Cassius hadn’t thought of it that way. A smile creased his lips as he turned his attention back to Dacia, his hand on her forehead.
“As I told her, she is one of God’s most magnificent creatures,” he said. “I suppose she wore the veils for a reason.”
“She did. So she could reveal herself only to you.”
Cassius continued to look at her, kissing her hand. “I am the most fortunate man in England,” he said. “And you, Father… thank you for being her ally. She hasn’t had many.”
Father Lazarus nodded. “I know,” he said. “People can be cruel… and superstitious. But Dacia never failed to rise above it. She never lost her dignity.”
Cassius glanced at him. “Did Amata’s confession have the desired results, then?” he asked. “Do the villagers seem forgiving? Dacia loves Doncaster, you know. Even when the villagers turned against her, she would not leave. She has more loyalty to them than they have to her.”
Father Lazarus lifted his eyebrows as he averted his gaze. “I am afraid I was harsher with Lady Amata than I should have been,” he said. “That young woman has been wicked since she was a girl. There are many of us who could see what she was doing, but I am sorry to say that many of the villagers are weak-willed and easily swayed. Lady Amata could be persuasive. When her father finally forced her to confess her lies, Lady Amata told those attending vespers. When she came to matins this morning, her penitence was to stand in front of the church and tell everyone who passed that she had lied about Lady Dacia. She stood out there for two hours before I allowed her father to take her home.”
Cassius couldn’t even muster the strength to find that humorous. He saw it as a small bit of penitence in what should be a lifetime of penitence for Amata.
“For the pain she has caused, that is little comfort, but at least it is a start,” he said. “I do not think you were harsh at all, Father.”
“I’ve told her she must do it for the next month,” Father Lazarus said. “Every morning, she is to spend two hours in front of the church, telling everyone how she lied about Lady Dacia. If she does not, I will take a switch and beat her.”
“That sounds much better,” Cassius said firmly. “Next time, the people will not be so foolish as to believe her. If there is a next time.”
Father Lazarus nodded. With someone like Amata de Branton, it was difficult to know what the future would bring. He almost didn’t care because, at the moment, there was a sick woman in front of him that he was concerned about.
A young woman that Amata had tried to destroy.
“I would like to pray for Lady Dacia now, if you will allow it,” he said. “May I?”
Cassius nodded, sitting against the bed in a way that had him leaning against the wall, but still holding Dacia’s hand. He had no intention of letting her go.
“Please,” he said. “But no last rites, Father. She is not dying.”
“Of course not, my lord.”
Cassius listened to the droning prayers for a few minutes before they lulled him into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Someone was snoring.
Loudly.
Dacia wasn’t sure how long she had been awake. She wasn’t even sure when she began to hear the snoring in her ear, louder than anything she had ever heard in her life. She lay there, eyes half-open, seeing her familiar chamber but hearing sounds that she had never heard coming from that chamber.
It took her a moment to realize there was more than one person snoring.
There were a few.
Blinking her crusty eyes, she opened them wider, turning her head slightly to look at her surroundings and immediately spied Argos sleeping next to her. In truth, he was partially sleeping on her, his legs on her torso as he burrowed against her.
The dog was snoring.
But there was more noise coming from her left side. As she slowly turned her head to see who it was, her gaze fell upon Father Lazarus at the foot of her bed, sitting in a chair but his head was lying on the bed. He was snoring, too, fast asleep. But she continued turning to her left only to catch sight of an enormous body on the ground next to her bed. She couldn’t see more than part of a torso and legs, but she noticed that whoever was sitting there was holding her hand.
It was a massive hand.
She recognized it.
“Cassius?” she said weakly.
He was the one snoring loud enough to wake the dead. It was so loud it was practically rattling her teeth. He was holding on to her hand, so she squeezed his big mitt.
“Cassius,” she said, her voice hoarse and faint. “Wake up, Cass.”
One big snore and he felt silent. She squeezed his hand again and, suddenly, he was in her face, his sleepy eyes wide with shock.
“Dacia?” he said in disbelief. “Angel, you’re awake!”
She was so glad to see him that the tears were almost instant. “Of course I’m awake,” she said. “Why would I not be awake? And… and you’re here. But why? How?”
He could see her eyes welling and it set him off. Exhaustion, relief, and genuine joy filled him and he put a big hand on her head, leaning forward to sweetly kiss her lips as tears filled his eyes.
“Aye, I’m here,” he said tightly, kissing her cheeks. “I will always be here, Dacia. I will never leave you again, I swear it.”
Weakly, Dacia lifted her free hand, or at least tried to. Argos was laying on it. When Cassius saw what was happening, he gently shoved the sleeping dog aside to free her trapped arm. Her hand came up to his bearded face and he kissed it reverently.
“Why did you come back?” she whispered. “I was going to write to you and tell you… tell you… God’s Bones, my mind feels like mush. I do not understand why you are here, Cass. What has happened?”
Cassius could see how muddled she was. Meanwhile, their chatter had awoken Father Lazarus, who was standing at the end of the bed, beaming at the sight. Cassius turned to the man.
