Page 73 of Historical Hotties
Cassius could see the old man’s astonishment, sensing that he had spoken the words that Doncaster had never expected to hear where it pertained to Dacia. Realizing that, he felt some anger. As much as his fever-ridden body would allow, he could feel his anger rise at the attitude of a foolish old man when it came to his granddaughter.
“And why not?” he said. “She is a beautiful, talented woman that any man would be proud of. I have heard that she was raised by a woman who covered her up because she believed her freckles to be the work of the devil. But as I told you before, I think Dacia is God’s most magnificent creation. I further realize that she is your heiress and she brings with her the great legacy of the House of de Ryes. Know that this situation has no bearing on my request.”
“It doesn’t?”
“I would take her without the title or the name.”
Doncaster looked at him, awed by his position. “If that is true, then you must truly be serious about her.”
“I am, your grace,” Cassius said. “I will go one step further in my declaration. Though it is not usual for a man to change his name when he marries, when it is the case of a woman of higher social standing, men have been known to take their wife’s family name. I will not give up the name of de Wolfe, for it is a storied and proud heritage, but I will add de Ryes to my name if it pleases you, so that our children will bear the name. Your family is an old and distinguished one.”
Doncaster stared at him, his features softening and his eyes growing moist with emotion. “Would you truly, Cassius?” he said. “I had a son, you know. Dacia’s father, Dacian. Dacia was named for him. But she was his only child, as his wife died when Dacia was quite young, and then he died of an ailment when shewas about seven years of age. She is all I have left. What you have said… it gives me more joy and hope than you could possibly imagine. Would you truly add my name to the great de Wolfe name?”
Cassius could see how touched the man was. “Of course,” he said. “That way, our children will be born of the House of de Wolfe-de Ryes, but known as Doncaster formally, as Dacia is. Would this be acceptable?”
Doncaster was already nodding his head, reaching out to take Cassius’ hand. “You have made an old man very happy,” he said sincerely. “If you wish to court Dacia, then you have my blessing. You will make a fine duke, Cassius. Greater than I could have ever hoped for.”
Cassius smiled faintly, giving Doncaster’s hand a squeeze before letting him go. “Thank you,” he said. “Now, you may let your granddaughter back into this chamber before she beats the door down.”
With a grin, Doncaster moved for the door, lifting the latch and being faced with four serious faces– Dacia, Darian, Rhori, and Bose. He crooked a finger at Dacia, but kept the knights from following. He had something to tell her and given Darian was part of that group, he didn’t want the man to hear the news just yet. There was the little matter of Darian having his heart set on Dacia.
Doncaster wasn’t immune to that.
Therefore, he would let Cassius inform Dacia that she was now spoken for and he would personally handle Darian. He loved the man like a son, so he knew how delicate the situation was. He wanted to be kind. He genuinely tried to be.
As expected, Dacia was thrilled at the news.
Also as expected, Darian was not.
By morning, Cassius’ fever had broken.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The village of Doncaster
One week later
“Isuspect sheis never going to speak to me again.”
Cassius, astride Old Man, spoke loudly to Rhori and Bose. Riding ahead of a column of about fifty Doncaster men, he was leading the escort into town with Dacia on a small gray palfrey several feet behind him and Argos plodding along beside her. His own dog wasn’t even walking beside him, buther.He kept glancing back, casually, to make sure she heard him, but she ignored him soundly.
That only made him grin.
“She is angry that I am back to my usual duties,” he said. “She was so angry with my plans to come into the village this morning that she locked the chamber door on me. I could not get out until Rhori came to my aid. And, by the way, that makes her angry with you, too, so watch yourself today.”
Rhori and Bose were snorting at the antics that had been part of this venture into town since the escort was formed this morning. Cassius was recovering swiftly from his wounds, gaining strength every day thanks to Dacia’s diligent andexcellent care, but she hadn’t been able to keep him in bed as long as she had wanted to.
Hence, the trip into town.
As far as Cassius was concerned, he was feeling completely normal. His wounds were healing nicely even though they were still bandaged for the most part, but Dacia was concerned that he was doing too much, too soon. She nearly had a temper tantrum when she saw him yesterday, bare-chested in the morning sun, as he worked a little with his sword in the bailey.
With the wound in his shoulder, he was feeling some weakness as a result and, as he had explained to her, he wanted to be aware of what limitations the wound had temporarily imposed. It made perfect sense to him, as a warrior, but little sense to her, as a healer. He needed to recover before he could work the shoulder, in her opinion. She tried to take his weapon away and he wouldn’t give it to her, so she went away angry.
She was still angry.
And he was still laughing.
In fact, he was as joyful as either Rhori or Bose had ever seen him. He was betrothed to the heiress to the Doncaster dukedom, a massive triumph for a lowly knight, but Cassius was a de Wolfe and they were some of the most sought-after grooms in England. It was only right that one marry the Doncaster heiress and everyone agreed on that account.
