Page 18 of Wolfehound
The infant once known as Gwenllian had a wonderful life, after all.
CHAPTER FOUR
Fourteen Years Later
Folkingham Castle
“Ido notlike a visit from him,” Colm said with hazard in his tone. “Something is amiss. I can feel it.”
Things had not changed at Folkingham over the years. Colm was still complaining and Carlton was still listening. Those dynamics made it possible for those at the castle to live normal lives, productive lives, because the relationship between Carlton and his knight remained constant and that brought comfort.
Like now.
Colm was complaining and Carlton was listening.
It was the natural order of things.
The pair had been out in the bailey of Folkingham when they received a missive that Liam Herringthorpe was on the approach. The messenger was a de Wolfe soldier who had ridden ahead of Liam and the rest of the escort. Given that Liam had been stationed at Questing for the past fourteen years, the soldiers with him bore the black and dark green of the Earl of Warenton. Every one of de Wolfe’s sons had their own variationto the de Wolfe shield standard, but the one worn by the messenger was the original standard—the tri-point shield with the stylized wolf’s head in the center.
But it was anyone’s guess why Liam was coming.
And that had Colm worried.
“I do not know why the man is approaching, but I am certain it is nothing more than a birth or marriage announcement, or something of that nature,” Carlton said, setting the yellowed missive onto the table that carried his maps and documents, everything he needed to manage his properties. “It could also be the fact that Warenton has sent him south to visit his betrothed. You know he sends the man every year or so. He wants Liam and Cambria to become comfortable with one another, since they are to marry.”
Cambria.
Dearest Cambria Eudoxia Rose, to be exact. It was the name that he and Fair Lydia had selected for their daughter, the name of ancient Wales. “Dearest” had been added because every woman in Fair Lydia’s family had a term of endearment preceding their Christian name. It was tradition. In any case, Warenton’s intention, long ago, had been to bury Cambria’s heritage under the crushing weight of an English life, and that had all come to pass. Everything had happened as it should have. The only reference to that heritage was, in fact, her name.
And it suited her beautifully.
“When was Herringthorpe last here?” Colm said, scratching his beard. “It has to be at least two years.”
Carlton nodded. “Two and a half, I believe,” he said. “Bria was in that awkward stage between a child and a woman, and I seem to remember her following Liam around until the man begged for mercy.”
Colm grinned. “She held his hand, constantly.”
“He could not even use the hand to eat.”
“She adores him, you know.”
“I know,” Carlton said. “But the feelings were not reciprocated in the least. However, he is in for a surprise. Two and a half years can make a big difference at this age. One moment they are children, and in the next… Well, she is a woman now, but even so, she’s too young for marriage.”
Colm shrugged. “She may be too young of body, but her mind is not,” he said. “She speaks like a wise old woman. It is frightening sometimes.”
Carlton chuckled. “She gets that from her mother,” he said. “Fair Lydia always spoke to Cambria as if she were a person, not a child. She reasoned with her and spoke to her as if she had a mind and could reason in return. That has made my daughter old though she is young.”
Colm shook his head. “Nay, it is more than that,” he said. “Your daughter has a way of looking at people as if she can see into them.”
“She can.”
Colm snorted softly. “I believe it,” he said. Then he took a deep breath as if to steady himself. “Then we shall assume that Herringthorpe is coming simply to see to the health and well-being of his betrothed. Do you want me to tell her?”
Carlton shook his head. “I will,” he said. “I’m sure she’s out with her dogs, so I will find her there.”
Colm headed for the solar door. “Yesterday, she had several goats with her,” he said. “I think she intends to breed them.”
Carlton appeared displeased. “No more animals,” he said, waving his hands around. “God’s Bones, she has those black dogs that she sells for a profit, and although I have nothing but pride in her business skills, we do not need any more animals in the kitchen yard. It looks like Noah’s Ark out there.”
