Page 26 of Wolfehound
He’d never had a harsh word with his daughter in his life, but Cambria wasn’t backing down. She matched his tone, his anger. “He is my betrothed,” she pointed out. “You brokered the contract when I was born and in the eyes of the God and the law,I am already his wife. What is improper about being alone with the man who is to be my husband?”
Carlton lost his temper. Grabbing Cambria by the arm, he yanked her in the direction of the solar door. She didn’t go easily, however, and when she dug her heels in, he spanked her on the bottom, his big hand to her tender behind, only once, and Cambria came to a halt, her hand on her buttocks as she looked at her father in shock. Her face turned red, but before she could lash out at him for spanking her, the tears came and she fled the chamber in abject humiliation.
Carlton was angrier than he’d ever been in his life. He turned that anger on Liam, who was standing there with a stonelike expression.
“You know better,” Carlton spat. “You know better than to put her in a position like that. What were you thinking?”
Liam was shockingly cool. He didn’t like what he’d just seen and was struggling with some anger of his own. Carlton was his old master and he had immense respect for the man, but at this moment, all he could feel was disappointment in the man’s reaction. He could see where it had looked bad upon initial glance, but the Carlton he knew would have calmly asked what was happening. And Liam would have calmly told him.
But that hadn’t happened.
“I told you the situation,” he said in a low, controlled voice. “I was showing her the scar on my belly. That was it. Nothing untoward happened or was going to happen because I hope you know me better than what you just insinuated. My reputation is beyond reproach, and if you think otherwise, then we have a serious problem.”
Carlton took a deep breath, struggling to calm himself. “I know you,” he said. “I know your character, which is why I was so surprised when I walked in on this… this shocking display.”
Liam was finished talking to the man because it was clear he had no intention of being reasonable at the moment. He was too angry for that. Better that they part ways and cool their anger before something was said that they would both regret. Collecting his belts, weapons, sword, and dog, in that order, he took a step in Carlton’s direction.
“Nothing happened, nor was anything going to happen,” he muttered. “But if I ever see you strike her again in anger, I will kill you.”
With that, he left the solar, heading out into the entry beyond and leaving Carlton with a distinct feeling that Liam meant what he’d said.
Every word of it.
Liam the squire had grown up because, by damn, Carlton believed him.
*
She’d never beenso embarrassed in her entire life.
The tears were flowing as Cambria sat in the yard with her dogs. It was bad enough that her father had spanked her, but even worse that he’d done it in front of a witness. Liam, of all people. Carlton had spanked her as if she were a silly little girl, not a grown woman. Well, shewasa grown woman, but maybe Liam wouldn’t see her that way now. Why should he be proud to marry a woman who got spanked like a child?
But it was more than that.
Carlton had behaved in a way she’d never seen before. He’d raised his voice and accused her of being improper. Truthfully, there was part of her that could see his point. He’d walked in when she had her hand on Liam’s naked torso, but it was only to see that awful scar he had. She didn’t even know how he got it because he hadn’t told her yet. He probably never would now.He’d get on his horse and head back to the north, where women weren’t spanked by their fathers.
She was deeply ashamed. She’d run straight into the yard where she kept her dogs and sat down among them, dirtying the clean garment she’d changed into in honor of Liam’s visit. The dogs milled around her with the big male licking her face. When she pushed him aside, gently, he simply collapsed and laid his head in her lap.
Hand on the dog, Cambria sat there and wept.
“Bria?” Liam was suddenly in the yard. “Get off the ground, sweetheart. You are going to get dirty down there.”
He was holding a hand down to her, and when she shook her head, refusing his request, he gently took her wrist and pulled her, reluctantly, to her feet. He was still holding his dog on a lead with the other hand and all of Cambria’s dogs were quite interested in the newcomer who wasn’t so much a newcomer, as he’d been part of the pack those years ago. They sniffed at him, tails wagging, as Cambria wiped the tears off her face.
“I am sorry for my father,” she said, sniffling. “I do not know what possessed him to say such terrible things. That’s not like him at all.”
Liam still had her by the wrist. “Do not fret over it,” he said softly. “The man has a daughter to protect. I cannot say I would not have done the same thing in his position.”
His words made her feel a little better. “He’s never spanked me before, not ever,” she said. “I do not know why he chose this moment to do it, right in front of you.”
Liam smiled faintly. “It could be because you were shouting at him,” he said. “Or resisting him.”
She looked up at him, her eyes flashing. “He was being offensive.”
“He was being a father who was concerned for his daughter.”
“He did not have to spank me.”
“Nay, he did not,” Liam agreed. “Did he hurt you?”
