Cassius watched her lowered head. “Require?” he repeated. “Nothing. I came to see you.”
Given what had just happened, she was understandably on the defensive. “You do not have to keep up the pretext, my lord,” she said. “Please have Amata entertain you. She is better at it than I am.”
He cleared his throat softly. “I am not sure why you think I have been keeping up a pretext,” he said. “I am an honest man, my lady. Pretexts are excuses and I do not make excuses. I came to see you because I wanted to assure you that whatever your cousin said out in the bailey was completely one-sided.”
Dacia lifted her head slightly to look at him. “She said she met you in town.”
He nodded. “She did,” he said. “We were passing through, as she said, on our way to see your grandfather. We stopped because we were tired and hungry, and there was enough free food to feed an army, so we stopped to refresh ourselves before continuing on. Lady Amata grabbed me and pulled me into a group of dancing people, so that is how I ended up dancing with her. I did not ask her, I assure you.”
Dacia lowered her head again. “She is a good dancer,” she said. “Pretty, too. I do not blame you for dancing with her.”
Cassius could see how hurt she was. It was in everything about her. It began to occur to him that only someone with an emotional investment in the situation could feel hurt, and it further occurred to him that he was rather pleased about it. It made no difference to him that Amata was sweet on him, but Dacia?
That was a completely different story.
Truth be told, he might have been just the slightest bit sweet on her, too.
“I danced with her because I did not want to be rude,” he said. “And also because it has been a very long time since a pretty girl asked me to dance, but I discovered something about Amata.”
She was back to peering at him again. “What is that?”
“She is annoying.”
Dacia’s eyes widened briefly and she began fighting off a smile. “Mayhap a little.”
Cassius grunted. “From what I’ve seen, it is more than just a little,” he said, pleased that he’d at least lightened her mood somewhat. “The fact that she used you as an excuse to come to Edenthorpe because she wanted to see me is an appalling lack of tact and I told her so. I also told her something else.”
“What is that?”
“That no matter how pretty she thinks she is, you are more beautiful than she could ever hope to be.”
Dacia’s head came up and she looked at him full-on, her eyes wide with astonishment. “You told her that?”
“I did.”
She blinked. “But why?”
“Because it is the truth.”
Dacia stared at him a moment before finally shaking her head. “I… I do not even know what to say.”
He clasped his hands behind his back, bracing his legs apart as he looked at her. “You need not say anything,” he said. “I came up here to tell you not to let your cousin hurt your feelings. I do not have the slightest interest in her and she is quite upset about it. She seems to think that I would die for a taste of her lips.”
Dacia shrugged. “Some men would.”
Cassius shook his head. “Not me,” he said. “In fact, I have come here to ask something of you.”
“What is it?”
His eyes took on that warm glimmer again, something that seemed to happen every time he looked at her.
“I know you like to tend the kitchens and not attend the evening meal,” he said. “But I was hoping, just for this evening, that you might rethink that usual practice and sup with me. I would very much like you to.”
Dacia’s cheeks began to turn that familiar shade of pink. “Me?”
“You.”
Dacia lowered her gaze, as if thinking very hard on his invitation. She’d just convinced herself that every bit of flattery out of his mouth was insincere, but here he was, being kind to her again. He’d thought enough of her to explain her cousin’s comments and his side of things.
Perhaps a man like that deserved better than what she thought of him.
He seemed to be making the extra effort.
“I suppose I could,” she said. “If you’d really like for me to.”
“I would. Very much.”
“Then I shall attend.”
“Will you do something more for me?”
“What is it?”
“Do not wear your veils.”
She looked at him as if he were suggesting something scandalous, but the lure of his sweet invitation took precedence.
“Are you sure you will not mind?”
He smiled, flashing that smile that had caused many a maiden to swoon. “My lady, I prefer it,” he said. “I’ve noticed you have dimples that would cause most men to fall at your feet.”
The blush was back, ragingly so. She wasn’t very adept at flirtation, or kind words, so she said the first thing that came to mind.
“But not you?” she teased.
In one swift and fluid movement, Cassius took a knee in front of her, reaching out to take one of her hands. Dacia was so startled that she took an instinctive step back, but he held her fast. He was so tall that on one knee, he was nearly eye-level with her. Leaning over, he gently kissed her hand.
“Does that answer your question, Dacia?”
The way he said it made her heart beat painfully against her ribs. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Before she could answer, however, they both heard a gasp coming from the stairwell, turning to see Amata standing on the top step.
The woman’s eyes were bulging.
“What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
Dacia looked at her cousin curiously, having no idea what she was talking about. “The meaning of what?” she asked as Cassius stood up. “What are you talking about?”
Unfortunately, Amata was a woman scorned, a petty and volatile creature, indeed. She looked accusingly between Cassius and her cousin.
“Is this what has happened since I last saw you, Dacia?” she said. “You now permit men to display unrestrained gestures of affection? Now I understand why Sir Cassius rebuffed me. It was because of you!”
