“Leave Chaldon?” she gazed up at him, puzzled and agitated. “B-But I am a prisoner. How can I leave if…?”
He kissed her again, realizing his lips were quivering with the force of his emotion as he slanted over her delicious mouth once, twice. Only when she was properly silenced did he speak.
“Trust me, love. Trust that I will do what is best for the both of us.”
Summer could only bob her head in agreement, fearful and sickened with the turn of events. Of course she trusted him; she had always trusted him. Now, when it mattered most, she possessed the utmost faith in his abilities to see them clear of a most distressing situation.
Noting that she was calming somewhat with his soothing logic, Bose cast her an encouraging wink and swung her possessively into his arms. Turning to face the collection of grim brothers, his black eyes sought Stephan.
“She will not spend another moment within these moldering walls,” his voice was like thunder. “Stephan, do what you must to evacuate us from this cell. Summer and I have an appointment with a priest and considering what she has told me of Breck’s written contract, we surely cannot delay another minute.”
Stephan eyed the dark knight a moment before his gaze moved to Summer. Reaching out, he clasped her hand tenderly.
“I am well aware of the time frame, Bose,” his voice was soft with emotion. Looking to his equally emotional sister, it was difficult to fight off the lump forming within his throat.
God’s Blood, life had been so unkind to her, cursing her with an embarrassing imperfection and a careless, emotionless father. But he could see, within Bose’s arms, that Summer had finally found the happiness and joy she had been denied and Stephan realized he would do everything within his power to assure their ultimate unity.
He forced a weak smile. “It may be some time before I see you again,” his tone was tight with sentiment. “If I am to help Bose whisk you from Chaldon, then you will promise me something.”
Tears clouded Summer’s eyes as the reality of the situation came to settle; Stephan was fully prepared to assist Bose in liberating her from the vault, going against his father’s directive in the process. But more than the fact that Stephan was willing to disobey his foolish sire, the reality that he was prepared to face the consequences for the sake of his sister’s happiness gripped her deeply. When she sobbed softly, Stephan kissed her hand swiftly and released it.
“Answer me. Will you promise me one thing?”
She nodded, unable to speak for the tightness in her throat. Stephan’s weak smile broadened. “Then hear me well; you will not name my nephew Kermit.”
Laughter abruptly bubbled forth, spilling over along with the tears. Wiping at her eyes, Summer looked to Bose suspiciously before refocusing her attention on her brother. “Did Bose put you up to this?”
“He did not. I must protect my future nephew as I see necessary, even from his mother’s lack of good taste. Any lad named Kermit is bound to suffer a life of humiliation and embarrassment.”
Summer’s smile faded as she fixed upon Stephan’s bright green eyes. “Then I would know his pain well.”
Stephan’s smile faded as well, a measure of remorse joining his other powerful emotions. “No more, sweetheart. Bose will see to it.”
Summer looked to Bose again, feeling the warmth from his black eyes fill her very soul. She touched his cheek lovingly, turning once again to her brother.
“I suppose I always knew father kept me sequestered because he was ashamed of me, not because he loved me. And the fact that my birth killed our mother did nothing to ease his resentment toward me.” When Stephan’s features softened with regret and compassion, Summer merely smiled. “I entertained the thought that my three brothers kept me shielded because they were embarrassed of me as well, but I knew better. Thank you, Stephan. Thank you for appointing yourself my mother and father and for loving me in spite of my imperfection. Thank you for protecting me because you adored me, not because you were ashamed of your defective b-baby sister.”
Lance could not hold back the weak sobs that overcame him. Ian put a comforting hand to his younger, far more emotional brother, echoing the younger man’s sentiment yet too reserved to allow such an exhibition of feeling. They had all known Edward’s reasoning behind Summer’s isolation, each man hoping silently that the sweet young girl never came to know the truth.
Stephan, his eyes full of glistening tears, moved forward and kissed his sister tenderly on the forehead.
“Given the chance, I would do it all again,” he whispered. “Be happy, sweetheart. For the first time in your life, truly be happy.”