“Can you please send for the physic, Father?” he asked quietly. “And tell the duke that his granddaughter has awoken.”
Father Lazarus nodded and hustled off, leaving Cassius alone with Dacia. At least, for a few moments until they were invaded by well-meaning people. Knowing this, Cassius put his hand to her face, gazing into her pale, bloodshot eyes.
“What do you remember last, angel?” he asked softly.
Dacia had to think hard. “Amata came,” she said after a moment. “She came to apologize for telling her lies. I told her to… leave. I think I may have slapped her again. Truly, I do not remember much. Why? What is going on, Cass?”
He kissed her cheek gently. “I am here because Edie accidentally gave you a poison and not a sleeping powder,” he said. “She mixed up the powders, evidently, and gave you something that has put you to sleep for two days. Darian came to find me and brought me back here because no one was sure if you would awaken.”
Dacia’s eyes widened. “A poison?” she gasped. “What poison?”
“Something the physic from Sheffield called purpurea,” he said. “It slowed your heartbeat, your breathing. But you are awake now and you shall recover fully, thank God. But I want you to know, Dacia… I want you to know how much I love you. Until the end of all things, I will love you and only you. You told me once that your heart was mine and no longer yours to give. The same can be said for me, angel. My heart is no longer my own – it belongs to you now and always will.”
The tears returned to Dacia’s eyes as she cupped his big face between her two hands. “I am sorry I sent you away,” she wept softly. “I truly thought it was the best thing for you, but I know now that I should not have done so. You wanted to protect me and I should have let you. But I thought I was protecting you.”
He kissed her as she wept. “I know,” he said. “I understand you thought you were doing what was best, but it is all over now. We are together again and we shall never be apart, ever.”
She returned his kisses with as much strength as she could muster. “Promise m
e, Cass.”
“I swear it upon my oath as a knight, my sweet angel.”
A knock at the door interrupted them. Cassius turned to see the physic standing there with Father Lazarus. Behind them stood Doncaster. He charged into the chamber in front of the others, his gaze riveted to Dacia. When he saw that she was indeed alert and looking at him, he nearly collapsed with relief.
“Dacia,” he said, putting his hand to his heart. “Thank God and the saints that you have awakened. There is something you must see!”
He seemed quite excited. “What is it, Grandfather?” Dacia asked.
The duke was quite excited, indeed. He waved his arms at Cassius. “Get her up, lad,” he said. “Pick her up and bring her. There is something she must see.”
“Carry her, my lord,” Father Lazarus said, apparently agreeing with the duke. “You must bring her.”
Cassius wasn’t sure he wanted Dacia jostled about or even moved from the bed so soon after she had awakened from two days of unconsciousness. “She has only now become alert,” he pointed out. “I do not want to tax her. Surely she must stay in bed.”
He turned his attention to the physic, who was still standing by the door. The man didn’t seem any too excited about the directives given by the duke and Father Lazarus, but he reluctantly nodded his head.
“For a short time, it will be all right,” he said without any great sense of approval. “Bundle her in a coverlet and pick her up. They want her to see something.”
Cassius stood up, frowning. “This is not a good idea,” he said. “What does she need to see that is so important?”
The duke was still waving his hands, only now, he was moving back to the door. “Pick her up, Cassius,” he commanded. “Bring her!”
The orders of the Duke of Doncaster weren’t meant to be disobeyed, but Cassius would have done it had the physic not given his hesitant approval. He looked at Dacia.
“I do not know what is happening, but they seem to think it is important,” he said. “Do you feel up to it if I carry you? If you do not, I will refuse your grandfather and lock him out of this chamber.”
Dacia laughed softly. “He would be very angry.”
“I do not care.”
“You are my Lord Protector, too,” she murmured. “Ever my champion, Cass, and I love you for it.”
He smiled faintly. “And I love you,” he whispered. “I told you enough while you were sleeping. Didn’t you hear me?”
She grinned. “Even if I had, I would tell you that I hadn’t,” she said. “I want to hear it every day for the rest of my life.”
“You will, I swear it.”
She shifted a little in the bed. “Then help me up and do as Grandfather has asked,” she said. “Old Cuffy is desperate for me to see something important.”
Cassius laughed softly at the mention of the duke’s nickname, but he carefully pulled her into a sitting position as the physic rushed to help. Dacia was feeling quite weak and a little dizzy, so she sat for a moment to settle her head before the physic put a soft blanket around her and Cassius lifted her into his arms. He cradled her against his broad chest, following Father Lazarus and the physic from the chamber.
The duke was down in the entry of the keep, standing with Fulco. Cassius noticed that Rhori and Bose were standing in the open doorway. They were all looking at something outside of the open entry door. The duke simply motioned Cassius forward, to the door, and once he saw what was outside in the bailey, he came to a halt.
There were people, everywhere.
It looked as if the entire village of Doncaster was crowded into the bailey, all of them looking at the keep entry as Cassius stood there with Dacia in his arms. She saw the people, too, and her head came up from his shoulder, greatly confused as to why the full population of Doncaster should be in the bailey of Edenthorpe, and more besides. The gatehouse was open and they were spilling out into the road beyond.
