Ian’s brow furrowed, his smile fading. “Breck? God’s Blood, what’s he got to do with this?”
Nearing the heady edges of despair as a result of Ian’s lack of action, Genisa could hardly control her panic and irritation. “For Mercy’s Sake, Ian, we must find Stephan. Summer is in terrible trouble!”
Growing increasingly concerned with the confusing situation Genisa was attempting to convey, Ian grasped his sister-in-law by both arms to calm and steady her. “Stephan is preparing for his coming bout. If Summer is in trouble, mayhap I should go and speak with father. Mayhap….”
Genisa shook her head sharply, bordering on tears once again, Ian failed to take her seriously. Why did the man have to be so damn composed and stubborn? “Good Heavens, Ian, if you’ve ever loved me, you’ll go and find Stephan and tell him what’s happened. There is no time to lose with this meaningless chatter!”
His warm manner and calm expression faded. Genisa met his gaze steadily, realizing he looked very much off-guard as the meaning of her words sank deep.
“What… what do you mean?” he whispered. “If I have ever…?”
She swallowed hard, laboring to ease both her panic and his awkwardness. “Please, Ian, I did not mean to sound trivial. I… I was simply attempting to motivate you. Summer is in trouble and….”
“If I have ever loved you?” he repeated, ignoring focus of her apprehensive message. “Where did you ever get an idea like that?”
Genisa continued to gaze into his eyes, feeling guilty that she had carelessly broached a subject she and Stephan had agreed long ago to be off limits. Staring into Ian’s face, she could see more than ever that it was true. It had always been true.
“From you, darling,” she whispered, her respiration calming dramatically at compassion for Ian’s plight. Completely off the subject of Summer’s imprisonment, she touched Ian’s hand gently. “From the moment we met, I could see it in your eyes and feel it within your heart. But fear not, Ian; your secret is safe with me. No one shall ever know by my lips or by Stephan’s.”
He visibly blanched. “My brother… does he…?”
She nodded faintly, her soft fingers silencing his lips. “It matters naught. He’s never faulted you your feelings,” as Ian fidgeted and cleared his throat nervously, completely removed from the commonly controlled man she had come to know and love, Genisa realized now was not the appropriate time to continue the exploration of such personal sentiment. When, or if, the time ever presented itself again, perhaps she and Ian could clear the air between them.
But not now. There was a more pressing crisis at hand. “Go now,” Genisa removed her fingers, seeking to divert the knight’s unsettled attention. “Find Stephan. Tell him Summer’s been taken to the vault and he must go to her immediately.”
Ian continued to gaze at her a long moment, wanting to linger within her presence, wanting to put as much distance as he could between them. In faith, he wasn’t at all sure what he was feeling; but the fact of the matter remained that Genisa knew his well-kept secret. And so did his brother. A fantasy that wasn’t his own any longer and he somehow felt ashamed.
Turning on his heel, Ian went in search of his brother to tell the man of their sister’s apparent confinement and wondering if he shouldn’t apologize for his treacherous feelings in the same breath, expressing his sorrow for having coveted his brother’s wife.
Or he could pretend the conversation never took place. For the sake of his heart, Ian liked that idea best of all.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Stephan saw Bose’s figure before he ever saw the face. He knew he would be coming and in faith, Stephan was glad. He could not handle the situation alone. He needed help.
“Get her out of the vault, Stephan. Now.”
Bose was still several feet away as he issued the order. Stephan pushed himself from his leisurely position against the wall, moving forward to greet the man within the bowels of Chaldon’s darkened labyrinth.
“Ian and Lance are with her and she is perfectly safe and comfortable,” as Bose came into the weak light, Stephan was not surprised to note his menacing expression. In fact, Stephan had never seen a more deadly countenance and he hastened to calm the man before he exploded into a fury of fists and steel.
Bose’s jaw ticked as he replied. “I would hardly call the stanky intestines of Chaldon’s dungeon a safe and comfortable atmosphere. You will release her immediately.”