Summer dashed away her rolling tears, smiling with appreciation, adoration, at her beloved eldest brother. As the heady moment deepened, Stephan was aware that there was little liberty for such emotion. Time was of the essence and there was a tremendous goal yet to be accomplished; clearing his throat of the emotional lump, he turned to his weepy brothers.
“As you have managed to deduce, Bose is taking Summer from Chaldon before Breck Kerry can sink his claws into her,” motioning to the closed cell door, his composure made a rapid return. “I am going to attempt to gain her release by non-violent methods. If my orders are rejected, however, we must be prepared to disable the six sentries guarding the door. Lance, your responsibility will be Summer’s safety should it come to a battle. I suspect Bose, for pure size and strength alone, will serve us better in a fight and you will be left to protect our sister.”
As Bose set Summer gently to the ground, Ian and Lance nodded grimly; as usual, they would obey Stephan’s orders without question. Loyal to their eldest brother far more than their moronic father, there was little question that they, too, were willing to face the potential consequences.
“What would you have me do, Stephan?” Ian asked quietly.
“Stand with Bose. I shall capture the senior sentry’s attention and attempt to reason with him. If the man resists, then prepare to quash any refusal to Summer’s removal. Understood?”
As Ian nodded obediently, Bose removed a dagger from a fold in his armor and placed it within his left gauntlet. “Once we are free, my men must be notified of my actions, for I suspect the baron’s grace will be extremely limited to those under my command. They must be instructed to fold camp immediately and return to Ravendark.”
“We shall see to it, Bose,” it was the first time Lance had addressed his future brother-in-law by his Christian name. “We shall cover their retreat if we have to.”
Bose looked to the youngest, most volatile du Bonne brother. His black eyes glittered with warmth. “I would trust their back to none other, Lance. Thank you.”
Lance, feeling the genuine camaraderie between himself and a man he both feared and respected, lowered his gaze in a purely baffled gesture; only yesterday he was loudly insulting both Bose and his men and now he found himself preparing to defend them to the death.
Stephan wasted no time. Fixing the sergeant in the eye, his features were grim. “I am taking my sister from this place,” he said firmly. “She will be released to my custody and I shall inform my father of my actions. Your men may disburse themselves to their regular duties.”
The sergeant, a seasoned soldier with a heavy Scots accent, appeared rightly off-guard. “My orders are tae keep her here until yer father decides what’s tae be done wi’ her, Sir Stephan.”
Stephan’s green eyes were like shards of ice. “As I said, I shall inform my father of my actions and you shall not be to blame. I am giving you an order to disburse.”
The soldier was visibly torn. Licking his lips, he passed a long glance to the curious men behind him as he struggled for an answer. “My… my orders come from the baron, Sir Stephan. I would gladly accept yer order had yer father not instructed me personally.”
Stephan drew in a long, steady breath. “Then you are prepared to disobey me?”
After a long, deliberative moment, the sergeant nodded hesitantly. “I must, m’lord.”
Stephan’s gaze was hard. After a tense pause, he cocked a deliberate eyebrow. “Very well,” stepping aside, he gestured to Bose directly behind him. “Are you prepared to disobey Bose de Moray as well?”
Six pairs of eyes stared at Bose as if he were the Devil himself. They knew well of the man and his reputation and there wasn’t one warrior among them willing to obtain first-hand knowledge of the man’s temper and tactics. More than the threat of the baron’s wrath, the very idea of facing Bose de Moray in mortal combat was enough to cause them to rethink their stringent stance.
“But… but the baron’s orders….” the sergeant sputtered.
Sensing their intimidation, Bose was wise enough to use the advantage. Ducking through the doorjamb, he planted himself beside Stephan, his black eyes blazing and his massive fists working.
“Is the strict obedience of the baron’s orders worth a broken neck?” his voice was a growl.
Eyes wide, the sergeant stepped back, tripping over another man’s feet but rapidly regaining his balance. Quickly reconsidering his view, it occurred to him that if Stephan du Bonne was willing to accept all blame for his sister’s release, then certainly it would be within the best interests of all if the girl were freed without contention. And for the fact that Bose de Moray was willing to fight them all for her freedom, certainly the baron’s wrath did not seem quite so frightening.
