Page 21 of Historical Hotties
She would remember that moment for the rest of her life.
Dacia continued to stare up into the sky, eating more of her bread and thinking on a blue-eyed knight that had the power to make her feel weak just by looking at her. She thought on his smile, something that had caused a strange buzzing in her head, as if she were about to faint. Even the memory of it made her grin, just a little, a moment to tuck away and revive from time totime when she wanted to think on the most handsome man in all of England who happened to cross her path.
A sweet memory, indeed.
As she stood there and chewed, the last of her bread in her lowered hand, something began tugging at the crust. Frowning, she looked down to see Argos, that naughty dog, pulling the last of the bread from her hand and chomping it down. Her eyes widened when she realized that de Wolfe’s dog had found her yet again. When the dog swallowed the bread in two bites, it wagged its tail furiously and bumped into her, licking her hand.
She recoiled.
“Youagain?” she said, outraged. “How did you get into the kitchens?”
“He came with me.”
Dacia heard the voice from behind and, instinctively, she lifted her apron, covering her nose, mouth, and cheeks before she even turned around.
Cassius de Wolfe was standing behind her.
Those blue eyes were glimmering at her and Dacia began to feel weak-kneed again. She stepped back, startled by his appearance.
“Why…” she stammered. “Why are you here? Is something the matter? Do you require…?”
He cut her off, though it was gently done. “I require nothing, my lady, I assure you,” he said. “Dacia of Doncaster, I presume?”
She hesitated before nodding. “You know?”
He nodded. “Your grandfather told me,” he said, a smile playing on his lips. “He told me that his highly efficient and brilliant granddaughter managed his kitchens and I wanted to thank you for an astonishingly good meal. You are to be commended.”
Dacia was still feeling lightheaded, now made worse with his flattery. The man made her feel all shades of giddy. She ended upbacking out of the kitchens, out into the moonlit yard, simply to put distance between her and Cassius because she didn’t know what else to do.
He followed.
“It was all in the course of my duties, my lord,” she said, holding up that apron in front of her face and again feeling like a fool because of it. “You honor me with your gratitude.”
His smile was growing. “Not at all, my lady,” he said. “I am just sorry we were not graced with your presence, but it seems as if you have been very busy in the kitchens.”
By this time, Dacia had come to a halt, gazing up at the man who was so tall that she had to crane her head back to look up at him. If she kept backing away, she’d end up backed against the wall of the kitchen yard, so she bravely took a stand.
“That is usual at the evening meal, my lord,” she said. “There are over a thousand men to feed and it must be done in an organized fashion, so that is my task.”
Cassius nodded. “Your grandfather explained that you were very diligent in your duties,” he said. Then, he paused, clearly studying her beneath the moonlight. “Why did you not tell me you were Dacia of Doncaster earlier today?”
She shrugged, lowering her gaze. “It does not matter who I am,” she said. “Moreover, it is not polite for a lady to introduce herself to a man. We should have been introduced by others. It is the proper thing to do.”
“You are correct,” he said. “I apologize if I seem forward. But I have a reason for seeking you out other than thanking you.”
“What reason?”
“To ensure that the woman that my dog tried to drown is suffering no ill effects.”
She bit her lip to keep from grinning openly. “I am suffering no ill effects.”
“Do you swear this?”
“I do.”
Now he was flashing his teeth at her, that magnificent smile that dramatically changed his whole face. “I am pleased,” he said. “Argo really isn’t a naughty dog. He simply becomes excited. He is, in truth, very friendly.”
As if on cue, Argo ran up to Cassius, banging into his legs, wagging his tail furiously. Cassius reached down to pet the dog when he noticed something. Curious, he bent over.
