Page 11 of Historical Hotties
“And do not go in the water,” he said, wagging a finger at her. “If something happens, you’re too far away. I may not be able to get to you in time.”
She grinned, flashing him a lovely smile. “You worry like an old woman.”
“It takes one to know one, old girl.”
Dacia stiffened at the rather sore subject where her age was concerned. “I have only seen twenty-three years.”
The wagging finger pointed at her. “You will see twenty and four years next month,” he said. “You forget that I know everything about you. Old age is swiftly approaching, lass.”
Dacia had enough. She knew why he was saying such things. He’d never come right out and asked for her hand, but he liked to throw subtle digs her way.
Old age is swiftly approaching, lass.
Meaning the chance for suitors would soon be gone, leaving Darian as the victor by default.
But not today. Sticking her tongue out at him, she turned away and headed to the postern gate, listening to him issue orders to the guards that were standing around. As she passed through, two of them followed her, though not closely enough to be a bother. Just enough to watch the area as she wandered around, enjoying the spring weather and pushing aside the knight who wanted both her and her dukedom.
She’d push it all aside until her grandfather returned.
Unfortunately for Dacia, that was sooner than she had expected.
She had been down by the river’s edge, noting the reeds that were starting to grow in and thinking on the baskets and hats her maids could weave from them, when she heard the sentry cry go up. When she looked up to see what the commotion was, she realized she had wandered further away from the castle than she had intended. In fact, there was now a road between her and the castle if she wanted to make it home quickly. Otherwise, she would have to follow the river back the way she had come so she could slip in through the postern gate and that would take time.
Then, she began to see the standards of Doncaster. Bright blue with a golden stag upon it, affectionately named Cuffy. No one knew how it got started, but the stag had been called Cuffyfor many years. In fact, that was what the villagers of Doncaster called the duke– Old Cuffy. Not to his face, of course, but he was referred to as “Old Cuffy” by almost everyone.
Cuffy was making his march towards the great gatehouse of Edenthorpe and Dacia could see her grandfather’s carriage. He didn’t ride a horse these days, too old and too fragile, so he rode in a fortified carriage everywhere he went that was far more comfortable than the bony back of a horse.
Gathering her skirts, she was preparing to walk up to the road to meet the carriage when a dog of enormous proportions suddenly shot out of the tall grass, chasing a squawking duck and heading right for her. He was big, gray, and hairy, and all Dacia could see was a mouth with fangs coming in her direction.
Terrified, she turned tail and began to run.
The dog was right on her heels. She thought he may have even bitten her skirt because she swore she felt tugging. She began to swat at the dog, demanding he go away, but the dog wasn’t listening. The river was straight ahead and as she tried to make a sharp turn, away from the river and away from the dog, the beast jumped on her from behind and ended up pushing her right into the water.
Splash!
Dacia went in, but she didn’t go down all the way. She fell to her knees in the shallow, rocky shore, keeping her head out of the water, as the dog leapt all around her. Now, the dog was barking happily and the birds that had been gathered on the riverbank, including more ducks, were scattering.
With water in her face, and on her knees, she blinked water droplets out of her eyes as the dog chased the birds around. It was clear that he wasn’t interested in her, only the birds. When he ran close to her, he licked her face as she picked up two handfuls of mud and threw it at the animal. It drove the dog away, but not far. Not farenough, at any rate.
Damnable dog!
With a heavy sigh at the ridiculous and naughty dog, Dacia struggled to stand up when she was suddenly grasped from behind.
“Here, my lady. Allow me to help you.”
Panic set in.
*
“Sup with OldCuffy tonight, shall we?” Bose said with satisfaction. “I hear he sets an astonishing table.”
“Mayhap,” Cassius grunted. “But we’re not staying beyond tonight, Bose. It’s still going to take us at least six more days to reach Castle Questing and I do not want to delay. I want to get home and spend some time there before I have to turn around and head back to London. Edward will not let me cavort in the north forever.”
“Then let us eat, sleep, and be on our way.”
As long as de Shera understood this night was simply a duty visit, and a quick one at that, Cassius was satisfied. He nodded at the man as if to emphasize his point before returning his focus to the road. They were riding behind the duke’s brightly painted carriage, resplendent with blue and gold colors, all reflecting gaily in the bright sun. Edenthorpe Castle was up ahead and Cassius shielded his eyes, getting a good look at the legendary seat of Doncaster.
“I’d forgotten how enormous this place is,” he said, catching sight of the blue and gold standards on the battlements, snapping in the breeze. “When we were here two years ago, I spent the entire night roaming the great hall. I do not think I even ate.”
