Page 53 of Wolfehound
He said it so indignantly that Scott had to grin. “Aye, they do,” he said. “But it is always wise to get a confirmation, is it not? What if we were outlaws who stole Warenton banners?”
Nathaniel didn’t have an answer for that, mostly because it made sense and he was insulted that he hadn’t thought about it himself. At this age, and he’d barely seen eighteen years, nearly everything insulted him because he was a de Wolfe, son of the Earl of Warenton, and the world bowed at his family’s feet.
Well, mostly.
As Nathaniel was wrestling with his inflated ego, Scott held up a hand to the incoming riders, who responded with a similar gesture. They reined their horses close, but not too close.
“My lord,” one soldier said. “You fly Warenton standards. May I address the earl?”
“You are,” Scott said. “I am Scott de Wolfe.”
Both riders saluted him smartly. “Lord de Royans sends his greetings,” the same soldier said. “He asks that we escort you to Folkingham.”
“Lead the way.”
Jeremy and Nathaniel fell right in behind the riders as Scott shook his head at his eager sons. But he lifted an arm to the party behind him, indicating for them to pick up the pace. With his sons tucked in behind the escort riders, Scott ended up riding alone the rest of the way to Folkingham, but he truly didn’t mind. It gave him time to think about the coming union and the culmination of the plans his father had for the daughter of Llywelyn the Last. Long ago, they’d been plans of revenge for the death of a son, but now… now they were simply plans to keep the woman from the fate Edward had planned for her. Not that it really mattered now, because once she was married to Liam, Edward couldn’t touch her.
But the fact remained that he could still do damage.
If Edward were to ever find out about William’s plans, and furthermore find out where Gwenllian had been hidden in plain sight, even if she were married to Liam, he more than likely wouldn’t let the subject rest. He’d see it as a challenge to his rule, a de Wolfe challenge to the will of the Crown, and given both War and Liam were garrison commanders at royal outposts, it could very well mean the end of their royal appointments.
Scott had to have a backup plan if that happened. He couldn’t let Liam or War take the fall for something his father did, but first, they had to get that young woman married to Liam as the final act of keeping her away from Edward.
God help them, they had to get through this day.
Then they could all breathe.
Or so he thought.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Folkingham Castle
“Well?” Liam said,planting himself on the bench beside Cambria. “What do you think of my mother?”
Annaleigh had occupied a solid hour of Cambria’s time before War finally pulled her away so the lovers could have some time together. He’d just spent that hour watching Liam as Liam watched Cambria with anxious eyes, wanting so much to be with her, but his mother was preventing it. War had had all he could take and finally fetched his wife, giving Liam that window of opportunity to slip in. Now, in the great hall of Folkingham, Liam and Cambria were sitting together.
Alone.
Finally!
“I think your mother is delightful,” Cambria said, sitting as close as she could to Liam without actually touching him. “She told me that she is a cousin to the Countess of Warenton and that’s how she met her husband.”
Liam nodded. “All true,” he said. “She is a cousin to William de Wolfe’s wife.”
“Then that makes you kin to the House of de Wolfe.”
His smile faded as he looked at her. “Bria,” he said after a moment, “since you are to be my wife, there is something you should know. Something that you must never speak of to anyone else.”
Her expression grew serious. “Of course, Liam,” she said. “I would never speak of something you told me in confidence.”
“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “You should know that I am closer to the House of de Wolfe than you think. William de Wolfe is my grandfather.”
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “He is?”
“Aye,” Liam said, nodding. “My father is his son, conceived before he met and married his wife. My father is technically William’s eldest son, but because he was born out of wedlock, he cannot inherit. Nor does he want to, just so you know.”
Cambria looked over at War, who was now standing with his wife as they inspected an elaborate tapestry near the dais. She studied the tall, big man with the dark blond hair that was turning silver around the face, now seeing him through different eyes.