Stephan nodded in agreement, putting his hands against the man’s chest as he made an attempt to move past him. “Of course I agree with you, but we must confront the overall problem, not simply my sister’s captivity. Calm yourself, Bose, so that we might rationally discuss this situation.”
Bose was beyond rational thought. He was very nearly to the limits of his control and struggling further not to wrap his hands around Stephan’s neck as the man sought to delay his retrieval of Summer. From the very moment a du Bonne soldier had entered his encampment spouting word of Lady Summer’s captivity in the vault, Bose had defaulted his round to Ian du Bonne and made immediate haste for Chaldon’s keep with nothing but murder on his mind.
What Bose did not know, of course, was that Ian had forfeited his round to de Moray several minutes earlier after receiving word of his sister’s fate from the hysterical Genisa. As Stephan sent a soldier running for de Moray’s tent, the du Bonne brothers were already moving for the castle to make sense of the situation before Bose arrived and tore the place to shreds.
Shreds or worse; the ramblings of a breathless soldier was the extent of Bose’s knowledge on Summer’s imprisonment. He did not know where her father was and he frankly did not care; all that mattered was that he collect Summer and leave Chaldon immediately. If the brothers du Bonne supported his endeavor, then he would be forever in their debt. And if they interfered with his intentions, he would kill them on the spot.
Considering he had no desire to kill Summer’s eldest brother, he forced himself to calm at the man’s request. But it was a difficult battle. Looking into the Stephan’s eyes, Bose drew in a deep breath for strength and patience.
“There is nothing left to rationally discuss, Stephan. Your father passed beyond the boundaries of rationality and common sense when he ordered his daughter to the vault for a reason that has eluded me.”
Stephan met Bose’s gaze, emitting a heavy sigh before turning away, pacing aimlessly toward the moldering stone wall. “Get hold of yourself, man. There is far more to this story than my father’s reasoning to banish Summer to the vault.”
Bose could have marched past him at that moment and torn the place apart in search of Summer. But something in Stephan’s tone forced him to pause.
“Tell me, then. And be quick about it.”
Stephan kicked at the wall distractedly, composing his thoughts and praying the notification of such news would not send Bose over the edge. Drawing a deep breath, he turned to confront the onyx-black eyes.
“My father betrothed Summer last night.”
“I know, Stephan. I was there.”
Stephan shook his head. “I am not speaking of his verbal consent to you.” God’s Blood, he could hardly stand to look the man in the face as he spoke. He felt as if he were about to destroy de Moray’s entire world. “’Twould seem that after my father had a chance to mull over his oral agreement with you, he changed his mind and decided to officially pledge my sister to Breck Kerry.”
Bose’s features did not change expression. When he managed to speak, however, his tone was hoarse. “Who told you this?”
“Summer did,” Stephan said softly, feeling the man’s pain as it radiated forth from his piercing black eyes. “When she refused to obey his directive, father ordered her to the vault.”
Bose continued to stare at him. Several moments passed with virtually no movement or reaction when Stephan began to notice the tick in Bose’s cheek growing stronger. And his complexion, so recently tinged a furious red, seemed to drain of all color leaving him pa
le and wax-like. As Stephan braced himself for an eruption of anguish and temper, Bose seemed quite unwilling to summon the energy. In fact, if Stephan hadn’t known better, he would have sworn the man to be verging on a smile.
“Then you are telling me, in essence, that your father has broken his word to me?”
Stephan nodded faintly. “So it would seem.”
“And you have not confronted him with this information?”
“He’s still in the lodges, viewing the conclusion of the joust.”
Bose shifted on his thick legs, his eyes like smoldering coals within his ashen face. “Surely he has come to realize that you, as well as me, have yielded our bouts and fled the field. Surely he suspects we have gone to free Summer from her captivity.”
Stephan looked entirely serious. “My father believes only that which he is willing to accept. He believes my brothers and I to be loyal to him, therefore, I am positive he has faith in our willingness to enforce his decision. In fact, he’s threatened to disown us several times for the slightest of infractions and based upon the fear that we are disinclined to relinquish our inheritance, he has no reason to believe that we have come to the vault for any reason other than to comfort Summer until she is released. And to prevent you from doing anything foolish.”
