That brought a squint from the duke, as if greatly puzzled by Cassius’ statement. “But she is marked,” he said. “You like this?”
“I like it very much.”
Baffled, and for lack of an argument, Doncaster simply returned to his wine. He didn’t know what to say to Cassius’ rather strong opinion.
And neither did Darian.
Sitting next to Rhori across the table, Darian had heard the entire exchange. He was shocked to see Dacia show up for the meal and even more shocked to hear Cassius speak strongly in her defense. Then, he watched the way Cassius looked at her. He watched how attentive the man was to her.
The embers of jealousy stirred.
“It is good to see you at the table, Lady Dacia,” he said steadily. “I hope you do not feel coerced by our guest. If you were not comfortable, you did not need to come.”
Dacia looked over at Darian, already knowing why he was saying such things. There had never been any competition for her hand and now that Cassius had shown up, and had shown interest in her, suddenly there was very viable competition. In fact, it was competition that could easily oust Darian from the consideration and she could tell that he was well aware of the fact.
Although Dacia liked Darian a great deal, he was like a brother to her and nothing more. He knew it, which made this situation delicate because Dacia genuinely never expected to face anything like this.
Someone else who might be interested in her.
She didn’t want to hurt Darian.
“I do not feel coerced, I assure you,” she said evenly. “It was nice to be invited to sup. I’m usually so busy making sure everyone else has been well fed that, sometimes, I forget to eat myself.”
Remembering how Darian staked his claim when they were at Old Timeo’s cottage, Cassius wasn’t oblivious to the mood radiating from the man. He was essentially jumping his claim, although not in an official capacity. He’d not made any formal offers, but his behavior definitely suggested interest. He didn’t want to upset Darian, but he was also quite conscious of what he was feeling when he looked at Dacia.
As if nothing could spoil his evening.
“Would you like to sit with us, Darian?” he asked generously. “We would be happy for your company over here. It is a big table.”
Darian’s gaze moved from Cassius to Dacia and back again. “Mayhap later,” he said. “But thank you. That was kind.”
Over on Cassius’ left, Doncaster suddenly snorted. “You have competition, Darian,” he said. “Your lack of action may cost you but, of course, Cassius has not expressed any real interest in her. But he probably will not – with as handsome as he is, I’m sure he has armies of women following him around. I am sure you will be thankful when he leaves, eh?”
The old man had obviously had too much to drink and it was showing. Darian didn’t say a word. He simply returned to his food, while Cassius looked at Dacia to see how she was reacting to all of this. She was still looking at her lap and Cassius reached over to the pitcher on the table, pouring her some wine himself.
“I do not have armies of women following me around,” he said quietly. “Well, not big armies, anyway. I suppose that all depends on your point of view. Are hundreds of women considered armies?”
He was teasing her and he could see her profile as she smiled. “Probably,” she said. “It would seem that my grandfather speaks the truth. In vino veritas.”
He lifted his cup. “Et vinum non opus ad pulchritudinem tuam.”
Dacia’s head snapped up, looking at him with wide eyes. I do not need wine to see your beauty.
Her mouth popped open.
“Your Latin is flawless,” she said.
He shrugged. “Like you, I have been well-educated,” he said. “Besides, my mother was a postulate before she married my father, so if I do not know Latin, she would probably beat me.”
Dacia’s smile grew. “Where do your parents live?”
“Berwick Castle,” he said. “My father is the Earl of Berwick.”
She looked surprised. “I did not realize that,” she said. “But I suppose I should have, given your elite status. The de Wolfe family is well-titled, are they not?”
