Page 45 of Historical Hotties
“Are the king’s knights still here this morning?”
“Aye,” Dacia said. “I was told that Grandfather asked them to remain a little while. He wants their help with Lord Hagg.”
Amata’s head resumed its eager swiveling. “Where are they?”
Dacia shrugged as they passed the great hall, with the keep directly ahead. “I am not sure,” she said. “But you will meet them at some point. I know how eager you are to meet fine, young knights.”
Amata gasped. “CeeCee!” she scolded softly. “You make it sound as if I lust for them constantly.”
“Don’t you?”
Dacia turned to look at her, seeing an unhappy expression on her cousin’s face. But Amata couldn’t keep it up for very long. She cracked a smile and looked away.
“Well… not constantly,” she said, giggling. “But it would be nice to meet a knight to marry and take me away from this place. I do so long to see the big cities and meet interesting people. I…”
She suddenly came to a halt, her gaze on the great hall. Dacia was forced to stop as well, turning in time to see Cassius emerging from the hall entry. He had Argos with him, catching sight of the young women immediately. It was difficult not to see them because they were right in his path. Amata lifted a hand and waved it furiously.
“Greetings, Sir Cassius!” she called. “It is agreeable to see you again!”
Dacia looked at her cousin in surprise. “You know him?”
Amata couldn’t take her eyes from him. “He came through town during the Lords of Misrule feast,” she said excitedly.“Yesterday, in fact. He’s so handsome, CeeCee. The most handsome man I have ever seen. Don’t you think so?”
Bewildered, Dacia looked at Cassius as he came upon the pair, his expression bordering on unfriendly as he looked at Amata. Still, he politely bowed.
“Lady Amata,” he said with a hint of disapproval in his tone. “What brings you to Edenthorpe?”
Amata was beside herself with glee. “You, silly,” she said. “You would not come to me, so I have come to you. Are you surprised?”
Cassius just looked at her. “It would have been best had you sent word ahead to ask for permission to visit,” he said, avoiding her question. “We had some trouble here last night and it may not be safe for you to travel.”
Amata sensed a rebuke, but it didn’t spoil her enthusiasm. “If you had trouble last night, then surely you and your powerful knights chased them away,” she said, letting go of Dacia and looping her hands through Cassius’ elbow in a possessive gesture. “I am positive Lord Hagg took one look at you and fled. How could he not?”
She was clinging to him, something he was clearly displeased with. “There is a little more to it than that,” he said. “If you will excuse me, I must be along my way.”
He started to move away from her, but she held fast. “Please do not go,” she said. “I have come all the way to Edenthorpe to see you. Will you not sit with me and talk a while? I never did thank you for the dances yesterday. You are a wonderful dancer, by the way. I have never seen finer. You made me feel lighter than air when you lifted me in your powerful arms.”
Cassius had about all he could take of her sappy adoration, but before he could shoo her away, Dacia spoke up.
“You… you two danced yesterday?” she said, looking between Amata and Cassius. “Where?”
“At the Lords of Misrule feast,” Amata said. “I told you that was where I met him. Sir Cassius and I were crowned the king and queen of the feast. Well,almost. But he had to leave because he had business to attend to with Cousin Vincent. Still, it was great fun while it lasted.”
Now, Dacia’s focus was on her cousin. For a moment, she just looked at her, processing the foolish words that were coming from her mouth and coming to understand that Amata’s visit here was no casual happenstance.
She had a motive.
Perhaps it was jealousy or perhaps it was disappointment, but Dacia did something at that moment that she wouldn’t normally do.
She confronted Amata.
“Then you came today because you knew he was here,” she finally said. “It was not to visit me at all. It was to see Sir Cassius.”
Amata looked at her as if suddenly realizing she’d given away her entire reason for coming. “I… I knew he would be here, that is true,” she said quickly. “But I very much wanted to see you, CeeCee. Seeing Sir Cassius is just a happy coincidence.”
It was a lie.
Dacia knew it was a lie and she felt like a fool. A silly, duped fool. Everything Edie had ever said about Amata came tumbling down on her. Although in the back of her mind she’d always known that her cousin only used her, she had always been willing to overlook it. But no longer. That selfishness had never been more apparent than it was now.