Dacia was starting to catch on. Truth be told, she was flattered that her cousin thought she was finally doing something scandalous but, in the same breath, she was quickly furious about what the woman was suggesting.
Furious enough to snap back.
“And what if it is?” she said. “Sir Cassius was doing nothing I haven’t seen you permit with twenty different men at twenty different times. In fact, I’ve known you to permit something worse than a simple kiss to the hand, so if you do not want your father to hear about it, I suggest you shut your lips this instant.”
As Cassius stood back and folded his arms across his chest, an approving smile playing on his lips, Amata features flushed with fury and embarrassment.
“I am your cousin,” she hissed. “You cannot say such things to me in front of a stranger. You promised to keep them in confidence!”
Dacia took a few steps in Amata’s direction. “And you used me as an excuse every time you stole away to meet yet one more man in your vast collection of suitors,” she said. “You would tell your father that you were coming to visit me, but you’d go into Doncaster and spend time with any man who caught your fancy. Did you think I did not know this? I have known it for years. And then when you do come to visit me, it is to steal kisses from Darian’s knights or steal pieces of my jewelry, and the fool that I am, I simply looked the other way. I was so happy to have you visit me that I overlooked your lies and your thievery. Therefore, your accusations against me are sadly misplaced, Amata. You saw nothing untoward and you know it. You’re simply angry that it wasn’t your hand Sir Cassius was kissing.”
Amata’s jaw dropped in abject humiliation. “This is how you repay the only person who will talk to you?” she screeched. “No one will talk to you or be your friend because of your ugly spots and this i
s how you repay me? You ungrateful wench!”
She was hitting Dacia where it hurt. In times past when they fought and Amata brought up Dacia’s freckles, Dacia would usually surrender the argument. She’d taken a beating for so many years about her freckles that, like a whipped dog, she knew when to tuck her tail between her legs and hang her head. That was what she usually did.
But no more.
Thanks to Cassius, Amata didn’t have that power over her anymore.
“I would rather be an ungrateful wench than a whore,” Dacia said in a low voice. “You heard me, Amata – whore. I know you for what you are. I know you gave your innocence to one of my grandfather’s soldiers a few years ago and there have been men between your legs ever since. Everybody knew it; I knew it. But I overlooked it. I will overlook you no longer. Go find another place to sleep tonight. And then tomorrow, you can return to Silverdale. I do not want to see you again, ever.”
Amata was so angry that she was trembling. “I knew it was a mistake to try and help you,” she said. “This is the thanks you give me for my friendship, you ugly, silly chit. I will leave tomorrow and I will never come back. You have made a big mistake this day. Very big.”
Dacia simply shook her head. “I have fixed a very big mistake today,” she said. “Poor Sabine to have a horrible sister like you. A whore that will bring down the whole family. No wonder she chose to commit herself to a convent – she could not live with the shame of a trollop for a sister.”
Amata’s face contorted with rage and her mouth worked as if she wanted to say something more, but she wisely kept silent. She’d just been humiliated in front of Cassius, horrified that her darkest secrets had a witness.
But this wasn’t going to be the end of it.
She was going to make sure of it.
Gathering her skirts, she headed back down the stairs. Dacia stood there a moment, listening to her footfalls fade away, before returning her attention to Cassius. She smiled weakly, chagrinned that he had witnessed that exchange, but not sorry.
She was definitely not sorry.
“She is correct, you know,” she said quietly. “She is the only friend I have.”
Cassius shook his head. “She is not correct.”
“What do you mean?”
He smiled. “You have me.”
Dacia laughed softly. “You are not exactly a ladylike companion,” she said. “I cannot speak to you of silly or frivolous things that would only interest a woman.”
“You have not yet tried.”
She cocked her head. “Is that so?” she said. “Then at the feast tonight, I shall make sure to talk about the most frivolous of frivolity and see how long you can stand it.”
His grin broadened. “I look forward to it, my lady.”
Dacia’s smile faded. “Would it be too forward for me to ask you to address me as Dacia?”
He shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “In fact, I was hoping that you would give me permission, although I have used your name informally once or twice.”
“I hardly noticed,” Dacia said, feeling lighter of heart than she had in her entire life. Something wonderful was happening to her that she could hardly begin to describe. “I would be honored if you called me Dacia.”
“And I would be honored if you called me Cassius. Or Cass. I’ll answer to anything you call me, Dacia.”
It was enough to return the blush to her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said. “Then I shall see you tonight?”
“Of course you will.”
Dacia smiled bashfully, heading back into her chamber as Cassius stood there and watched her go. He’d never noticed how gracefully she moved. In fact, there was nothing about her that wasn’t graceful, beautiful, and bright.
More and more, he was coming to see that.
And strength… he’d never seen such a strong woman. It had taken great strength to stand up to her abusive cousin. That impressed him perhaps more than anything else – shy, suppressed Dacia of Doncaster had great inner strength.
But it never occurred to him that he’d helped bring it out.
