Page 26 of Historical Hotties
Given that they were family, even if they didn’t personally know one another well, it was implied that there was already trust between them. When Cassius had appeared earlier that day, Darian was more than happy to welcome the man to Edenthorpe and, now, he was more than willing to let him in on Doncaster’s troubles.
Had he known what Cassius was thinking about Dacia, however, he might have changed that opinion.
“We have a neighbor named Catesby Hagg who is laying claim to lands that belong to Doncaster,” Darian said. “It is along story, so suffice it to say that Hagg has been bold enough to launch a few raids on the disputed land.”
“But nothing on Edenthorpe?”
“Nay, nothing on the castle,” Darian said. “But we must be vigilant.”
Cassius’ gaze drifted to Dacia, standing partially in the shadows of the kitchen. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t realized that she’d dropped her apron, waiting for the moment when she would remember and suddenly cover herself up again.
“And this old man who has summoned help?” he said. “Is he to be trusted?”
Dacia nodded. “Very much so,” she said. “His wife has not enjoyed good health over the past couple of years and I have helped her.”
“You are a healer, my lady?”
Dacia shrugged. “I have some knowledge, aye,” she said. “It is part of my responsibilities as the Lady of Edenthorpe. I tend the sick and the poor to the best of my abilities.”
That was very true in many houses all over England. The lady of the castle was always expected to tend to the sick and the weak.
That was good enough for Cassius.
“Then I will go with you,” he said to Darian. “Let me find du Bois and de Shera and tell them where I am going. Who are you leaving in command?”
Darian gestured towards the gatehouse. “I have four knights under my command,” he said. “Lesser knights, young and hungry, but experienced. I will leave one of them in command, Sir Clifton St. Marr.”
“You trust him?”
“Implicitly.”
“How old?”
Darian lifted his shoulders. “Young,” he said. “He has only been a knight for a few years, but his judgment is impeccable.”
Cassius digested that. “Then let me leave du Bois in command,” he said. “He has been a knight for twenty years and can command a battle better than almost any man alive. He would submit to St. Marr if I told him to, but let us not strip the man of the respect he has earned, shall we?”
Darian was agreeable. “Absolutely,” he said. “I will tell my men that the king’s knight is in command while I am gone. They will be most agreeable to taking orders from a man who is in royal service.”
“Better than that, he is one of Edward’s Praetorian guards,” Cassius said. “That’s what they call the king’s personal guard, you know. Praetorians.”
“Prestigious, indeed.”
With that, they headed out, following Dacia as she scurried away to collect her things. Cassius went about his business, finding Rhori and Bose still in the great hall and explaining to them what their duties would be until he returned from his escort duty. When Bose offered to go in his stead, Cassius brushed him off. Perhapstooquickly. He didn’t want anyone else taking the escort duty.
If Dacia was going out, he was going with her.
He wanted another look at that sweetly freckled face.
CHAPTER SIX
The night seemedstill and calm enough, but thirty soldiers were spread around Old Timeo’s small farm as Dacia worked inside with a sick old woman and her equally ill daughter. Their mood was tense, as if the night were too still for their liking.
Something was in the air.
An icy breeze was coming off the meadows, chilling everything in its path as the moon rose higher in the sky and bathed the landscape in silver. The cottage was small, but warm light burned in the windows as Cassius and Darian stood outside the doorway, watching the darkened land for any signs that this might have been the ruse Darian had been wary of.
But everything seemed still.