He nodded, pouring himself more wine because the conversation was starting to flow effortlessly and he wanted to keep it going. “My grandfather, William de Wolfe, was the Earl of Warenton,” he said. “My uncle, Scott, now holds that title, while his youngest brother holds the title of Earl of Northumbria by marriage. Uncle Thomas married well, needless to say, but my father was granted the title by Edward years ago. My eldest brother, Markus, holds the title of Viscount Ravensdowne and the property of Cheswick Castle. There are a dozen other titles floating around to various uncles and sons, inherited or earned, and as for me, I had to earn mine. When I accepted the position of Lord Protector, I was given Penton Castle and the title Lord Westdale. Penton Castle guards a major road from Scotland that leads into Carlisle. It is a very big place, built upon the ruins of a Roman fort, and it has seen more than its share of action from the Scots.”
Dacia was listening closely. “And that is where you shall retire when your role of Lord Protector is finished?”
He smiled faintly. “That is my intention,” he said. “My entire family rules the Scots border. Penton will anchor a nearly unbreakable line of de Wolfe castles from one end of the border to the other. Even now, I have four hundred men who man it for me plus a cousin, Adonis de Norville, and another very old friend of the family, Gethin Ellsrod. His father, Deinwald, served my grandfather many years ago, and now Gethin serves me.”
“Then your property is well staffed.”
“It must be, given its strategic location,” he said. “If I do not man it, the Scots certainly will.”
“I see,” she nodded in understanding. “They are aggressive, then?”
“You could say that.”
She smiled at what was probably a silly question on her behalf. “Being so far from the border, we do not have any engagement with the Scots in Doncaster.”
“Just greedy neighbors.”
She laughed softly, taking a gulp of her wine, probably more than she should have, but social situations were very rare for her. She was nervous and trying very hard not to be.
“There is truth in that,” she said. “But hopefully, you can help make a swift end to the harassment. Given your experience with the Scots, subduing an Englishman must be a far simpler thing.”
He chuckled as he poured her more wine. “They can be more difficult because they are more cunning than the Scots,” he said. “But let us not speak on such depressing things. Let us return to your vast education. My excuse in knowing Latin was that my mother was once intended for the veil, so she insisted. What is your excuse?”
“My tutor was a priest.”
He laughed softly. “Ah, yes,” he said. “You told me that. Therefore, your excuse is better than mine. Do you consider yourself fluent in Latin?”
“More than most.”
“Are you up to a challenge?”
She eyed him, seeing from the gleam in his eyes that he was being quite impish. “That depends,” she said. “What is the challenge?”
He sat back in his chair. “We shall play a game with du Bois and de Shera,” he said, looking over at the knights. “Did you hear me? A challenge is about to be proposed.”
Rhori and Bose looked up from their food. Bose groaned. “God, now what?” he said. “Can I not even eat a meal in peace before you are leveling threats and challenges at me?”
Cassius snapped his fingers at him, abruptly. “Still your tongue,” he said. “We are going to play a game. Since you and du Bois were educated just as I was in Latin, among other things, we shall see just how much we remember of our Latin lessons. I will say something in Latin and whoever cannot properly translate it must drink as much wine as those who issued the challenge will dictate. Whoever is the most drunk at the end of the game shall bear the title of Stupidest Man in the World.”
; Bose pointed to Dacia. “What if she is the drunkest?”
Cassius looked at Dacia, who was grinning at him. “Something tells me she will not be,” he said. “Now, I shall begin. Tell me what this means – Sapere Aude.”
Dacia started to laugh while Bose just looked confused. Rhori rolled his eyes. Cassius looked at Dacia. “Do you know what it means?”
She nodded. “Aye.”
“Whisper it in my ear.”
Leaning over, Dacia put her lips against his ear, a gesture that sent bolts of excitement racing through his big body.
“Dare to know,” she murmured.
Cassius had to take a deep breath. He’d never had such a reaction to a woman in his entire life. Fighting off the urge to pull her into his arms, he looked over at Bose and Rhori.
“What about you two?” he asked. “Do you know?”
Bose cocked his head thoughtfully. “Something about knowing?” he said. “Seeking knowledge?”
Cassius looked at Rhori. “You?”
Rhori yawned. “Dare to know.”