“We’ve duties tae attend tae, m’lord,” spinning on his heel, he waved his arms sharply to the gaggle of men-at-arms behind him. The collection scattered, leaving Bose and Stephan smirking triumphantly in their wake.
When the hall was vacant, Summer emerged into the corridor, gazing down the dimly-lit tunnel as if she could hardly believe what she had seen. But she soon caught the humor too, and she turned with twinkling eyes to the snorting, armored men behind her.
“You did not have to fight them,” she announced with a mixture of disbelief and glee. “Bose, they were simply terrified of you!”
“As they should be,” he said with mock-seriousness, removing the dagger from his gauntlet and replacing it in the folds of his armor. “Thank God the confrontation was bloodless, at any rate. I was afraid they were going to force me to follow through with my threat.”
Summer shook her head with a combination of disapproval and pride as Ian and Lance snorted their endorsement of their future brother-in-law’s imposing presence. For certain, they were not the only men afraid of the mighty knight.
“I suspect the rest of your escape will be less simplified,” Stephan said, his humor fading as essential moments began to tick away.
“Indeed,” Bose’s smile vanished as well and he grasped Summer by the hand, tightly, as if to never let her go. “My charger is tethered near my tent. We shall have to make it there as inconspicuously as possible. All we need is for Breck or Duncan Kerry to spot us and….”
“Duncan is competing against Morgan in the seventh bout,” Ian said, already moving down the torch-lit hall as a distinct sense of urgency took hold. “With the second, fourth and fifth rounds canceled due to the du Bonne brothers’ absence, I suspect Breck is currently watching his brother take the field. The sooner we make way to Bose’s tent, the better.”
“Let’s waste no time,” Bose was in close pursuit of Ian, pulling Summer behind him as Stephan and Lance followed. “I plan to make it to Salisbury by nightfall.”
“Salisbury?” Summer asked curiously.
He glanced to her as he helped her mount the slippery stairs. “A mighty cathedral is being built there, only partially finished. But there is a rectory and my cousin is a residing priest. He shall marry us.”
Emerging onto an upper level of the dungeon, Stephan’s voice was faint. “You plan to ride all the way to Salisbury to marry my sister? Poole or Bournemouth is closer.”
Bose did not reply for a moment as the group edged the darkened walls toward the light of freedom. “My cousin performed the funeral mass for Lora. I… I would like him to marry us.”
Not strangely, the distance to Salisbury did not seem so terribly great any longer.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Tell me where your liege took my daughter and I shall be merciful.”
When Morgan did not reply fast enough, another crushing blow caught him in the kidneys and he sank to his knees, a small grunt of pain the only outward display of his agony. When Breck prepared to deliver another kick to the man’s already-bruised midsection, the baron extended a sharp hand.
“Answer me, Sir Morgan. Where did de Moray take my daughter?”
Breathing heavily from the anguish of broken ribs, Morgan’s gaze was unwavering. “As I told you, I do not know. Why are you so concerned with their disappearance if your daughter is betrothed to the man? Mayhap….”
A powerful boot to his side sent Morgan to the floor. Breck loomed over the struggling man, his pimpled face flushed with anger. “She is not betrothed to de Moray, she is betrothed to me. Your liege stole my bride and I fully intend to prosecute him for thievery!”
Gazing up at the irate young knight, Morgan’s countenance was confused. “Thievery? What… what are you talking about? As of last eve, Bose was betrothed to the Lady Summer.”
Breck sneered, unsympathetic to the knight’s misery. “A verbal contract and nothing more. After Lord du Bonne was presented with the true characteristics of his future son-in-law, he wisely decided to betroth his daughter to a finer man. Me, in fact.”
Morgan appeared even more confused. “You? God’s Blood, Kerry, how in the hell did you manage to convince the baron that you were a finer man than Bose?”
