Page 256 of Historical Hotties
“It is not terrible,” he said, holding up a hand to ease them, “but Thor wants to go to his new properties in the north and, Darius, you will be going with him. Henry has given his permission.”
Darius looked at Nicola to see her reaction before returning his gaze to Gage. “For how long, my lord?”
Gage shrugged. “I do not know,” he said. “As long as it takes Thor to survey his properties, I suppose. It will not be forever.”
Nicola reached out to take Darius’ hand, holding it tightly with both of her small, warm mitts. The poor woman looked as if she wanted to cry.
“Thank you for telling us, Papa,” she said. “And thank you… for your permission to marry. It means so very much to us.”
Gage smiled faintly at his struggling daughter. “He will not be gone forever, sweetheart,” he assured her. “You are to marry a knight. You must become accustomed to him leaving you from time to time. Lord knows I’ve left your mother enough times that I’m surprised she remembers me when I return. It is simply part of the profession.”
They were encouraging words, but Nicola wasn’t willing to give in to them. She was looking at Darius with sad eyes, and he wasn’t sure how to comfort her. They’d been separated before, but this was different. They were newly betrothed.
He didn’t want to leave her, either.
“Even if I must go, it will not be tonight or even tomorrow,” he told her. “Shall we go back into the hall with your father?”
Nicola nodded, but she still held his hand tightly. “Aye.”
It wasn’t exactly proper for her to be holding Darius’ hand as they returned to their seats, so Gage held out his hand to her, encouraging her to come with him.
“Let us return and see what course is next,” he said. “Henry told me that there were at least fourteen courses for the feast, so let us see what delicacies are in store for us.”
But Nicola shook her head. “Not at the moment,” she said. “Will you let me have a few moments alone with Darius, Papa? Please?”
Gage looked at Darius, who seemed rather hopeful about having a few moments alone with her, too, so he relented.
“Just a few,” he said. “And when you come back in, do not be holding hands, please. A proper distance, at least until the betrothal is announced.”
“When will that be, Papa?” Nicola asked.
“Soon,” Gage said. “We will have a celebration just for the announcement, as befitting the House of de Reyne and the House of de Winter. This will be a great union.”
Nicola snorted. “I am marrying a man, not his family.”
Gage snorted softly. “You think so, do you?” he said. “I will let Darius explain that one.”
With that, he headed back toward the dais, leaving Darius and Nicola alone in the shadows. When he was out of earshot, Nicola turned to Darius.
“I am going with you when you leave with my brother,” she said.
Darius frowned. “You cannot go with me.”
“I can,” she insisted. “The new Lady de Reyne has no ladies-in-waiting. She will need my guidance, so I am therefore going with her. I will convince my brother that it is necessary. It is simply coincidence that you are going, too.”
He grinned. “You are a clever little devil, Nica.”
She smiled arrogantly. “I know,” she said. “But you like me that way.”
His smile softened. “I love you that way,” he murmured. “And you cannot possibly know how happy I am right now.”
She squeezed his hand. “I do,” she whispered. “Because I feel that way, too.”
“Shall we return to the hall?”
“With pleasure.”
Standing a few feet apart, they came out of the shadows and made their way through the hall and the crowds of men as the next course was brought out, which happened to be fish in a sweet sauce. Perhaps it wasn’t their betrothal feast, but it would do. Their love, and their joy, would finally come to fruition.
