Page 8 of Historical Hotties
Even so, she didn’t let it weigh upon her as heavily as it could have. She had gotten used to hiding her face from the world, which now was uncovered in a rare moment. The woman stirring the dye happened to look up, right into Dacia’s face as the woman bent over the vat. She thought that, perhaps, the freckles had faded with age. They didn’t seem as dark as they used to be and, at a distance, one couldn’t really tell she had them. But at close range, they were clear.
A pity, too. Dacia had an exquisite face of lush lips, well-shaped nose, and those magnificent blue eyes, but the scattering of freckles marred that picture.
The woman stirring the dye tried not to feel pity for the lonely young heiress. When her days should be filled with parties and her nights with handsome suitors, she’d never attended a party in her life, nor had she ever known a suitor.
No one should have to be so lonely.
“This will make for a beautiful garment, my lady,” the old woman said. “It was kind of you to have it made for Lady Amata’s day of birth. It will go well with her pale hair.”
Dacia Mathilde Violette de Ferrar de Ryes grinned as she watched the woman stir the material. “She is my cousin as wellas my friend,” she said simply. “Oh, I know you do not like her, Edie, but I do look forward to her visits.”
Old Edie lifted an eyebrow as she continued stirring. “She comes here to gawk at your grandfather’s knights, pick over your jewelry, and steal your clothing,” she said with disapproval. “You should not be so generous with her. She takes but she never gives.”
“She gives me her companionship when she visits. That is worth a great deal to me.”
Edie shut her mouth after that. She was just thinking on how lonely her mistress was except for occasional visits by her greedy and silly cousin, Amata de Branton, who came to visit regularly even though she was petty, gossipy, and bordered on thieving. She also had a tendency to mimic what the nurse had told Dacia, criticizing her face, insisting that her cousin remained covered at all times. It was Edie’s opinion that it was out of jealousy and not concern, as Dacia chose to believe.
Edie had never liked Amata.
For good reason.
“She’ll be very grateful for your gift, my lady,” Edie said evenly. “You are a kind and generous soul, lamb.”
Dacia looked up from the vat, smiling at the old servant. “As are you,” she said. “Edie, I know you mean well about Amata… and do not think I am so blind to what she really is… but she is my cousin and I do crave her companionship. It is better than the alternative.”
Edie simply nodded. It was that lonely girl speaking again and she had nothing to say to the contrary. “What of her sister?” she said. “Why not have Sabine visit? She used to come quite a bit.”
Dacia shrugged. “Sabine is bound for the cloister,” she said. “Amata says she spends all of her time praying. She has no time to visit me any longer.”
Pity,Edie thought. Younger sister Sabine had been the kind one. Still, she wouldn’t dwell on it. “And when shall we expect Lady Amata’s next visit?” she said. “It has been a while since the last one.”
Dacia returned her focus to the dye vat. “Soon, I hope,” she said. “Her father was ill, but he is better now, so she should return soon. I hope so. I have missed her.”
Edie glanced up at her. “Mayhap you should ask your grandfather to make it so that Lady Amata stays on longer this time,” she said. “She could become your companion, your lady-in-waiting. You are to be a duchess someday and all duchesses need ladies.”
Dacia shrugged. “Possibly,” she said. “But becoming a duchess is a long time off yet.”
“Not as long as you think,” Edie reminded her quietly. “Your grandfather is old, my lady. You must prepare for the event of his passing. You must be prepared to take your rightful place.”
Dacia knew that. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t thought on it before, but she didn’t like to think of the day her grandfather would pass away. He was really all she had as far as immediate family went. Even Amata was really a distant cousin. But Edie was right. When her grandfather was gone, she would become the duchess of a great empire. Having her cousin for a lady-in-waiting wasn’t a bad idea.
And she would have a permanent friend.
“Mayhap,” she said. “I will think on it.”
“If not a lady-in-waiting, why not a maid?”
Dacia waved her off. “Amata? A maid?” She shook her head. “She would sooner throw herself from the battlements than become a maid. Besides… I have more maids than I need, to be perfectly truthful. They do everything but eat and breathe for me. Sometimes I wish…”
She trailed off and Edie looked at her. “What, lamb?”
Dacia stood up from the vat. “Sometimes I wish they would all go away and leave me alone,” she said. “It’s strange, Edie… I feel so alone sometimes, but I am never really alone. I am always surrounded by people. God’s Bones, when I hear myself say that, I sound like a madwoman.”
Edie grinned. “You sound like someone who has great responsibilities and many people to help you with them,” she said. “That is why you have so many women, my lady. They are all there to serve you.”
Dacia nodded her head, but it was clear that Edie didn’t understand what she was saying. As much as the old woman loved her, it wouldn’t be the first time.
She was a bird in a gilded cage and no one seemed to understand that.