“With my help, Sir Morgan,” Margot sat against the distant wall, far removed from the torture at hand and sampling another bottle of the baron’s fine Bordeaux. She’d been settled behind Morgan, out of his line of sight and he had been unaware of her presence. As he struggled to catch a glimpse of the familiar, hated voice, Margot merely sipped her wine in satisfied warmth. “It was necessary that Baron Lulworth be told of Bose’s murderous and greedy tendencies. He agrees with Breck and I completely. Do you not, darling?”
Edward did not look to the woman who seemed to have overtaken his house and hold within the past several hours. From the moment she had convinced him of her son-in-law’s dark character, she hadn’t set foot from Chaldon. Confiscating the largest unoccupied guest chamber in the upper hall, she had moved in as her severely wimpled lady ordered all of Lady Margot’s possessions removed from de Moray’s tent and relocated into the newly-selected bower.
Margot had come to see that the baron was not only petty, selfish and vain, but he was exceedingly dimwitted and moronic. Whereas Bose’s intelligent mind could be manipulated by his tremendous sense of grief, Edward could be exploited purely for the fact that he seemed to lack a will of his own. And with the man’s sons conspicuously absent, tending to the tournament and their sister’s social affairs, Margot saw the opportunity to draw yet another man into her venomous web. She had found another victim to occupy her twisted attention.
A process that was already beginning as Morgan Skye lay upon the cold stone of the foyer, beaten and bloodied by an irate Breck Kerry. Arrested on the joust field when word of Bose de Moray’s abduction of Lady Summer had reached Edward’s ears, hordes of du Bonne soldiers continued to lay search for the rest of de Moray’s men. The three remaining knights and Bose’s aged uncle, however, were yet to be found and Edward had vocally suspected his absent sons having something to do with the knights’ disappearance.
“Indeed,” Edward replied to Margot’s question. “My daughter cannot marry a murderer, a man only interest in obtaining her family’s wealth. Again I ask you; tell me where your liege has gone and I will be merciful.”
Morgan managed to regain his balance, still on his knees. The expression on his face, however, was solid. “Bose is not a murderer. Margot knows as well as I that her daughter perished in childbirth, yet she seems intent to spread lies to the contrary. Lies that would destroy Bo
se all to satisfy her twisted sense of revenge.”
As Margot’s expression visibly darkened, Breck slapped Morgan across the mouth and nearly sent him toppling over again. “Enough of your distortions. Everyone knows Bose de Moray killed his wife in order to gain her inheritance. The fabrications you weave are simply to mask the truth in defense of your liege.”
“I do not hide the truth. But Lady Margot does.”
“Lies!”
Morgan turned to the flush-faced knight, a corrupt man that seemed to be growing more corrupt and vile by the moment. His countenance, his demeanor, in spite of having been righteously beaten, remained entirely cool. “Why do you want her so badly, Breck? What is the Lady Summer to you other than another merciless conquest?”
Breck seemed to falter, the sinister light in his small blue eyes flickering unstably. “She is… she is the most beautiful woman in Dorset and it is only right that she be my wife,” apparently recovered from his moment of uncertainty, his features hardened once more. “No more foolish prattle to avoid the subject, Skye. Where did Bose take my bride?”
Morgan sighed, weakly, seeing that he was about to meet with more abuse as a result of his honest answer. “As I have said at least a dozen times, I do not know. I was not even aware of the lady’s imprisonment and I certainly have no knowledge of where Bose would take her. He has friends all over this country.”
Breck was preparing to strike him again when Edward, in a surprising show of power, firmly stopped him. Sulking and angry, Breck moved away from Morgan and paced like a caged bull, muttering to himself in a gesture of madness. The baron tore his eyes away from Morgan long enough to watch the pimple-faced knight tear a hole in his fine Persian rug with the heel of his armored boot.
“Logic would dictate one of two possibilities, young Kerry,” he said quietly. “He has either taken my daughter to the nearest abbey to marry her, or he has taken her directly to his fortress. In either case, I would suggest we start looking for him at the seat of his power. Eventually, I would suspect, he will have to return home.”
Fathers and Sons: A Collection of Medieval Romances Page 116