continuing to spout his defamation, she was growing increasingly agitated and her stammering began to worsen.
“You have n-no such concerns,” she hissed, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment and rage. “You are a selfish, p-petty man and I’ll have nothing more to d-do with you.”
She turned sharply on her heel as Breck reached out, snatching her by the arm. Summer gasped as pain cut though her tender limb, his strong fingers biting into her upper arm. But far more than the pain, the fact that Breck had managed to pull her against his silk-clad chest disturbed her deeply.
“Listen to me well, beautiful lady,” his foul breath was in her face, gagging her.
“My concern is indeed for your welfare. Why else do you think I would risk de Moray’s wrath by seeking to be alone with you?
Truly, it was the only way I could attempt to convince you of his cloaking evil.
You must understand that he will do or say anything to gain your trust and you must be aware of his tactics. ”
“As will you, I am sure,” her voice was as quiet as it was spiteful. “Release me this m-moment or you will deeply regret your actions.”
Breck continued to stare at her, his eyes sharp and glittering. “What will it take to convince you, my lady? Your own death?”
She tried to pull away but he would not release her. Angry, fearful and exhausted, she attempted to slap at him but he effectively quelled her weak attempts. When she continued to struggle, he shook her brutally to cease her squirming.
“Answer me,” he hissed, his even tone vanished. “What will it take to convince you of de Moray’s evil?”
“He is not evil,” she grunted, wincing at the fierceness of his grip. “His mother-in-law is the evil one for spreading such lies. And you are evil for b-believing them.”
Breck was coming to enjoy the smell of her rose fragrance; in spite of her speech impediment, she was a tremendously beautiful woman.
Her comeliness was almost enough to cause him to overlook her defect, but truthfully not enough of a distraction.
Even so, her soft body and delicious scent were most tantalizing.
“If I cannot convince you, at least allow yourself to explore the possibilities of the truth,” he said. “Mayhap you should ask his dead wife’s mother for the facts of the matter.”
Unaware of Breck’s lustful thoughts, Summer struggled not to vomit at the smell of his repulsive breath. “I will not,” she groaned, striving to pull free of his grasp. “She is a b-barbaric, malevolent woman and she shall only fill my ears with more of her fabrications.”
Breck stared at her a moment, a measure of curiosity taking hold at the implication of her words. “Then…then you have met her?”
Summer succeeded in pulling one arm free. “Unfortunately.”
Breck seemed to be unconcerned with the limb she had released from his grip, peering strangely at her as she endeavored to free the other.
Knowing from his brother’s information that the isolated young woman had never traveled out of Chaldon’s province, that factor alone led him to believe that the very woman needed to support his cause was not in London as had been speculated. She must be here at Chaldon.
“When did you meet her?” he asked.
Summer hissed with exasperation as she struggled to peel his fingers from her arm. “She arrived this morning.” Realizing she would be unsuccessful in removing his hand from her arm, she slapped at the appendage in frustration. “Release me, Breck Kerry. I d-demand it!”
In the midst of her struggles, Summer never saw the action that sent Breck to his knees, finally releasing his hold on her arm.
Suddenly, he was falling away from her as a great shadow blocked out the silver-cast moon, enveloped them both in an eerie darkness.
Strong, gentle hands steadied her as Bose abruptly came into focus, his massive body coiled with fury.
Brushing her hair from her eyes, Summer was astounded as Bose delivered another powerful blow, sending Breck sprawling to the ground in a spray of blood. As he balled his fist for another punch, Summer found her tongue.
“Bose!” she cried. “Please… n-no more!”
Immediately, Bose’s momentum came to a halt and he turned his focus to her. It was the most frightening expression Summer had yet to see on his face.
“N-No more,” in spite of his dark countenance, she reached out to grasp his arm. “H-H-He… H-H-He….”
Bose unclenched his fist, straightening from his hovering position over a supine Breck. “Calm yourself, love,” he said, his tender voice far removed from the threatening expression. “Take a deep breath and speak slowly.”
Swallowing, Summer responded to his gentle tone and her grip upon his arm tightened.
As Breck writhed about in the dirt, Summer pressed against Bose’s massive torso, the warmth and power of his flesh calming and comforting her more than anything she had ever experienced.
