The Gorgon Read Free

fame by way of the tournament circuit. One eve in Stephan's
arms had been enough to convince her.
    Her gaze was upon him even now as
he spoke kindly to the Lady Isobel and her portly husband. Stephan had ridden
escort from nearly a half mile out, his powerful frame unmistakable atop his
chestnut charger. Even after two years of marriage, Genisa's heart still
fluttered wildly at the sight of him.
    "Where do you s-suppose Ian
and Lance are?" Summer burst into her sister-in-law's thoughts.
    Genisa tore her gaze away from
her husband's imposing form to glance disinterestedly about the surrounding
area. "I do not know," she said truthfully. "They escorted the
last party in, the both of them. I can hardly imagine that they would simply
disappear when they know all of the guests have not yet arrived."
    Summer snorted delicately, her
full lips curving into a magnificent smile. "Knowing Ian, they have indeed
disappeared. They are p-probably planning to wreak some sort of mischief upon
the festivities."
    "But this is Lance's
celebration. Why would he jeopardize his own party?"
    "Who can say?" Summer
tossed her exquisite mane of honey-blond hair over one shoulder, stroking the
ends absently. "Ever since Lance has returned home, it has b-been the same
story. Ian leads and Lance follows."
    Genisa's gaze focused on her
sister-in-law now that Stephan had vanished from view. Staring at the woman's
exquisite profile, she thought back to the previous subject of conversation;
she knew for certain that she was not the fairest maiden in the shire. From the
moment she laid eyes upon her future husband's sister, she knew that she had
been living in a fantasy world where she alone was the most beautiful object of
worship in all of Dorset. There was another of greater glory.
    Genisa learned that the du Bonnes
had been harboring a great secret within the stone bosom of Chaldon Castle. The
secret of a woman so beautiful, so magnificent, that she was kept sequestered
from the outside world of mortals unworthy to gaze upon such loveliness. Her
beauty was as fragile as porcelain; long, silken hair the color of honey and a
sweet oval face with big, beautiful eyes of an amber-golden color. Delicately
arched brows hovered over the thick-lashed gems as defined cheekbones tapered
to a delicate chin and delectable mouth. In truth, Summer du Bonne was a
treasure that remained hidden from the world.
    Although Genisa had not lived
that far from Chaldon, as her wealthy merchant father had owned a manse in
Swanage, she had never once heard mention of a du Bonne daughter in possession
of such unearthly beauty and was angered into a jealous fit by the unwelcome
surprise. But that was until she attempted to speak with Stephan's young sister;
then she became aware of the reasoning behind the careful shielding of the Lady
Summer du Bonne. They did not hide Summer to horde her beauty - they hid her
because she stuttered. It wasn’t every time; mostly words that began with the
letter B or F. But it was pronounced when she did it. Stephan and Ian and Lance
tried to protect their baby sister from the reactions of a cruel world and
Genisa labored to do the same.  She, too, took up the fight to protect Summer.
    Her thoughts moved away from her
sister-in-law and back to the bailey below, now thinking of her husband’s two
younger brothers and their tendency for foolery. She responded belatedly to
Summer’s assertion.
     "Stephan will have their
hides if they do anything foolish today," she replied. "He and your
father have endeavored to make this a successful day."
    Summer shrugged, rising from her
crouched position and moving across the battlement to the opposite side. Genisa
followed and from their perch upon the wall, they could see beyond the fortress
into the green countryside beyond.
    "Look," Summer pointed
into the distance. "Stephan is riding out to greet another party."
    Genisa shielded her blue eyes
from the brilliant sun. "I cannot see the standards from here.