Chapter Thirteen
Bose was not afforded the opportunity of escorting Summer to the lists the next morning.
Rain, mists, damp winds and all, she and Genisa were planted in the assigned du Bonne box just after sunrise, eagerly awaiting the commencement of the joust. The three du Bonne brothers had escorted the anxious ladies to the field, convinced the women would proceed without them or not.
Therefore, dressing hurriedly and with varied degrees of alcohol-induced aching heads, Stephan, Ian and an ill-looking Lance were the first contenders to arrive at the lists. Even the heralds, immaculately dressed in du Bonne red and white, were tardy as compared with their liege’s sons.
In spite of the excitement surrounding the last phase of the jousting competition, the dawning day had emerged dank and stormy.
A nasty squall had blown in over the course of the night, wreaking havoc on the tents converged near the lists and raining muck and misery on the unfortunate occupants.
Several knights, with their tents collapsed by the harsh winds, had found refuge in the grand hall of Chaldon.
Summer did not care about the weather. She did not care that the lodges had been somewhat damaged by the bitter winds or that even as she sat upon her sturdy chair clad in amber silk and brown rabbit, the ensuing winds hurling off the stark Dorset coast were enough to set her teeth to chattering.
All that mattered on this glorious day was that Bose would win the joust, and she, as his betrothed, would be permitted to publicly reward his victory.
A victory that would come at the price of her three brothers; Summer tried not to linger on that single most disturbing fact.
Even as Stephan and Ian and Lance set to a round of early practice against several sturdy dummies secured to the joust barrier, Summer applauded loudly for them as if she were truly supportive of their endeavor.
Stephan bowed gratefully to her praise, Ian staunchly ignored her, while Lance tried to yell at her but found the action far too painful with his aching head.
Grumbling and cursing, he simply shook his fist at her.
Bose had made his presence known shortly after Summer’s arrival to the field.
Astride his great charcoal charger, he had reined his frothing beast alongside the raised platform and proceeded to deliver the tenderest of kisses to Summer’s gloved hand.
As Genisa watched in smirking silence, Bose removed the gloves and kissed every finger on Summer’s warm, delicate hands, igniting a fire in her cheeks that had yet to abate.
A fire of pride and delight she took great pleasure in as the lists filled with the competitors that would duel to the finish for honor and glory.
The lodges rapidly filled with spectators, ill with the previous evening’s overindulgence yet utterly excited for the conclusion of the joust. As the wind howled and the mist turned into a driving rain, the crowd in the lodges grew vocal with their demands to commence the games.
Summer and Genisa were deeply involved in every aspect of the practice bouts and Summer listened intently to her sister-in-law’s knowledge of the sport.
Regardless of her original opinion of the tournament, the fact that she was now betrothed to Bose de Moray brought about an entirely different aspect to her convictions.
Certainly, the man was to be her husband and it was only right that she know and appreciate his chosen profession.
The fact that time and experience had eased her earliest view on the games was a contributing factor, too.
Aye, the melee was a horrid display of brutality and blood, but it was also a grand spectacle of skill and strength.
And the joust, as shocking and vicious as it could be, was also a tremendous exhibition of power and talent.
True, she was still uneasy with the experience of her first tournament. But she was learning to love it, too.
Especially when Bose was on the field as he was at this moment.
Summer watched him like a hawk, noticing that he hardly used his reins to guide the charger, using pressure from his thighs instead to direct his temperamental beast. He had already completed two excellent runs at the dummies fastened to the joust barrier, the second pass seeing the stuffed dummy completely torn from its mountings.
The crowd went wild, Genisa cheered loudly, and Bose had approached the lodges, lifting his visor for a congratulatory kiss. Summer had bestowed one gladly.
Edward was nowhere to be found as Summer openly lavished affection upon her chosen knight.
Bose proceeded to lift Summer from the platform, placing her on his massive saddle and parading from the field as the crowd cheered and hollered their approval.
