Page 78 of Historical Hotties
The clerk returned, distracting them from each other as he measured Cassius’ finger with a marked ribbon. Then, Dacia watched in horror as Cassius paid an enormous sum for the diamond ring, but when it came to his ring– the simple gold band– he paid the clerk almost as much.
But he had a purpose in mind.
“How soon can you have these rings finished?” he asked.
The clerk put the money, all of it, into a pouch under his table. “At least two days, my lord,” he said. “Three, more than likely.”
“Make it in two days, including the name etching, and I shall pay another silver coin,” he said. “Can you do it?”
The clerk nodded firmly. “Aye, my lord.”
“Good,” Cassius said, rising to his feet. “I do not know where your master went, but thank him and tell him that I shall return in two days for both of those rings.”
As the clerk nodded, Cassius took Dacia by the elbow and escorted her outside. Rhori and Bose were standing by their mounts, watching some pretty women down the avenue. The women were flirting and the men were watching, like hunters sighting prey. Cassius had to slap Bose on the back to get the man’s attention.
“Our business is concluded,” he said, taking Dacia to her palfrey. “Now, we must find the best merchant in town and make some additional purchases.”
Before Bose could reply, Dacia caught sight of someone that she recognized and she stopped Cassius from lifting her up onto her palfrey.
“Wait,” she said. “Look over there. It is Old Timeo and his wife. She looks much better. Let me inquire on her health, and then we may continue.”
With Cassius remaining with his knights, Dacia walked across the avenue, lifting her skirts to keep the dust off the hem as Argos, not to be left behind this time, followed alongside her. The old man and his wife were at a smithy stall across the street, evidently having a piece of farming equipment looked at or repaired. They didn’t see Dacia until she was standing next to them.
“Good day to you,” Dacia said pleasantly, looking at the man’s wife. “You appear much better today, Leoba. How is your daughter faring?”
The old man and his wife looked at Dacia, startled by her appearance. But very quickly, it seemed to be more than that. They obviously moved away, putting distance between them.
He began backing off.
“All is well, my lady,” Old Timeo said as his wife got in behind him, putting her husband between her and Dacia. “Everyone is well.”
Dacia wasn’t blind. She could see that they were shrinking away from her and it occurred to her that there could only be one reason– it was because she wasn’t covered with her veils like she usually was.
Old Timeo was afraid of her marks.
Her heart sank.
“I… I am glad to know that,” she said, lowering her chin, going into self-protection mode to hide her face. “Should you need any further help, please send for me. I suspect that the problem may be… a worm.”
They didn’t even hear her last two words. They were too busy scurrying away from her as fast as they could go. Feeling deeply ashamed and embarrassed, Dacia went back to her escort and mounted her palfrey before Cassius could help her.
He had been standing with Rhori and Bose in quiet conversation, surprised when she returned so quickly. She jumped on her horse before he could lend a hand and when he reached her, he could see that she was close to tears.
She was looking at her lap again.
“Angel?” he said quietly. “What is the matter?”
She shook her head. “Can we please return home?” she whispered tightly. “I… I do not wish to go to the merchant’s stall today.”
His brow furrowed. “Why not?”
“I just don’t,” she said. “Not today. Please, Cassius… I want to go home.”
He didn’t move. He leaned forward, onto the saddle, trying to look her in the eyes. But she wouldn’t lift her head to look at him.
“Dacia,” he murmured. “Tell me what happened. Why are you troubled?”
The tears began to come, then. “Old Timeo and his wife ran from me because I am not covered,” she said. “It was a mistakefor me not to wear my veils, Cassius. Please… I want to go home before I face any further humiliation.”
