Page 28 of Historical Hotties
It had stayed with her.
After a moment, he shook his head at the sadness of the situation.
“When I was coming to Edenthorpe earlier today, we were caught up in the Lords of Misrule festival,” he said. “When I mentioned I was going to Edenthorpe, a young woman I met there told me about Lady Dacia’s witch’s marks.”
Darian looked at him. “What was the young woman’s name?”
“Amata de Branton.”
Darian snorted, shaking his head in disgust. “That is her cousin,” he said. “That little chit does all she can to tear Dacia down. It’s truly despicable. But on the other hand, Dacia’s marks are common knowledge in the village, so she is not repeating anything that isn’t already known. Whenever Dacia goes into town, which is rare, she always covers herself so as not to frighten or offend anyone with her face.”
Cassius frowned. “I saw her face,” he said. “She is a beautiful woman. Surely you think so.”
Darian nodded. “I do,” he said. “Truth be told, I have entertained thoughts of marrying her myself.”
“Why don’t you?”
Darian shrugged, looking at his feet. “I am not entirely sure the duke would approve,” he said. “And Dacia… truthfully, she has never shown the slightest interest in me. Whatever feelings I have for her are entirely one-sided. I know that feelings do not matter in a marriage, but it would be nice to have a wife who actually wanted to be married to me.”
Cassius looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You are a de Lohr,” he said. “You are a cousin to the Earl of Hereford and Worcester. That makes you quite appropriate.”
“Not for a duke’s granddaughter,” Darian said, smiling without humor. “She should marry a royal relation or an earl at the very least. Not a mere knight. But… I shall not give up. Dacia is already twenty years and three, so I am biding my time. When she grows a year or two older, her grandfather may be ready to accept any offer.”
“And then you shall strike.”
“Exactly.”
Cassius simply nodded, understanding the man’s plan and completely understanding his admitted attraction to Lady Dacia. Cassius was having some of his own attraction to the woman going on, but he suspected that Darian was subtly laying his claim so Cassius knew the situation.
Not that Cassius had any designs on her.
… did he?
“Then I wish you luck,” he said, clearing his throat and fighting off a stronger sense of disappointment when it came to Lady Dacia. Disappointment that Darian had perhaps a stronger claim, and intentions, than he did. “I think you would make an excellent Duke of Doncaster.”
Darian grinned nervously. “It is a heady thought, indeed,” he said. But then, he sobered. “May I tell you something?”
“Of course.”
“I would take Dacia even without the dukedom.”
Cassius was quite positive that the statement was, indeed, staking a claim. “Then I will again wish you luck,” he said. “From what you told me, you may need it. But never forget you are a de Lohr. Doncaster can do no better than that.”
Darian’s smile turned genuine. “You honor me,” he said. “I am glad we have had this chance to speak, my lord. It has been a great honor.”
“You will call me Cassius,” Cassius said, cocking an eyebrow. “You will not address me formally. We are family, after all.My cousin, Will, married your cousin several years ago. That marriage linked the de Wolfe and de Lohr families forever.”
Darian nodded in agreement. “It did, indeed,” he said. “In fact, I…”
He was cut off when one of his men shouted, pointing, and everyone turned towards the great bastion of Edenthorpe. Beneath the silver moonglow, they could see something moving in the distance, near the castle walls. There were gangs of men on horseback, bearing torches, as they watched, a barrage of flaming arrows launched at the men upon the walls. It took everyone a moment to realize what they were watching.
A raid.
“I thought you said Hagg had never attacked the castle,” Cassius said, incredulous. “Whatin the hell is that?”
Darian was momentarily flabbergasted. “Damn,” he finally hissed. “He never has attacked the castle.”
Cassius could see that the activity was growing. “That, my friend, has changed,” he said, giving Darian a shove. “If not him, then someone is, and at night, no less. Get your men back there. I will go inside and sit with the lady.”