Poor Bose was forced to drink most of his cup of wine by cruel friends after that. Unfortunately, it wasn’t much better for him the second, third, and fourth time around and in a short amount of time, he was quite drunk. Angry, he stood up and went to the other side of the table to sit with Darian and his knight, men who weren’t ridiculing him and punishing him with wine consumption.
As Bose wandered away, the game continued.
“It occurs to me that you have not been given any Latin phrases yourself,” Dacia said. “You’ve been the one dealing them out. It’s my turn now.”
A smile played on Cassius’ lips. “Go right ahead, my lady,” he said. “Do your worst.”
She was smiling as well, gazing into the eyes of a man who grew more handsome with each passing moment. Certainly, he was gorgeous in appearance, but it was his manners, his kindness, that were endearing him to her even deeper than he already was. That, coupled with his sense of humor, made him positively glorious.
“Very well,” she said, eyeing both him and Rhori. “Audentes fortuna iuvat.”
Cassius’ smile grew, a sure sign he knew the answer, as Rhori drank his wine, seemingly bored. Dacia focused on Cassius.
“Well?” she said. “What is it?”
He crooked his finger, beckoning her close. When she leaned into him, he put his lips against her ear.
“Fortune favors the bold,” he murmured. “May I be bold, my lady?”
She pulled back, her cheeks flushing pink, a smirk on her face that carved big dimples through her cheek. She managed to give him such a coy look that he started laughing. For a woman who hadn’t any experience in the subtle dance of flirtation between men and women, she was doing an admirable job. Across the table, Rhori slammed back what was left in his wine cup and stood up.
“You two finish this game,” he said. “I have a feeling you do not need an audience.”
With that, he headed over to Bose and Darian, both of them arguing about something Cassius couldn’t quite hear. Dacia watched the man go.
“Did I offend him somehow?” she asked.
Cassius shook his head. “Of course not,” he said. “He senses that he is not wanted.”
“But I never said that.”
He looked at her, an impish look in his eyes. “You did not have to,” he said. “But I was screaming it from every bone in my body. Thank God he finally got the message.”
Dacia was feeling as giddy as she had ever felt in her life. In fact, it was overwhelming her. So much of her was feeling unrestrained and free, something she’d never felt. But there was a part of her that was feeling some doubt in letting the situation go too far. Cassius de Wolfe was not a permanent resident of Edenthorpe, nor would he ever be. She didn’t want to fall for the man only to have him leave.
But it was certainly difficult not to fall for him.
“You are quite charming when you want to be, Cassius,” she said, an appraising twinkle in her eyes. “I suspect you have had much practice at it.”
He sat back in his chair, wine cup in hand. “Ut ameris, amabilis esto.”
Dacia chuckled softly. “If you want to be loved, be lovable.”
He lifted his cup to congratulate her. “Indeed,” he said. “I am coming to think there is nothing you do not know.”
She shrugged. “I am sure there is a great deal I do not know,” she said. “For example… I do not know the motives of handsome knights who come to Edenthorpe and ply me with flattery. Can you tell me if I should be suspicious?”
The smile never left his lips. “I would not blame you if you were,” he said. “But I have a family reputation to uphold and that does not include taking advantage of women with rash compliments and empty promises. Were I to do that, my grandmother would find me wherever I happened to be and take a switch to me. She is particularly fond of willow branches and I do not wish to incur her wrath. But more than that, I do not wish to shame myself.”
It was a good answer. “Your honor means a great deal to you, then.”
“It means everything.”
There was a lull in the conversation, but it wasn’t unpleasant. Dacia began to realize that they hadn’t even touched the food that had been brought, so engrossed they were in the games they’d played. Reaching out, she picked a piece of boiled beef from her trencher and put it in her mouth.
“If you are the king’s Lord Protector, then you must have great honor, indeed,” she said. “I did not mean to question it. But… but I will admit that I have never had anyone be quite so friendly to me before.”
