purposely
targeting him in the midst of the chaos. He knew that Summer would be
monitoring her brother's progress and Bose intended that she should see him as
well, even if he was intent to do away with her beloved sibling.
Even as he saw her sitting in the
lists, a faint sea breeze gently lifting tendrils of honey-blond hair, he had
no idea what sentiment was stirring deep within his heart, but he knew enough
to realize that they were emotions he had only experienced once in his life,
when he had met his Lora. He felt sick to his stomach when he realized that
even the initial attraction he had held for his wife was nothing compared to
what he was feeling for Summer du Bonne. What he was experiencing for her was
something different altogether.
It was a confusion that grew and
eased all at the same time when he briefly considered allowing Stephan to win
the bout simply so his sister would not be disappointed. Stephan had fought
admirably until the end, when he suddenly listed dangerously and Bose was
forced to end the match. Had he grasped Stephan by the arm to right the man, it
would have appeared extremely suspicious. Therefore, he did what was required.
He shoved Stephan to the ground.
And his sister had cheered. Even
now as he turned in the direction of the lodges, he could see that she was
clapping boldly for him, her exquisite face graced with a smile. When Stephan
rose unsteadily to his feet, Bose was scarcely aware of the man's words of
praise.
"Congratulations, my
lord," Stephan said amiably. "I do suppose now I am required to pay
your ransom."
Bose continued to stare at
Summer, smiling broadly underneath the red and white canopy. God help him, the
longer he stared at her, the more forcefully his heart pounded. After a lengthy
moment of gazing upon her beauty, he tore his eyes away from the captivating
vision long enough to focus upon his opponent.
"No ransom, du Bonne,"
his baritone voice was quiet. "I would ask a favor instead."
Stephan raised the visor to his
three-piece helm, his flushed face curious. "God's Blood, man, by all
means. What is this favor?"
Bose felt like a fool; an
immature, giddy fool. Beneath the visor, he could feel the embarrassing flush
and it took far more courage than he imagined to bring forth the request.
"Your sister...," his
voice was barely audible. "Does she have a champion this day?"
Stephan stared at him a moment.
Then, slowly, he shook his head. "Nay, she does not."
Bose swallowed. "Would you
be so kind as to ask her if she would permit me to wear her favor? I would be
greatly honored."
Stephan continued to gaze at the
man, torn between the thrill of his interest and the desire to protect his baby
sister. Yesterday, he had given little thought to de Moray's flattery toward
his sister when they had been unexpectedly introduced and found himself sorely
regretting his lack of foresight. From the sheer tone of the knight's voice, he
should have understood the interest.
But he had not. In truth, it had
never occurred to him given de Moray's stand-offish reputation; never once had
he seen the man with one of the many women who were intent to pursue him. Which
was why Bose's expressed interest came as something of a shock; God's Blood,
how Stephan wished another man had voiced his regard for Summer, a noble knight
who could be easily discouraged.
De Moray, however, was another
matter. Stephan had first heard the rumors regarding the man's reputation
shortly after the knight had joined the tournament circuit; dark, evil
implications that were difficult to ignore. But Stephan had never given much
thought to the vicious gossip until this moment.
After a brief pause, Stephan
shook his head slowly. "I am afraid I cannot grant your request, my lord.
If you will name your ransom, I shall be more than willing to pay."
Beneath the visor, Bose was not
shocked by Stephan's denial. But he was extremely disappointed. Struggling to
keep an even manner, he raised his visor beneath the
targeting him in the midst of the chaos. He knew that Summer would be
monitoring her brother's progress and Bose intended that she should see him as
well, even if he was intent to do away with her beloved sibling.
Even as he saw her sitting in the
lists, a faint sea breeze gently lifting tendrils of honey-blond hair, he had
no idea what sentiment was stirring deep within his heart, but he knew enough
to realize that they were emotions he had only experienced once in his life,
when he had met his Lora. He felt sick to his stomach when he realized that
even the initial attraction he had held for his wife was nothing compared to
what he was feeling for Summer du Bonne. What he was experiencing for her was
something different altogether.
It was a confusion that grew and
eased all at the same time when he briefly considered allowing Stephan to win
the bout simply so his sister would not be disappointed. Stephan had fought
admirably until the end, when he suddenly listed dangerously and Bose was
forced to end the match. Had he grasped Stephan by the arm to right the man, it
would have appeared extremely suspicious. Therefore, he did what was required.
He shoved Stephan to the ground.
And his sister had cheered. Even
now as he turned in the direction of the lodges, he could see that she was
clapping boldly for him, her exquisite face graced with a smile. When Stephan
rose unsteadily to his feet, Bose was scarcely aware of the man's words of
praise.
"Congratulations, my
lord," Stephan said amiably. "I do suppose now I am required to pay
your ransom."
Bose continued to stare at
Summer, smiling broadly underneath the red and white canopy. God help him, the
longer he stared at her, the more forcefully his heart pounded. After a lengthy
moment of gazing upon her beauty, he tore his eyes away from the captivating
vision long enough to focus upon his opponent.
"No ransom, du Bonne,"
his baritone voice was quiet. "I would ask a favor instead."
Stephan raised the visor to his
three-piece helm, his flushed face curious. "God's Blood, man, by all
means. What is this favor?"
Bose felt like a fool; an
immature, giddy fool. Beneath the visor, he could feel the embarrassing flush
and it took far more courage than he imagined to bring forth the request.
"Your sister...," his
voice was barely audible. "Does she have a champion this day?"
Stephan stared at him a moment.
Then, slowly, he shook his head. "Nay, she does not."
Bose swallowed. "Would you
be so kind as to ask her if she would permit me to wear her favor? I would be
greatly honored."
Stephan continued to gaze at the
man, torn between the thrill of his interest and the desire to protect his baby
sister. Yesterday, he had given little thought to de Moray's flattery toward
his sister when they had been unexpectedly introduced and found himself sorely
regretting his lack of foresight. From the sheer tone of the knight's voice, he
should have understood the interest.
But he had not. In truth, it had
never occurred to him given de Moray's stand-offish reputation; never once had
he seen the man with one of the many women who were intent to pursue him. Which
was why Bose's expressed interest came as something of a shock; God's Blood,
how Stephan wished another man had voiced his regard for Summer, a noble knight
who could be easily discouraged.
De Moray, however, was another
matter. Stephan had first heard the rumors regarding the man's reputation
shortly after the knight had joined the tournament circuit; dark, evil
implications that were difficult to ignore. But Stephan had never given much
thought to the vicious gossip until this moment.
After a brief pause, Stephan
shook his head slowly. "I am afraid I cannot grant your request, my lord.
If you will name your ransom, I shall be more than willing to pay."
Beneath the visor, Bose was not
shocked by Stephan's denial. But he was extremely disappointed. Struggling to
keep an even manner, he raised his visor beneath the
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