Page 29 of Historical Hotties
Darian looked at him. “I cannot leave her unprotected, Cassius,” he said. “I must…”
“You cannot take her through those lines and you know it. She must remain here.”
“But if they move in this direction…”
Cassius cut him off, though not unkindly. “If they see thirty Doncaster soldiers around this cottage, they are going to suspect that they are protecting something,” he pointed out quickly. “You must get these men away from here so as not to attract attention. Get them away from here and I will protect the lady with my life. I swear they’ll not get her as long as there is breath left in my body, Darian. But you have a castle under siege.”
Darian was torn, but only for a split second. He knew that what Cassius said was true. Soldiers around the cottage would only attract attention, so it would be best to move them. After a moment of indecision, he nodded.
“Very well,” he said. “Get inside and stay with her.”
“I will.”
“Do not leave her for any reason.”
“I will not, I promise.”
Darian emitted a sharp whistle between his teeth and his men began to run for their horses. He, too, started to move, but not before he looked pointedly at Cassius.
“I will return,” he said.
Cassius was heading for the cottage door, whistling for Argos as he went. “I know,” he said. “Be cautious. There are only thirty of you and more than a few hundred of the enemy.”
Darian waved him off, now rushing for his steed. Cassius bolted for the cottage door, yanking it open, and dashed inside with the dog on his heels. As he threw the bolt on the door, he happened to catch a glimpse of Dacia’s startled gaze.
“Shutter the windows,” he commanded softly. “Close them all up. Quickly, now.”
The occupants of the cottage were an older woman, a middle-aged woman, two young children, an old man, and Dacia. The old man began to move without question, but Dacia stood up from where she was bent over the older woman.
“What is it?” she asked, concerned. “What has happened?”
Cassius went to help the old man place the shutters in front of the window closest to the door. “It seems there is a raiding party at Edenthorpe,” he said. “Darian has taken your escort because we are afraid it would attract their attention. Therefore, we are going to fortify this cottage and settle down until the raid is finished.
Her eyes widened. “Hagg?”
“Possibly.”
Dacia didn’t say anything. Cassius was moving to the next window when he happened to look at her. She was still standing there and he knew it was because she was concerned, perhaps even indecisive about what she should do. Her home was under attack, as outlandish as that sounded, and she was understandably shaken.
Confused.
He spoke softly.
“Everything will be all right, my lady. Return to your work.”
Dacia looked over at him and her gaze lingered for a moment. She was wearing a series of gossamer veils across her face and on her head, essentially only revealing some of her hair and both eyes. Everything else was covered. It was the apron all over again except with finer material.
But there was no mistaking those magnificent eyes, now filled with concern.
“Do you really think so?” she asked quietly.
“I do.”
“You do not think it is too serious?”
“Probably not, but it is best to be prudent. Do not fear.”
She continued staring at him before finally nodding her head and turning away. But her movements were slow and uncertain, apprehensive with the turn the night had taken. Cassius watched her return to work, trying to ease the fever of an old woman who didn’t look as if she would survive the night. He went about helping the old man secure all of the shutters in the two-room cottage, returning to the larger common room and taking position next to the door where he could peer through the shutters at the castle in the distance.
