Page 99 of Historical Hotties
“What is that, my lord?”
“That she did not try to kill herself.”
Edie shook her head, horrified at the suggestion. “Oh,nay, my lord,” she said. “My lady would never think of such a thing.”
Cassius knew that, but he still wanted to hear it. In truth, that had been at the back of his mind, something he’d refusedto acknowledge until now. A horrible fear that Dacia had been so distressed by everything that she had tried to end her pain permanently. Edie had eased his mind considerably on that account. He pulled off his padded tunic, leaving a thin linen tunic underneath. He hadn’t even started on his leg protection yet.
“The physic,” he said. “Send him to me. I would speak with him.”
Edie scurried away, over to the physic and spoke to the man as she gestured to Cassius. The physic left Dacia’s side and approached Cassius as he was removing one of hiscuisses, or leg protection. He was just slinging it onto the table when the physic spoke.
“You are the betrothed, my lord?” he asked.
Cassius turned to the man. “Aye,” he said. “I am Sir Cassius de Wolfe. My father is the Earl of Berwick, Patrick de Wolfe. I am a member of the de Wolfe Pack that rules the Scottish border with Northumberland. If you’ve not heard of us, you should.”
The physic nodded quickly. “I know of the family, my lord,” he said. “I am told that you and Lady Dacia are to be wed.”
Cassius didn’t know who told the man that, but he was glad someone had. It made him feel as if the brutal separation from Dacia had only been a momentary nightmare. Everything was still as it should be.
He could only pray.
“We are,” he said after a moment. “What can you tell me about her condition?”
The physic turned to look at Dacia, lying on the bed and buried beneath a myriad of coverlets. “She was given a large dose of purpurea, which is mostly used for swelling. It helps reduce the swelling in the hands and feet, but in larger doses, it affects the heart and the breathing. Lady Dacia was ill to begin withwhen she was given the dose and it is taking her body longer to overcome it.”
Cassius’ brow furrowed. “Ill?” he repeated. “What was the matter with her?”
The physic looked at Edie and because he turned to her, so did Cassius.
“Edie?” Cassius said imploringly. “Was she ill?”
Edie had a look of sadness about her. “She would not eat and hardly slept,” she said. “I was having to amend her clothing because she could no longer fill it. She was grieved, Sir Cassius, as I have never seen anyone grieve before. Aye, she was ill. Ill and weak. That is why she wanted to sleep, so she could think clearly and send for you.”
Cassius felt as if he’d been hit in the gut. “She… she was? That was her intention?”
Edie nodded. “Aye,” she said, seeing his relief and disbelief. “She loves you, my lord. Being apart from you made her ill.”
Cassius didn’t need to hear anything more. His gaze moved to the figure on the bed and, without another word, he made his way over to it. His first glimpse of Dacia lying pale and unconscious on the linens put his stomach in knots and a lump in his throat, but he resisted the urge to give in to the grief. He was here, with her, and that was all that mattered. Falling to his knees beside the bed, he bent over her form, hand on her head, as he kissed her forehead and cheek, gently.
“My beautiful lass,” he murmured, tears forming. “I am here, Dacia. I will never leave you again, not even for a moment. I am here to stay, I swear it. But I must tell you how much I love you. I do not think I have ever told you plainly. I have let innuendos and actions speak for me and I should not have done that. I should have told you how much I love you every hour of every day. You are my moon and sun, too.”
He bent over and kissed her freckled cheek, completely unaware that the physic had left the room and Edie had silently ordered the maids out. Even if Cassius had known, he wouldn’t have cared, because this moment was only for him and Dacia. Just the two of them, as if no one in the world existed but them.
It was their golden hour.
A time of total truth.
Cassius placed his forehead against her face, feeling her warmth against him, one hand on her head and the other seeking out her fingers, buried beneath the coverlet. He found a soft, warm hand and brought it to his lips.
“I should not have left you,” he murmured. “I am sorry that I did. I suppose I did it because I was hurt and confused, but that doesn’t matter any longer. I am here and that is all that matters. Please, angel… wake up and look at me. Wake up and tell me how much you love me.”
He kissed her face again, her lips, feeling more desperation that she wasn’t immediately responding to him. He had hoped, foolishly, that the mere sound of his voice might bring her out of her stupor. Perhaps it still would.
Perhaps he simply wasn’t talking enough.
Despair begin to feed his mood.
“Since you do not feel like talking right now, I shall talk until you feel like making this more than a one-sided conversation,” he said, stroking her forehead with the hand that was on her head. “There’s not much to tell about the two weeks we have spent apart. I did not get any further than Pontefract because I simply didn’t want to get any further away from you. I know that sounds strange, but it’s true. I couldn’t bear to be further away from you than necessary. Darian found me at a tavern in Pontefract called the Barrel and Blood. He’s a good man, Darian is. Not many men would go after the lover of the woman theywanted to marry. He’s also a cousin to the House of de Wolfe. Did I ever tell you that?”