Smiling weakly, she was deeply relieved when he wrapped a massive arm around her.
“B-Breck is not to blame,” she said quietly, hoping he would not become angry with her. “I accompanied him of m-my own free will. The hall was stuffy and you were b-busy with my father, and B-Breck offered to escort me into the fresh air.”
Bose’s smile faded. “Did you also give him permission to touch you?”
She shook her head, eyeing the battered knight as he pushed himself to his knees. Even if she did not want Bose to beat him senseless, she would not lie to protect his bold intentions. “N-Nay. Never.”
Bose’s tender gesture faded completely. Releasing Summer from his embrace, he motioned to his knights standing several feet away. As Summer came to understand that she was to be placed within the company of his men, she balked.
“Nay, Bose,” she said, clutching him firmly. “No further punishment. Come into the hall with me now and we shall dance. P-please?”
He patted her cheek sweetly. “Indeed we shall after I have finished punishing Breck for his boldness against my betrothed.”
Summer forgot about Breck. She stared at Bose, her eyes widening with understanding. “B-B-Be…B-B-Betrothed?”
The corner of his black eyes crinkled. “Indeed. Ian, in fact, was most persuasive. Far more than I ever believed him to be capable.”
Summer’s mouth popped open. “Truly?” she whispered. “Father g-gave his permission?”
Bose was dangerously close to forgetting his duty to punish the aggressive knight. All that mattered at the moment was Summer’s luscious lips, her incredibly beautiful face, as he gazed deeply into dark golden eyes.
“A tentative agreement,” he replied softly, stroking her cheek once more. “In his drunken state, it was all I was able to wrangle. Certainly, we shall speak more on the subject tomorrow after I have emerged victorious in the joust.”
Summer could scarcely believe what she had been told.
Just as Bose began to wonder if she understood his words, suddenly, she let out a whoop of joy and clapped her hands together in a gesture of pure delight.
All laughter and silks and rose-scented perfume, she threw her arms around his neck and he joined her excitement, whirling her about in a joyous circle as his men looked on.
The smiles of de Moray’s knights were wide enough to cheer God himself.
It was the first true display of emotion their lord had allowed to surface in four years of grief.
None of them had expected such a happening on the day they had arrived for Lance du Bonne’s tournament; even if they returned home defeated and poor, they would always recollect the trip to Chaldon Castle with the fondest memories, for their liege had gained the grandest prize of all.
Bose spun Summer in circles, listening to her giggles of happiness, thinking the feel of her in his arms to be the most wonderful of sensations.
He was so consumed with thoughts of a new future that he forgot about the collection of men observing his excitement.
Before he could stop himself, his mouth was clinging to Summer’s tender lips and she giggled softly in joy and ardor, her arms tightly about his neck as her feet dangled off the ground.
Somewhere in the midst of their bliss, however, Breck had managed to regain his footing with a good deal of effort. Grunting and off-balance, he watched de Moray and his lady with mounting hatred. Morgan caught sight of the beaten knight from the corner of his eye and turned to him.
“Clear out, Kerry,” his voice was low. “If you’ve not vacated the bailey by the time I count ten, I’ll finish what Bose started.”
Breck drew in a deep breath through his nose, fighting the nausea and dizziness that threatened. Still, he couldn’t help himself from his haughty retort.
“I had no idea you could count, Skye,” he rumbled.
Before Morgan could reply to the jibe, Breck was wisely retracing his steps toward the grand hall of Chaldon. When he was out of sight, Morgan tore his gaze away from him long enough to pass a final glance at Bose and Summer as they continued to nuzzle and kiss.
“Mayhap we should return to the hall as well,” he suggested with a faint smile. “Bose seems to have the situation well in hand.”
Tate cocked an auburn eyebrow. “He’s doing far better than the rest of us,” he snorted softly, ignoring Farl’s gentle shove on the shoulder. “In fact, I have yet to so much as speak with the lady I have championed for the better part of the tourney.”
Adgar cast him a strange glance. “What’s this you say? How can you be her champion if you’ve never met her?”
Tate smiled, a devilish gesture. “She is my secret lady, of course. Unbeknownst to her, I chose her on the day of our arrival and have yet to properly introduce myself. Considering she has been seated in the lodges with a bear of a man clad in fine silks, I have yet to work up the proper nerve.”