The evening’s feast couldn’t come soon enough as far as he was concerned.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“I was told that Amata arrived today,” Doncaster said. “Where is she? She usually eats with Dacia, but I at least expect her to greet me when she arrives. I’ve not yet seen her.”
The evening’s meal was well under way, the hall crowded with eating, drinking soldiers and massive fires in both hearths that were spitting smoke and sparks into the room. At the dais, the duke was seated with Cassius, Rhori, and Bose along with Darian and one of his junior knights, a young man from a fine family named Sir Everard Allington.
The duke was addressing Fulco, his majordomo, who was hovering nervously at the man’s right elbow. A pale man with stringy brown hair, he always seemed to have the look of a frightened rabbit.
He very much wanted to please his lord.
“Lady Amata has retreated to the chamber we usually reserve for her father and refuses to come out, your grace,” he said. “She says that she is ill.”
The duke looked at him curiously. “Ill?” he said. “Is Dacia tending to her?”
“Not that I am aware of, your grace.”
“Why not?”
“Because Lady Dacia is in her chamber and says she will come out when she is ready, your grace,” he said.
“And they are not together?”
“Nay, your grace.”
The duke sighed with exasperation. “What is happening with these women?” he demanded. “Dacia and Amata are usually quite close, especially when Amata visits. What nonsense is going around?”
The majordomo simply shook his head, which didn’t satisfy Doncaster. Frustrated, he turned back to his food and drink.
“Women,” he muttered to Cassius, seated at his right. “Dacia’s grandmother was not like that. She was a calm and sensible woman.”
Cassius had watched the exchange about the women carefully, knowing exactly why Amata was pleading illness. Frankly, he was glad because that meant he wouldn’t have to deal with her on this night. He was much more concerned with Dacia making an appearance.
He found that he was eagerly awaiting it.
“Sometimes they are unpredictable creatures, your grace,” he said. “I have two sisters, a mother, a grandmother, and a host of female relatives. I’ve seen just how unpredictable they can be.”
The duke snorted in agreement but, in truth, he couldn’t give the subject of women much more attention than he already had.
He moved on.
“Have you sent word for reinforcements as we discussed earlier?” he asked Cassius.
“De Shera did,” Cassius said, rolling with the change of focus. “The missives went out earlier today and with the castles being so close, I should expect an answer in a day or two. We’ll assemble enough men to wipe through Hagg easily.”
Doncaster was holding his cup, staring into the ruby-red liquid. “I still wish I could have spoken to Catesby,” he said. “All of this seems so… unnecessary.”
Cassius wasn’t sure what to say to that. The duke wanted a peaceful resolution but Hagg had already dictated the terms and they most certainly weren’t peaceful. He was about to take another drink of his wine when he caught sight of someone entering through the servants’ alcove.
Dacia had finally arrived.
His heart skipped a beat.
She was wearing a gray gown with silver silk panels that reflected light as she walked. The front of the gown was laced up with silver ribbons and there was elaborate silver thread embroidery around the neckline. The sleeves were long and belled, with white fur trim, and as she drew closer, Cassius could see just how beautiful she looked.
And no veils.
He was on his feet.
“Lady Dacia,” he said. “Please come and sit. It is good of you to join us.”
Rhori and Bose, in their customary places across the table from Ca
ssius and the duke, glanced up at the lady without much interest until they saw how beautiful she was. Then, she had their attention. But Cassius had beat them to the punch. He was already holding out a chair for her, which she took graciously.
“I hope I am not disturbing your conversation,” Dacia said, looking over to her grandfather. “I hope I am welcome, Grandfather. Sir Cassius asked me to join the feast and I could not refuse.”
Doncaster was looking at her strangely. “You are always welcome, child,” he said. “But why are you not covered up?”
He was gesturing at her face, asking a rather blunt question for all to hear. Cassius could see the mottle coming to Dacia’s cheeks and he hastened to answer.
“Because I asked her not to,” he said. “It is rude to hide from guests as she does. Men like to see who we are speaking to.”
Doncaster looked at Cassius with surprise. “You asked her not to wear her veils?” he said, sounding confused. “She knows that if she attends a meal here, with guests, that she is to cover herself.”
“Why?”
The duke pointed at her. “Look at her face,” he said. “Men will see that she bears the marks.”
Poor Dacia looked at her lap. Already, the situation was taking a downturn. She had come into the hall, radiant and lovely, and now her own grandfather had embarrassed her. Cassius could feel his temper rise, which wasn’t a good thing. As he’d mentioned to Bose and Rhori, he had the Scots temper. Usually, it took a great deal to rile him but, in this instance, the reaction was instant.
“She has freckles on her face that are unique and charming, your grace,” he said, trying to restrain himself from sounding angry. “You have a beautiful, cultured granddaughter that you keep hidden away as if she were a shameful secret. The marks on her face are of God’s creation, not the devil’s, and no man has a right to cover up God’s careful work. Whoever told you that Lady Dacia should be covered up was grossly mistaken.”
The duke looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You are not offended by her?”
Cassius cocked an eyebrow. “Not in the least,” he said. “She is quite beautiful.”
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