known and Summer watched him, horrified and
ashamed, knowing that he was laughing at her affliction. With a whimper of
anguish, she bolted to her feet and gathered her skirts. But massive hands were
suddenly holding her firm. Somehow, he had covered the distance between them
and was now grasping her. His grip was like iron.
"Where do you go?" he
demanded softly.
"Let me go!" she cried.
His fingers were like iron, biting into the soft flesh of her arms and much to
her dismay, Summer felt the sting of tears. Throwing herself about, she
struggled fiercely to release his hold before she disgraced herself further.
"Release m-me immediately!"
Instead of complying, Bose's grip
tightened. Summer gasped as bolts of pain coursed through her arms and her
struggles came to a halt. Golden orbs locked with onyx-black and Bose could
literally read the shame and terror brimming in the depths.
"You believe me to laughing
at you?" when she refused to reply, he shook her gently. "Answer me.
Do you believe me to be laughing at you?"
After brief consideration, during
which she realized that she had little choice but to respond to him, Summer
nodded once. He released her and she stumbled away from him, her eyes wide and
accusing. But she did not run.
"I wasn't laughing at you,
my lady, I swear it," his voice was soothing and sincere. "'Twas your
words I found humorous and nothing more. You are entirely correct in your
description of the melee. `Tis a contest to promote the male ego."
She continued to stare at him,
the shame and fury fading from her expression. Near the tree, Antony continued
to scamper about and above her tumultuous thoughts, Summer realized that she
had virtually thrown the animal from her lap in her haste. Embarrassed, she
lowered her gaze and returned to the tree.
"I am sorry, Antony. I did
not mean to be brutal," her apology was whisper-soft as she scooped up the
fuzzy creature. Rubbing noses with her newest friend, she could feel Bose's
massive presence over her shoulder.
She did not know why she should
believe him; the man was a stranger. But there was something in his tone that
relaxed and enchanted her at the same time. True, she had wanted to know of his
reaction to her defect; even so, the process of discovery was a frightening,
overwhelming thing.
"My f-father would not allow
you to speak with me today for obvious reasons, my lord," slowly, she
turned to Bose, raising her eyes to meet with those of piercing black.
"You must understand that they do not wish for my... imperfection to
b-become public knowledge. They do their best to protect me."
Bose met her gaze, feeling
anguish for her plight. "That is why Stephan refused to allow me to speak
with you after I won the melee.” He watched her nod her head. "And your
father. That is why he discouraged me, as well."
Again, she nodded. He studied her
closely as she continued to clutch Antony, knowing from experience of the shame
she had encountered. After a moment, he reached out and gently stroked the
animal within her grip, succeeding in capturing her hooded gaze.
When their eyes met, he smiled
his charming, lop-sided grin. "In their defense, I will say that I can
understand their fear. However, regardless of their shielding instincts, there
is nothing on this earth powerful enough to discourage my attention toward
you."
He watched with delight as her
golden orbs widened with surprise. In spite of the colorless moon glow, he
caught an unmistakable mottle to her cheeks.
"Why would you say this, my
lord?" she asked breathlessly.
"Because it's true. You, my
lady, are the embodiment of the perfection God has intended for all womankind.
I knew it from the first moment I saw you. And if your father and brother
believe that an insignificant speech irregularity is going to discourage me
from coming to know you, they are sadly mistaken."
Summer's expression grew more
intense, filled with astonishment. It was all she had ever hoped to hear, but
in faith,
ashamed, knowing that he was laughing at her affliction. With a whimper of
anguish, she bolted to her feet and gathered her skirts. But massive hands were
suddenly holding her firm. Somehow, he had covered the distance between them
and was now grasping her. His grip was like iron.
"Where do you go?" he
demanded softly.
"Let me go!" she cried.
His fingers were like iron, biting into the soft flesh of her arms and much to
her dismay, Summer felt the sting of tears. Throwing herself about, she
struggled fiercely to release his hold before she disgraced herself further.
"Release m-me immediately!"
Instead of complying, Bose's grip
tightened. Summer gasped as bolts of pain coursed through her arms and her
struggles came to a halt. Golden orbs locked with onyx-black and Bose could
literally read the shame and terror brimming in the depths.
"You believe me to laughing
at you?" when she refused to reply, he shook her gently. "Answer me.
Do you believe me to be laughing at you?"
After brief consideration, during
which she realized that she had little choice but to respond to him, Summer
nodded once. He released her and she stumbled away from him, her eyes wide and
accusing. But she did not run.
"I wasn't laughing at you,
my lady, I swear it," his voice was soothing and sincere. "'Twas your
words I found humorous and nothing more. You are entirely correct in your
description of the melee. `Tis a contest to promote the male ego."
She continued to stare at him,
the shame and fury fading from her expression. Near the tree, Antony continued
to scamper about and above her tumultuous thoughts, Summer realized that she
had virtually thrown the animal from her lap in her haste. Embarrassed, she
lowered her gaze and returned to the tree.
"I am sorry, Antony. I did
not mean to be brutal," her apology was whisper-soft as she scooped up the
fuzzy creature. Rubbing noses with her newest friend, she could feel Bose's
massive presence over her shoulder.
She did not know why she should
believe him; the man was a stranger. But there was something in his tone that
relaxed and enchanted her at the same time. True, she had wanted to know of his
reaction to her defect; even so, the process of discovery was a frightening,
overwhelming thing.
"My f-father would not allow
you to speak with me today for obvious reasons, my lord," slowly, she
turned to Bose, raising her eyes to meet with those of piercing black.
"You must understand that they do not wish for my... imperfection to
b-become public knowledge. They do their best to protect me."
Bose met her gaze, feeling
anguish for her plight. "That is why Stephan refused to allow me to speak
with you after I won the melee.” He watched her nod her head. "And your
father. That is why he discouraged me, as well."
Again, she nodded. He studied her
closely as she continued to clutch Antony, knowing from experience of the shame
she had encountered. After a moment, he reached out and gently stroked the
animal within her grip, succeeding in capturing her hooded gaze.
When their eyes met, he smiled
his charming, lop-sided grin. "In their defense, I will say that I can
understand their fear. However, regardless of their shielding instincts, there
is nothing on this earth powerful enough to discourage my attention toward
you."
He watched with delight as her
golden orbs widened with surprise. In spite of the colorless moon glow, he
caught an unmistakable mottle to her cheeks.
"Why would you say this, my
lord?" she asked breathlessly.
"Because it's true. You, my
lady, are the embodiment of the perfection God has intended for all womankind.
I knew it from the first moment I saw you. And if your father and brother
believe that an insignificant speech irregularity is going to discourage me
from coming to know you, they are sadly mistaken."
Summer's expression grew more
intense, filled with astonishment. It was all she had ever hoped to hear, but
in faith,
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