Page 63 of Historical Hotties
Dacia thought of her grandfather, who was even now asleep in his bed. He couldn’t have been bothered with remaining vigilant all night while other men were fighting his battle. While he slept, a fine and strong knight had been wounded defending Doncaster’s village. Thinking on that very thing made her quite furious.
Furious enough to act.
“May I ask you to remain with Cassius for just a moment?” she asked the knights. “Just a quick moment is all I ask. I shall return as fast as I can.”
As they both nodded, she fled the chamber, racing up to the floor above where her grandfather’s chamber was. His chamber was literally above Cassius’ bed, taking up the entire floor, and she charged into his chamber without knocking.
The chamber smelled like a man who never bathed, that heady aroma that filled the nostrils and clung like dirt. There was a fire burning low in the cluttered hearth and a bank of candles somewhere near the bed to give the duke some light, for he was up several times a night, peeing in a chamber pot that was never full. He had an old man’s bladder, as he often said.
Dacia marched right up to the bed.
“Grandfather,” she said, reaching out to gently shake the man. “Grandfather, awaken.”
Doncaster stirred a little, groaning, before trying to go back to sleep. Dacia shook him again.
“Grandfather,” she said, more loudly this time. “You must awaken. Something has happened.”
He lay there a moment as if trying to ignore her, but one eye popped open. “What has happened?” he demanded, muffled because half of his face was in the pillow. “Dacia, what do you want?”
Dacia gave him a good shake, so much so that he batted a hand at her, trying to push her away.
“Grandfather, I know you are not a warring man,” she said. “But men have gone to war for you this night while you have slept safe and warm in your bed. You must awaken. Cassius de Wolfe has been wounded.”
That brought a reaction. The duke rolled onto his back before struggling to sit up. “De Wolfe?” he said. “Where is he? What happened?”
Dacia stepped back from the bed as he swung his legs over the side. “He is in the constable’s room,” she said. “I have just spent hours picking debris out of two arrow wounds. He sleeps now, but you must send word to the king that this has happened. It is your duty to tell him that his Lord Protector went to war for you and has been injured. Do you know he was heading home to see his elderly grandmother when all of this happened? And you demanded he stay here and help you with Catesby Hagg. As a man of honor, he did, and now see what it has cost him. He may never get to see his grandmother now and it is your fault.”
Dacia wasn’t in the habit of talking to her grandfather so angrily, but she was genuinely upset about the situation. To Doncaster’s credit, he took it seriously. He rubbed his eyes.
“Is it that bad?” he asked. “Have you sent for Emmeric?”
Dacia nodded. “I have,” she said. “But half the village was burned this night and he may have fled. I do not know where the man is. You cannot sleep while men are injured and your village is in chaos. You must show the men that you are strong and in control, and that you care about them, so get up and do yourduty. Send word to the king about Cassius and I will do all I can to ensure the man survives this.”
Doncaster was nodding before she even finished. He stood up, a bit unsteadily, and headed over to the wardrobe where his clothing was kept. “Where is Fulco?” he asked.
Dacia was pleased that the man was at least up and moving. “In the hall the last I saw of him,” she said. “There are many wounded. They will need your encouragement, Grandfather. They have all risked their lives for you this night.”
Doncaster found his breeches, turning to Dacia before pulling them on. “They have,” he said. “But they have sworn their fealty to me. That is why I provide them with food and clothing and a place to stay. I am not an unkind lord, Dacia.”
“I know,” she said, softening her manner a little. “But Cassius… he is not your knight, yet he was injured fighting for you. I feel sorry for him, Grandfather, and also angry. Angry that you kept him here rather than let him go along his journey.”
Doncaster’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. “You like Cassius, don’t you?”
There was no use denying what was probably very apparent. “He has been very kind to me,” she said quietly, turning for the door. “I intend to repay that kindness by nursing him back to health.”
She was nearly to the door when her grandfather spoke out to her. “I like him, too, CeeCee,” he said quietly. “He is a fine knight from a most powerful family. He would make an excellent duke.”
Dacia didn’t say anything, but she did turn to look at him as she lifted the doorlatch. There was no mistaking the smile on her lips as she left the chamber.
She rather thought so, too.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The next daydawned a bright and beautiful morning.
The sky was cloudless and the temperatures warming, as the hint of spring that had been in the air was now transforming into a kiss of summer. It seemed that on a day like this that nothing could touch the languid atmosphere of the land, as if nothing had been amiss the night before, but that was certainly not the truth. All one had to do was look to the great hall and see all of the wounded soldiers who had done battle against the mercenaries the night before.
Amata had decided to leave this morning and return home, considering she wasn’t needed and she no longer wanted to remain. After the scuffle with Edie, she had retreated to her borrowed chamber. She had no intention of helping out with the wounded, especially when it was made clear that she wasn’t wanted, so she went to bed and pulled the covers over her head.