“Is that what you intend to do? Stop me?”
“Nay. But my father will believe so. He will demand so.”
Allowing Stephan’s statement to digest, Bose sighed heavily in the first real display of sentiment. “God’s Beard, Stephan. Is your father truly such a tyrant that he would manipulate the lives of others at his whim?”
Stephan shrugged faintly. “Not really. But he is a fool. A weak-minded, irresponsible fool who believes the world to be within his grasp.”
Bose’s gaze was steady in the weak torchlight, moving from thoughts of Edward du Bonne to the true motivation behind the man’s altered mind. Not an entirely shocking reason, he realized bitterly. “I had no idea Breck’s interest in Summer would include challenging me for her hand. Do you suppose he confronted your father and convinced him that Summer would be better off as Lady Kerry?”
“Possibly. Father was terribly drunk last night, as you know. It’s possible that Breck managed to convince him to disregard his verbal consent to you in favor of Breck’s offer.”
“And I would suspect that Breck’s proposal was more of an attempt at revenge against me. I dealt the man a righteous pounding last eve for touching your sister and, naturally, I would assume he is eager to seek retaliation.”
Stephan slanted him a glance, a blond eyebrow cocked in thought. “We know that Breck is ruthless and unscrupulous on the tournament field. ’Twould seem his tactics do not stop on the turf of battle, but rather dictate his entire existence.”
“An eye for an eye.”
“Or in this case, stealing what is most precious to you simply to retaliate for a proper punishment dealt.”
Bose drew in a deep breath, steadying himself as the information of Summer’s betrothal sank deep. In faith, he found he wasn’t particularly surprised; based on his observations of the baron, such a change of heart had not been out of the realm of possibility and he found himself cursing his lack of initiative not to have insisted the verbal consent be immediately put to paper. Breck’s vicious attempts at vengeance aside, there was truthfully no one to blame but himself for the circumstance.
“Do you suppose your father has written the contract already?” he asked quietly.
Again, Stephan shrugged vaguely, feeling distinctly weary and drained now that the shock of volatile emotions was beginning to wear thin. “Where my father is concerned, anything is possible. Summer, unfortunately, was far too hysterical to further elaborate on what I have told you.” Receiving no immediate reply, he eyed Bose a moment; the man was oddly calm in the face of such monumental upheaval. Stephan focused on him intently. “You seem remarkably composed with the turn of events, Bose. Might I ask what you are contemplating?”
Bose did not reply for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. After a lengthy pause, he lifted his broad shoulders in a resigned gesture. “The subject is in little need of further deliberation. I must do as I must.”
Not strangely, that statement unnerved Stephan. Pushing himself off the wall, he eyed the massive knight with a good deal of apprehension. “What does this mean?”
Bose continued to stare at the cold stone floor in a moment of contemplative reflection. When he lifted his gaze again, some of the color had returned to his cheeks. “It means that Summer is mine, no matter if your father or Breck Kerry says otherwise. I am leaving today and she is going with me.”
Stephan had suspected his answer; therefore, he wasn’t particularly hostile in response. Maintaining a steady gaze, he paused before Bose and regarded the man carefully After a lull in which he rapidly pondered all possible options, he found himself emitting a heartfelt sigh of his own true emotion.
“Although I should prevent you from doing such a thing, I find in my heart that I cannot,” his voice was a hushed murmur. “I know how my sister feels about you and when I look in your eyes, I can see that you care deeply for her as well. Summer has known very little happiness, Bose. With you, she is far more joyful and content than I have ever known her to be and for that, I shall be ever grateful. All I ask is that you be kind to her, always. She is a terribly fragile soul.”
Bose’s features softened somewhat, knowing Stephan was speaking from the very depths of his heart. He loved Summer, too, as much as a brother could love a sister and the fact that he would be assisting in her abduction outweighed the legal and moral rights of the betrothal his father had created.
