Page 24 of Wolfehound
That was the truth. With a nod, perhaps one of grief for the man he could never publicly acknowledge as his grandfather, Liam tried to stand up but realized his legs were too weary to do so. It was true that he’d traveled a great deal over the past few weeks, and this was honestly the first time he’d been able to let his guard down. It was probably the first time since the passing of Warenton, because he’d been in command and control mode since then to relieve the family of any burdens. But now… now, he could acknowledge his weariness, and it was great. When Carlton saw him struggle to rise, he simply motioned him to stay in the chair.
“Rest here,” he said. “I will ensure that a room is prepared for you. Colm will make sure your men are settled. You brought quite a few with you.”
Liam leaned his head back against the high back of the chair. It was carved wood, and uncomfortable, but it didn’t matter. He was exhausted.
“One hundred and eighty,” he muttered. “They can camp outside the walls if you wish.”
“That is not necessary,” Colm said, moving past Carlton as he headed for the door. “I will clear a place in the bailey for them.”
“That is appreciated.”
Colm headed out. Carlton followed shortly, without another word, leaving Liam sitting in that stiff chair, wondering if he would ever rise again. His legs hurt, his buttocks and back hurt, and all he wanted to do was sleep.
His task was done.
Barely another minute passed before his soft snoring filled the chamber.
CHAPTER FIVE
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………
She could hear… something.
Like someone sawing wood.
The sound was coming from her father’s solar and, as far as she knew, no one was sawing wood in there. But there was clearly something happening because Liam Herringthorpe was in the chamber, so her father had said, so he was making some kind of noise.
Quietly, she opened the door.
Liam was sitting in her father’s carved chair, the one that had come from some cold country far to the east. It was beautiful to look at but not particularly comfortable. Even so, Liam was sleeping like the dead in it.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……
With a grin, she entered the solar, tiptoeing over to a chair near her father’s table. She was halfway there when she stubbed her toe on the corner of his table, tripped over her own feet, and ended up falling right onto Liam’s lap and lower abdomen.
He let out a grunt that God himself would have been sympathetic over.
“Jesus Christ!” he groaned, instinctively grabbing the body on his lap. “What in the bloody…?”
Cambria was in a panic. “Let me go!” she nearly howled, throwing an elbow into the man’s belly. “I am terribly sorry, but let me go!”
Liam had no choice. He’d just had his lower abdomen and groin assaulted and now there was a bony elbow in his belly. He released the wildcat in his arms, and when she pushed herself off him, she used his face as leverage. He found himself rubbing his injured nose as she stumbled away from him, crashing into the table again before steadying herself.
Liam found himself looking into brilliant blue eyes.
He knew those eyes. He knew that black hair. He also knew that face, or so he thought, but he’d known those three things a few years ago on a young girl whose teeth hadn’t all quite grown in. She’d been skinny and wiry and had a high-pitched giggle. That was the Cambria he knew.
But this woman before him was something quite new.
And something quite different.
In fact, he was astonished when he realized who it was. Cambria had grown into her teeth, into her figure, and before him stood a goddess. She was still petite, and slender, but she had become a woman.
He could hardly believe it.
“Bria?” he said, incredulous. “Is that truly you?”
Cambria stood on the other side of the table, frowning at him. “I’m surprised you remember me,” she said. “It has been so long since you’ve visited.”