Stephan, not to be left out, tore another practice dummy to shreds and demanded a kiss from his own wife as Ian, keeping his distance from his competition, eyed his sister and the dark knight as they cuddled and conversed quietly at the edge of the field.
Only Lance was left to weakly protest Summer’s amorous treatment, basing his argument on the previous night’s reasoning that she was not yet a married woman. But Bose threatened him with the prospect of pain should they eventually face one another in the joust and Lance immediately shut his mouth.
Finally left alone by the three over-protective brothers, Bose was reluctant when it came time to return Summer to the lodges.
As the gray clouds lightened with the rising sun, the heralds sounded the first trumpet of competition to indicate the games would commence shortly.
Dutifully, with obvious affection, Bose returned his betrothed to the lodges and cast her a saucy wink as he returned to his men.
“Oh, Summer,” Genisa sighed dreamily as Bose thundered back across the field. “I am so happy for you, darling, truly. Bose will make a wonderful husband.”
Rosy-cheeked and deliriously happy, Summer nodded faintly as she watched her betrothed leave the lists. “I can hardly believe the truth of the matter. It’s as if… as if I am living a dream.”
Genisa observed her sister-in-law closely, noting the absence of her usual severe stammering.
Stephan had made mention of the fact earlier that morn, amazed with the concept that Bose had seemingly eased his sister’s stuttering speech.
True to her husband’s word, Genisa had been aware of Summer’s improved articulation from the very moment of their morning salutation and from that point in time, Genisa realized that the youngest du Bonne sibling had matured before their very eyes.
“I know how you feel,” she responded belated to Summer’s dreamy declaration. “For months after I married Stephan, I would stay awake at night simply to watch him sleep. As if I was afraid I would awaken in the morning and realized his presence to have been a dream.”
Summer smiled, turning to her lovely sister-in-law and knowing Stephan’s feelings had been much the same. “You love being married.”
Genisa laughed softly. “I love him, Summer. As you love Bose.”
Summer met the woman’s bright blue gaze a moment, feeling the wonder and magic of new sensations grip her.
Like nothing she had ever known before. “In three days I have lived a lifetime,” she murmured softly.
“My one regret is that Bose will take me to live at Ravendark, away from my family. ’Twill be difficult to reside in his home and not my b-beloved Chaldon, unable to share my future happiness with those I love. ”
Genisa’s smile faded and she touched Summer on the arm, an affectionate gesture.
“I felt much the same, Summer. You forget that I have seven younger sisters who cried hysterically when Stephan took me away. I was uncertain about life at Chaldon, too, until I met a shy young lady who soon became my very best friend. You must trust that you will find a wonderful new way of life at Ravendark, darling. Have faith in the joy of your destiny.”
Summer absorbed the wisdom of the words coming from a usually dense and silly young woman. In the past three days, she had come to know much about Genisa du Bonne that she had never suspected to exist. A depth to the woman seldom, if ever, seen. After a moment, her broad smile returned.
“You are sounding more like my brother every day,” she said, placing her gloved hand over the warm appendage clutching her arm. “I shall m-miss this wise woman I have come to see over the past few days. A woman I should like to know better, I think.”
Genisa chortled again, wondering when next she would see her beloved sister-in-law after Bose de Moray whisked the lady away to the distant keep of Ravendark.
“There will be time enough,” she replied, noting the heralds had cleared the lists and were preparing to announce the first bout.
“I suspect your wedding to Sir Bose will not be for a few weeks yet. By that time, you may be so utterly weary of my newly-discovered wisdom that you’ll be ready to leave Chaldon and never look back. ”
“I doubt it,” Summer, too, noted the activity of the heralds with mounting anticipation. “However, when next I return home, I should expect to see an heir in your arms. I have waited two years for you to produce a child and I refuse to wait any longer.”
Genisa shrugged faintly, her smile fading. “When God decides to bless us with a child, I shall be entirely joyful,” after a pause, she sighed pensively and her smile faded completely. “I do not think Stephan has recovered from my miscarriage last year. He was convinced I carried a son.”