Page 21 of Wolfehound
“And what do you feel in this moment?”
Cambria’s smile widened and her cheeks flushed a sweet shade of pink. She didn’t even have to say what she was feeling because it was written all over her face. Carlton laughed softly and kissed her on the top of her dark head.
“Since I do not know when he is arriving, mayhap you would like to go now and change into something that the dogs have notpawed over,” he said. “Surely you want to look clean for the man or he’ll think he’s marrying one of the puppies in the pile.”
Cambria snorted. “I will,” she said. “It has been more than two years. He may not even recognize me.”
Carlton eyed her, though he tried not to. She’d developed quite a womanly figure over the past two years, narrow of waist and big of breast. She was still a little slender in the hips, though Fair Lydia assured him that rounding out would come with time. A young woman’s body was a constantly growing thing, especially at this age, but Carlton didn’t like to think about her growing into a woman at all. He had only just been getting to know the little girl.
“I think he’ll be surprised with how much you’ve grown,” he assured her softly. “Your teeth are straight now. I think you were missing one or two the last time.”
Cambria instinctively touched her teeth, straight and nicely shaped as they were. “But they look well enough now, don’t they?”
She peeled her lips back, baring her teeth at him, and he chuckled softly. “They do, Dearest,” he said. Then he pointed to the keep. “Hurry, now. Wash the dog smell off your hands and change your dress. Liam will be here any moment.”
That was enough to get Cambria moving, rushing toward the keep with her long hair waving behind her like a banner. Carlton watched her go, a smile on his lips, thinking of his daughter and what the future would hold for her. He hoped she would outgrow that stubborn stance once she married Liam, because he wouldn’t take any of her foolishness either. He began to head out to the bailey once more, reflecting on the future Lady Herringthorpe and thinking about what he’d told Colm. She’d be living in the north with her husband and the entire de Wolfe Pack. She would be safe then and his role in this great deception would essentially be over. That was the sad part. He wouldn’thave the pleasure of seeing her grow into the role of wife and mother. He had to consider himself fortunate with the time he did spend with her.
But it could have been so different.
He couldn’t imagine her living in a convent. He thought of that often, actually. That bright, lovely, brilliant creature hidden away in a convent, praying twelve times a day, married to Christ. Carlton wasn’t particularly religious, but even he knew what a cold husband Jesus would be. The loneliness would surely be staggering. But instead, a farmer’s daughter was living that life whileGwenllianwas living as an English noblewoman. She didn’t even know the Welsh language or anything else about Wales other than it was a country that gave England a good deal of trouble. That very trouble was why the Earl of Warenton had wanted vengeance for his son’s death, but there was the irony of it all.
James hadn’t been killed after all.
It was all quite the mess, from what Carlton had heard. Five years after James’ alleged death at Llandeilo, the man had turned up in the midst of a Welsh rebellionasa rebel. Somehow, someway, James de Wolfe had survived that horrible ambush, but at a very great price. He had been saved by a Welshman who raised him to believe that he was a Welsh rebel himself and that the English were enemies, and because the morning star had damaged his memory so much, James hadn’t known any differently. It had been a very rocky time for William and his family, trying to navigate a new world where James had returned as somebody completely different. Carlton didn’t know all the details, but it had been implied that they were quite emotional and difficult.
But William had never said anything more about it to Carlton in person.
In truth, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because Carlton and Fair Lydia, by that point, were completely in love with their daughter as only parents could be. The return of Warenton’s son didn’t affect them one way or the other. If Warenton’s vengeance was satisfied with the return of his son, Carlton’s life would not have changed because Cambrawashis daughter. He would not have given her up, or returned her to the Welsh, or anything else Warenton wanted. He would have continued to raise her as his own and love her as much as he could. But Warenton had never made mention of it, thankfully, and everything went on as it should.
That meant Liam came to Folkingham every year or two and had since Cambria was a young child. The first time he came had been when Cambria was about four years of age. He’d come every year until she was ten years of age, and then he came once more when she was around eleven, nearly twelve. That was the last time they had seen him. Therefore, his coming today was to be a very special event.
Things had changed, indeed.
Crossing the bailey, Carlton was nearly to the great hall when he heard the sentries on the wall. He paused, turning an ear to the activity, quickly realizing that their anticipated visitor was approaching. There was a big bronze bell on the wall and whenever there were arrivals, the sentries rang that bell. He could hear it ringing clearly right now. That told him Herringthorpe was on his doorstep.
He was fairly certain that Cambria had heard the bell, too.
With a grin, he headed to the gatehouse.
Soldiers were racing about, already opening Folkingham’s dual portcullises. As Carlton approached, he caught sight of Colm coming off the wall.
The man headed straight for him.
“It’s Herringthorpe,” Colm said as he drew near. “He’s riding with an enormous de Wolfe escort. There have to be a couple of hundred men with him.”
Carlton was just shy of the gatehouse, with a perfect view of the road beyond. “That’s a rather large escort,” he said. “I wonder…”
“What?”
Carlton shook his head. “I suppose I was wondering if there is any trouble,” he said. “I’m curious why he would bring so large an escort.”
Colm lifted his eyebrows in a gesture that suggested he was concerned, too. “We shall soon find out.”
That was the truth.
Both men wait silently for the escort to arrive. It was less than a half-hour, but it seemed to take days. The head of the escort, comprising a pair of knights followed by several soldiers, entered before Herringthorpe made his way in.
Carlton and Colm recognized the knight immediately and Carlton lifted a hand in greeting. That brought Herringthorpe to him, astride a blond stallion that was sweaty and foaming. When he tossed his head, the white foam hit Colm in the arm. He grunted unhappily, smearing it away, as Herringthorpe dismounted. Carlton couldn’t help but notice that the man seemed much taller and broader than he had been only a couple of years ago. It was true that he’d always been tall, and a little big for his age, but he’d filled out tremendously and not with flab, but with muscle.
