Page 107 of Historical Hotties
“I will not have the chance to do anything if you lot don’t leave me alone,” he said. “Go back into the hall and find your wives and leave me to mine.”
He was genuinely trying to move away so Patrick decided to stop tormenting his son and help him. He pushed his brothers back, helped by Markus, as Cassius finally made it to the door. He no sooner put his hand on the latch when he heard a distinctwhacksound.
Blayth hissed.
Jordan and her willow switch had made an appearance, mostly on Blayth’s backside.
“Get back, all of ye,” she said. “I dunna care if ye have grandchildren of yer own. Ye’re not too big for me tae take a switch tae, so leave Cass alone. Get back tae the hall.”
She swatted Troy because he started to defend Blayth, which was the wrong thing to do. No man, no matter how old he was, was obliged to obey his mother instantly. Jordan didn’t use the switch again, but she held it aloft in her hand for all to see so they would know she meant business.
“Atty, get them moving,” she told Patrick. “Ye know better than tae harass a man on his wedding night.”
Patrick came to a pause, along with Edward, and they both started to laugh. “Don’t you remember what happened on Eddie’s wedding night?” Patrick said, pointing at his brother. “Papa and Uncle Paris were so drunk that you could not get them out of Edward and Cassie’s bedchamber. Remember? You had todrag Paris out and even then, he stood at the bedchamber door and cried.”
Jordan remembered that night very well. Edward had married the daughter of William’s best friend, Paris de Norville. Cassiopeia de Norville had been Paris’ one living daughter and the man had turned into a mess when the time came to consummate the marriage.
She fought off a smile at the memories.
“’Tis true,” she said. “But we chased him away, eventually. Just like I’m chasing ye away. Leave the happy couple alone or I’ll never have any great-grandchildren.”
Laughing softly, Patrick and Edward turned away, heading back down the corridor. When they had faded from view, Jordan turned to Cassius and Dacia, who had opened the door now that it was safe.
She lowered the switch.
“They dunna mean any harm, ye know that,” she said, looking between the pair. “They are simply happy for ye. ’Tis how this wild bunch shows their love. And the dirty songs, too.”
Cassius went to his grandmother, hugging her gently. “I know,” he said. “And I love them for it. But the fact that you’re here, and you were able to witness our marriage, means everything to me, Matha. I just wish that Poppy could have been here, too.”
Mathawas what all of the grandchildren called Jordan, andPoppywas their term of endearment for William. Jordan patted her enormous grandson on the cheek.
“He is,” she said simply. “In fact, that’s why I’ve come. I want tae give ye something of him.”
As Cassius and Dacia watched curiously, Jordan pulled forth a delicate golden chain, dark with age. She held it up to Cassius, who took it carefully.
“When yer Poppy and I were married, it was a secret ceremony,” she said. “I was supposed tae marry another man, but I married Poppy instead. I couldna wear a ring for all tae see, so he gave me a ring on that chain. Instead of putting the ring on my finger, he put the chain over my head. I’ve cherished it for seventy-two years and I brought it with me tonight because it’s something from Poppy. In spirit, I wanted him tae be present and he is– in that chain he gave me. I want ye tae cherish it, Cassius, and give it tae Dacia. It represents a marriage that not even death can destroy.”
Cassius had never heard that story about the chain before and there was a lump in his throat as he looked at it. Bringing to his lips, he kissed it. “Thank you, Poppy,” he murmured, looking to his grandmother with tears in his eyes. “You could have given me all of the gold in England and it would not have been as valuable to me as this is. Thank you for this, Matha.”
Jordan patted her teary-eyed grandson before looking to Dacia. Tossing the switch aside, she took Dacia’s hands in her own and held them firmly. “And for ye, Lady de Wolfe, a good Scots blessing,” she said. “May ye always have a roof for the rain, wood for the fire, and the love and laughter of the man ye hold dear.”
Kissing Dacia sweetly on the cheek, she turned and headed back down the corridor where her sons and grandsons had gone. Cassius watched her go, his heart fuller than he could have imagined. Turning to Dacia, he carefully put the chain over her head and she took a moment to look at it.
“I will never remove this,” she said seriously. “This is mayhap the most important piece of jewelry I have ever had.”
Cassius smiled weakly, still quite emotional, and directed her into the chamber. Shutting the door behind them, he bolted it.
“I seem to remember my mother telling me once that she occupied this chamber when she first came to Berwick,” he said. “The window overlooks the river.”
Dacia went to a small table against the wall, one that held her capcase, and began to remove the ribbons in her hair.
“I find all of Berwick beautiful,” she said. “How fortunate you were to grow up here.”
“Fortunate, indeed. Do you want some wine?”
Dacia looked over to the table next to the bed, where someone had thoughtfully put a pitcher of wine, two cups, and several pieces of fruit.
“Nay,” she said, pulling the last of the ribbons from her hair and starting in on the ties that held the dress together. “I think I have had enough wine to last me for quite some time. So have your uncles and father. Oh, and I forgot to tell you– my grandfather received a missive from Father Lazarus yesterday. You know the priest has been helping Darian keep an eye on the village. You’ll never guess what Father Lazarus said.”