“That is probably because you have never given them a chance, hiding yourself away as you do,” he said. “You should not do that, Dacia. You are witty and charming. Truly, you are an ideal companion. I could talk to you all night.”
She smiled, bashfully. “You must sleep.”
“I can sleep when I’m dead.” When she giggled and put more meat in her mouth, he leaned forward, his eyes riveted to her. “May I ask a personal question?”
“You may,” she said. “But I reserve the right to decide whether or not to answer it.”
“Fair enough,” he said. “How old are you?”
She faltered, just a little. “I have seen twenty years and three.”
He leaned just a little closer. “I’m told you reject all suitors who come your way.”
Her smile faded. “Who has told you that?”
He shook his head. “It does not matter,” he said. “But you know in a castle this size, people talk. They all talk. I am coming to think that it is a good thing you have rejected suitors who have come for you because you are far superior to any of them. No man is worthy of you.”
She smiled, rather sadly. “Then I shall be a very lonely woman.”
He shook his head. “I think not,” he said. “There will be a man who will come along, worthy of you. But you cannot chase him away.”
“How will I know this shining example of manhood, then?”
He sat back, his eyes glittering at her. “You will know him,” he said. “He could be right in front of your face right now for all you know.”
“You are in front of my face.”
“I am the shining example of manhood.”
“That is established.”
“See? You knew that before I even told you.”
He was talking in riddles, perhaps declaring his interest, perhaps not. It was difficult to tell. Dacia kept putting pieces of beef in her mouth, wondering where the conversation was going.
“Tell me something, Cassius,” she said. “Where are you going when you leave us? You told me that you had only stopped to relay a message to my grandfather, so you must have another destination once you leave Edenthorpe?”
He nodded. “That grandmother I spoke of,” he said. “She is the matriarch of our family. All eighty-five of us. She had nine living children and more than seventy grandchildren, with some of the most powerful knights in al
l of England. But she is our guiding star and I very much want to see her. I’ve not seen her in three years.”
Dacia smiled. “That is very sweet,” she said. “Where does she live?”
“Castle Questing, in Northumberland,” he said. “That is why I am hoping to finish this business for your grandfather sooner rather than later. Edward is expecting me back in London next month and I do not want to return before I’ve seen her.”
Her smile faded. “Did you tell my grandfather that?”
“Nay,” Cassius said, shaking his head. “It is not necessary. This should only take a few days and then I shall be on my way.”
Dacia didn’t press him. She knew he had given his word to her grandfather that he would stay and help and after their conversation about honor, she knew he wasn’t going to break his word. So she smiled weakly.
“However long you remain, just know that you are most welcome,” she said. “I am grateful that you are here to help my grandfather and Darian. But I do hope you will visit us again whenever you have the opportunity. You have made a friend of me, Cassius, and I do not have many. In fact, after the incident with Amata today, I really do not have any.”
His smile faded as he watched the flickers of regret across her face. “You stood up to her today,” he said. “I was proud to witness that. I have a feeling Amata has been beating you down and taking advantage of you for a very long time, so I am proud that you finally took a stand against her.”
She tried to force a smile, but it was unconvincing. “Sometimes you overlook the obvious when you are desperate for companionship,” she said. “I have spent more than my share of lonely hours. I do not see that improving any time soon, but I am not complaining. It is simply the way things are. But… but I do thank you for what you have done for me.”
He was leaning into his hand, chin in his palm, as his eyes glimmered. “What have I done for you, CeeCee?”
She heard her childhood nickname from his lips and she smiled broadly, touched that he should use that intimate term.
“You have given me a view of myself that I have never seen before,” she said. “All I have ever heard is how unsightly my face is. That has been my whole life. But you… you see something different. You see what no one else sees and I shall always be grateful. You have given me… hope, Cassius. I shall never forget you for it.”
WolfeSword: de Wolfe Pack Generations Page 15