As Bose struggled to relay his tremendous relief and gratitude of Stephan’s support, his future brother-in-law slapped him on the shoulder in a display of comfort.
“Come along, Sir Bose,” he said with forced levity. “My sister is moldering away in a dank nasty cell and I doubt she shall stay confined much longer before she begins climbing the walls.”
Bose allowed Stephan to direct him down the corridor. Pleased that he was calmer, better able to deal with an undoubtedly hysterical lady, his sense of humor made a weak return. “You realize, of course, I am prepared to risk everything for your stubborn, willful sister.”
Stephan cocked an eyebrow. “That is your misfortune. I tried to warn you off at the onset of your interest, but you would not be dissuaded. Some of us must learn our lessons the hard way.”
That remark brought a slight smile from Bose as they descended a flight of slippery, moss-covered stairs. “I suppose I shall have to take my chances,” he replied. “What will you tell your father when he realizes I have spirited your sister away?”
Several du Bonne guards lingered ahead, partially obscured in the weak torchlight. Stephan’s voice was hardly a whisper as they closed the distance. “Tell him that I assisted you and convince him it was in Summer’s best interest. He shall listen to me; he always does.”
“You may come and live with Summer and I should he throw you arse-first from his keep.”
Stephan fought off a smile. “Ah, a delightful situation; supporting your wife’s penniless brother and his chatty wife.”
This time, Bose held back a threatening smile. “I can see that this abduction plan is coming to lead in ugly directions. Mayhap I should reconsider my scheme.”
“Too late. The time to act is now if you truly wish to take her.”
The subject abruptly sobered as Stephan’s words rang true. Bracing himself for the battle that was yet to come against six du Bonne guards, Bose’s humor fled in light of the approaching situation. Even if Stephan calmly ordered the release of his sister, it was quite possible that the guards would refuse to obey based on the fact that their orders had come from Baron Lulworth himself.
Obviously, Bose was prepared to do whatever was necessary to obtain Summer’s release and with the support of the three du Bonne brothers, he sincerely hoped his goal would be blo
odlessly achieved if at all possible. If not, then he was properly remorseful that there were those foolish enough to oppose his wants.
The matter of gaining permission to enter Summer’s cell was an uncomplicated task, as Bose suspected it would be. As the ancient iron door creaked open, his senses were assaulted by the smell of mold and rot, urine and feces. Anger and disgust twisted his stomach to imagine Summer lingering within the bowels of such an unholy place, but he shrugged off the surge of emotion, knowing that she would be free of the appalling conditions soon enough. As he entered the cell, his gaze fell on three figures near the far wall, huddled on the ground and speaking in hushed, fearful tones.
The sharp stab of relief and recognition was quickly joined by feelings of immense appreciation as he realized that Ian, unwilling to allow his sister to touch the stanky floor, had seated his armored body upon the dank stone and pulled the miserable woman onto his lap. Lance, kneeling beside his brother and sister, seemed quite content to pet Summer’s blond head as if she were a wayward dog.
Lost to their quiet conversation, the noisy cell door jolted them from their dialogue and even as Bose focused on the huddled group, Summer’s golden eyes were riveted to him and, with a small cry, she bolted to her feet. Racing the length of the vault, she propelled herself into his arms.
Bose held her tightly enough to break her, breathing in her rose scent with the greatest of pleasure.
“Did they harm you, love?” he demanded into her hair. “Are you well?”
She nodded faintly, trapped by his massive hands and arms. “T-They did n-n-not harm me,” she gasped. “B-But my f-father has b-b-broken our b-betrothal and…”
The return of her sharp stammer was indicative of her fear and emotion. Bose shushed her quietly, kissing her silent so that she would not upset herself further. “I know, love, I know. Stephan has told me everything.”
Her eyes were as wide as the heavens as she met with his calm onyx gaze. “He has already drawn up a c-c-contract with B-Breck Kerry. Oh, B-Bose, what will we do?”
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