“Grandfather?” she said, bewildered. “Why are they all here? What has happened?”
“You have happened,” Father Lazarus said from her other side. When they turned to look at her, he spoke softly. “While Sir Cassius and I were sleeping away at your beside, the villagers heard about your illness and began to come to Edenthorpe. They came to say prayers for you, to bring you whatever small gifts they could manage, or they came simply to show you that you are, indeed, the Lady of Doncaster, and they are sorry for their sins against you.”
Dacia was looking at the sea of people. “But… but I do not understand,” she said. “These are the same people who listened to Amata’s lies… aren’t they?”
“Aye,” the duke said, coming to stand next to her. “But Father Lazarus has worked a miracle, evidently. He has made Amata stand in front of the church and confess her lies, and it seems that the people of Doncaster have a conscience. They realized they were wrong and have come to apologize. That is why I wanted you to come and see this, Dacia. They have been here since last night, ever since I sent word to St. George’s, holding vigil for you. Hundreds of voices in prayer, lifting to God, and he has listened. You will be well, child, I know it.”
As Dacia looked over the crowd with awe, she recognized Old Timeo as he and his wife made their way towards her. They came to the bottom of the steps of the keep, slowly taking the first few steps so they could get a little closer.
“My lady,” the old man said. “We came as soon as we heard of your sickness. We have been praying ever since. You have always been good and kind to us, when no one else would, and we have always been grateful. I… I am sorry we ran from you in town. It was wrong and foolish. We’ve brought you a token of our gratitude for everything you’ve done for us.”
His wife set something down on the steps wrapped up in burlap. After they left it there, more people began to come forward, piling things on the stairs for Dacia, until the gifts covered the stairs and spilled down into the bailey. Everyone was smiling at her, waving at her, and a few of the children put new spring flowers on the stairs, just for her.
It was a tribute to the Lady of Doncaster, both an appreciation and an apology.
And it was astonishing.
Little by little, people began to trickle out of the bailey, having left their offering, begging forgiveness from a woman they’d sinned greatly against. Snuggled in Cassius’ strong arms, Dacia could hardly believe any of it.
“For so long, I hid myself away from these people,” she said. “I only went into town for mass and little more. I nursed the sick and hungry when I was called upon. But I did it because it was expected of me.”
The duke nodded. “You held true to your heart and to your position,” he said. “They know that now. But this is more than that, Dacia. These are offerings of apologies for treating you as poorly as they have. For listening to Amata’s lies for all these years and for shunning you because Mother Mary led them to think that was what they needed to do. Far be it from me to speak ill of the dead, but she is to blame almost as much as Amata is. As I am. Dacia, I am sorry I did not do more for you in that regard. I suppose… I suppose it was easier to retreat into my own world and pretend it wasn’t my problem, but that was wrong. I have not been a good grandfather to you for some time and I shall do all I can to make amends to you, too. When we come close to losing something, we sometimes realize just how important that something was. In this case, it was you. Do you understand that, child?”
Dacia did, but she was still surprised. At that point, something occurred to her that hadn’t before. She looked between Cassius and her grandfather.
“You thought I was going to die?” she asked.
Cassius couldn’t answer the question. He couldn’t even voice those fears. He hugged her to him, kissing her on the temple, as the duke answered quietly.
“It was a possibility,” he said. “Thank God it did not come to pass. We all have a second chance with you, child. We shall make the most of it.”
Dacia started to reply when something caught her eye. S
he recognized Eloise Saffron and Claudia Lockwood as they came through the departing crowd, timidly approaching. Cassius saw her expression when she saw the young women, feeling her stiffen, but he didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure who the young women were, but he suspected they were part of Amata’s ring. Dacia had mentioned that she’d had friends in the village, long ago, that had eventually shunned her.
That told him who the young women might be.
“G-Greetings, my lady,” Eloise said hesitantly. “We came to offer prayers for your recovery and tell you… tell you that we are sorry for what happened. Years ago, Amata told us that you no longer wished to be friends with us, but considering everything that just happened, we think that it might have been another of her lies. If it wasn’t, then we shall bid you a pleasant farewell, but if it was… we wanted you to know.”
Dacia looked at the two young women who used to be her friends when she was younger. She had liked Eloise in particular. It had been a sad thing when Amata told her that the girls no longer wanted to be friends with her.
But now, everything made sense.
“I never said that, as you can believe,” she said. “I am sorry we have been separated for so many years, Eloise. I hope we can change that.”
Eloise visibly relaxed, as did Claudia. “I hope so, too, my lady,” she said. Then, she lifted a pouch wrapped with a red ribbon. “I brought you something that might make your days more cheery as you recover.”
“Thank you, Eloise. That is very kind of you.”
“And I brought you something, too,” Claudia said, picking her way up the steps because there were so many tributes on them. “This is from my father. They are the rings you and your betrothed purchased. He wanted me to give them to you and return the money you paid for them. He says it is the least that he can do. He also says that he hopes to see more of you both at his shop.”
She held out a heavy leather pouch to Dacia, who took it from her. She smiled at a woman she also considered a friend, long ago.
WolfeSword: de Wolfe Pack Generations Page 29