Page 411 of Historical Hotties
Arissa had tears in her eyes.My son is home! “Gannon, what a wonderful surprise!” she said, delighted. “We did not expect you!”
Gannon gave his mother a final squeeze and put her to her feet. He immediately reached out and hugged his father, who was standing quite impatiently, waiting for a hug of his own. He swallowed Gannon up in an enormous embrace.
“My son,” Richmond murmured with satisfaction. “It has been a very long time. Let me look at you.”
He released Gannon and pulled off the man’s helm, looking closely at his face for signs of age or injury. Then he patted him down as if checking him for wounds or missing limbs. Gannon laughed as his father checked him from his head to his feet.
“Papa, I am well, I promise,” he assured the old man.
Richmond grunted, passing a final glance over the man. “You have spent a goodly time away from us,” he said. “I had to see for myself.”
Gannon grinned, cupping his father’s face in his hands and kissing the man on the cheek. “There is much to tell you,” hesaid. “I hardly know where to begin. I suppose I should start with my wife.”
Richmond’s expression slackened and Arissa actually grabbed onto the man for support, so great was her shock.
“Wife?” she repeated, stunned. “But… you have never sent us any news on this. I did not even know… Gannon, I could beat you! I really could!”
Gannon laughed softly, putting his arm around his mother as a carriage and several mounted men came into view. He pointed to the carriage.
“You do not have time,” he told her. “Gisella is here with Audrey, and my wife is in the carriage with her.”
Arissa didn’t hold back. She swatted her armored son right on the buttocks. Then, she stormed off towards the carriage that was now coming to a halt just inside the gate. She could see her daughter’s dark head and that of another lady, fair-haired. She waved to her daughter, who was squealing in delight.
“Gigi!” she cried. “Oh, Gigi, you are finally here!”
Gisella was so excited that she was already standing up, opening the carriage door before anyone could open it for her. She had the baby in her arms and as Arissa rushed towards the carriage, Richmond suddenly ran past her with much more speed than she had seen from him in years. He reached the carriage before his wife did, holding out his arms.
“My grandchild,” he demanded. “Give her to me.”
Gisella did, handing over the sandy-haired baby with the bright blue eyes. Little Audrey looked at her grandfather with a wide-eyed gaze as Gisella climbed down from the carriage and launched herself into her mother’s arms. With all of the hugging and happy weeping that was going on, no one noticed Bastian as he dismounted his charger and went to stand politely beside the carriage. As Gannon helped Sparrow out of the carriage, Bastian cleared his throat softly.
“Gannon, I do not believe your parents are much interested in me,” he said.
Gannon chuckled as Gisella let go of her mother, holding out a hand to her husband, who took it with a grin.
“Mama,” Gisella said, holding tightly onto Bastian. “This is my husband, Sir Bastian de Russe. Bas, this is my mother, Lady Arissa de Lohr le Bec. And that is my father, Sir Richmond le Bec.”
Bastian greeted Lady Arissa very politely, taking her soft hand and kissing it gently. “It is an honor, my lady,” he said, then turned to Richmond, who was quite taken with his grandchild. “My lord, I was raised on tales of your valor. To meet you in the flesh is indeed an honor.”
Richmond looked up from Audrey, who found the ties on his tunic quite interesting. He took a good, long look at the enormous knight that was married to his youngest child, his precious Gisella. Richmond was very tall at four inches over six feet, but Bastian de Russe was at least a couple of inches taller than he was. Looking at him, Richmond could instantly see why the man was called Beast. There was something about him that was honorable, knightly, and far more noble than mere mortal men. Richmond sensed greatness.
“Sir Bastian,” he greeted. “We finally meet.”
“Indeed, my lord.”
“And I am pleased.”
Bastian dared to grin. “Is it because I provided you with a grandchild, my lord?”
Richmond sensed his humor. “Partly,” he said. “Had Audrey been a boy, then I would have built a shrine to you. Speaking of which, I understand my son is married. I have not quite gotten over the shock of hearing the news.”
Gannon pulled Sparrow along with him for his parents’ inspection. “There is no great mystery,” he said. “This is mywife, Lady Sparrow Summerlin le Bec. She hails from the great Norfolk Summerlins. Have you ever heard of Edward Longshank’s Legend, Alec Summerlin? That would be her grandfather, many times over. In fact, we’ve already decided to name our son Alec.”
Arissa’s eyes widened at the implication. There was something in the way he said it. “Gannon?” she ventured haltingly. “Is she…?”
Gannon’s smile threatened to split his face in half. “You can expect your grandson this summer.”
Arissa crowed in delight and rushed Sparrow, throwing her arms around the woman. “I am so thrilled to know you, my lady,” she said, inspecting the fair-haired beauty. “Surely this trip has been exhausting for you. I shall put you to bed right away. You must rest!”
