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trusted him.
    Alain smiled, licking his lips. He did not raise his voice in reply, but spoke slowly and clearly. “Indeed. Friselle came to us on the recommendation of the Lallements.”
    Adam frowned. “From Kingston Gorse?”
    Alain’s nod confirmed it.
    By rights, noblesse obliged they ride to Kingston Gorse to thank their neighbours, but the prospect filled Adam with trepidation.
    Denis tapped him on the shoulder. Adam turned to look at his brother, suspecting what the persistent little devil would say.
    “We should ride over there tomorrow to thank them. I have never met the Lallements.” He winked. “Do they have daughters?”
    Adam cringed, thankful to reply in the negative. “ Non . Two sons. Lucien and Vincent. Good men.”
    Denis shrugged. “Too bad! From the stories, I thought the family at Kingston Gorse were Marquands?”
    “Originally they were. Sir Stephen Marquand gave the estate to his daughter as her dowry when she married Marc Lallement.”
    Denis came to his feet. “Then we should ride there on the morrow to thank Sir Marc and his good lady.”
    Adam wrinkled his nose. “I doubt if either Sir Marc or Lady Maudine were responsible for the new cook.”
    Denis regained his seat, his brow furrowed.
    Alain Cormant interrupted. “ Milord Adam is correct. Lucien Lallement directed Friselle to us.”
    The corners of Denis’ mouth turned down. “The Lallement parents are not very sociable?”
    Adam laughed out loud, suddenly aware it was the first time since his illness. “That’s putting it mildly. Lady Maudine Lallement is downright unfriendly, and Sir Marc behaves as if he is shielding some deep, dark secret.”
    Denis laughed too. “We won’t concern ourselves with the parents, if the sons are good company. I am anxious to become acquainted with people in these parts.” He spread his arms wide and winked at Adam. “I wager they have never met anyone like me before.”
    Adam could not help but smile. “You are no doubt right on that score.”
    “We ride on the morrow then.”
    Adam met the challenge in his brother’s eyes. “ Oui , on the morrow.”
    ~~~
    Relief washed over Denis. Much was riding on forcing Adam to face his impairment. It pained him to see his good natured, outgoing brother sink into despondent isolation. Heartened by Adam’s willingness to engage Cormant in conversation, he had gambled that a gentle push would persuade him to travel to Kingston Gorse.
    He worried about what he had learned of the lord and lady, but if the sons were gentlemen, where lay the harm?
    Denis enjoyed meeting new people, though invariably their first reaction upon seeing him was one of shock and embarrassment. They never knew where to look. He had learned to expect that. He relished their further surprise when it quickly became apparent he was not a mad freak, but an articulate and cultured man.
    If only there existed a woman somewhere who might overlook his dwarfism and love him for the man he was. He had come across a few female dwarfs in his travels, mostly itinerant entertainers, part of a troupe. Their crude, bawdy humour amused him, but they did nothing to arouse his male interest.
    He was destined to live a bachelor life. Now Adam had been condemned to the same fate. Was it meant to be? God’s will? The Giant and the Dwarf, boon companions to the end. A pang of guilt stabbed him—perhaps deep within his heart he was glad Adam had been rendered impotent.
    One thing was sure. He would never desert his beleaguered brother.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Lucien and Vincent Lallement rode out of the courtyard bound for East Preston. At the outer gate, they reined their horses to a halt and looked back at the ivy covered walls of their home. Their gaze inevitably travelled from the stone walls of the lower floor to the half timbered sections of the second and attic storeys. It had become a ritual whenever they left the house.
    Lucien clenched his jaw. “She can’t see this side of the house, but