Page 55 of Historical Hotties
“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. Theyalltalk. 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.”
“Iamthe 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 someof the most powerful knights in all 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.
