Page 48 of Wolfehound
The bloodlines of Wales.
“Does Liam know?” Cambria said, barely able to speak.
Fair Lydia nodded. “He knows,” she said. “But I do not think you should tell him thatyouknow. If he ever brings it up to you, then you can determine at that time whether or not to confess. This secret affects him also, since he will marry you.”
Cambria swallowed hard, trying to swallow away her tears. She suddenly didn’t feel much like wearing her wedding dress today. She didn’t feel much like anything. All she could think of was a dead Welsh prince and a dead English princess, her parents, and the heritage that fate had given her. She was half Welsh, half English. Half rebel, half not. So many half-somethings.
Slowly, she stood up.
Fair Lydia watched as she made her way over to one of the two enormous wardrobes in her chamber. Cambria had a good many clothes, all of them neatly tucked away, and she opened up one of the wardrobe doors where her fine things were hanging.
“Bria?” Fair Lydia said. “What are you thinking, Dearest? Can I help with anything?”
Cambria was just reaching for the ties on the side of the bodice, but she came to a halt. “Bria,” she muttered. “Cambria. Is that truly my name?”
Fair Lydia stood up from the chair. “It is now,” she said. “But when you came to us, you had another name.”
Cambria turned to look at her. “What was it?”
“Gwenllian.”
Cambria thought on that. “Gwenllian,” she repeated, hearing her birth name for the first time. “I remember saying something to my tutor once, how my name was the ancient name for Wales. Cambria, Brittania, Caledonia—all ancient names for countries. But I never thought anything of it until now.”
Fair Lydia came up behind her and began unfastening the ties at the back of the dress. “I selected the name,” she said. “I knew it was the ancient name for Wales and, considering who you were, it seemed fitting. Mayhap you no longer carried the name of your ancestors, but I chose to honor them through that ancient name.”
Cambria smiled weakly. “You were always a woman of great generosity,” she said. “Mama… thank you for telling me. I am honored that you would trust me with it. But it is… a lot. I think I should like to change into something more comfortable and keep to myself for a while. Will you make sure I am undisturbed?”
Fair Lydia nodded. “Of course,” she said. “I will help you remove this garment and then I will leave you to your thoughts.”
“Nay,” Cambria said, turning around to stop the woman from fussing with the garment ties. “Go now, if you please. I can remove this myself.”
Fair Lydia’s brow furrowed. “Are you certain?” she said. “There are a lot of different pieces to remove.”
Cambria forced a smile. “I can manage,” she said. “Thank you, Mama. For everything.”
She seemed final about it, and Fair Lydia dipped her head in surrender, giving in to her daughter’s wishes. The last sight she had of Cambria before she closed the bedchamber door was ofher daughter looking at herself in the mirror again, perhaps this time to question who she really was.
Cambria?
Or Gwenllian?
The expression on her face left Fair Lydia wondering if she’d done the right thing by telling her the truth.
Certainly, only time would tell.
She could only pray that it didn’t come back to haunt her.
CHAPTER TEN
Folkingham Castle
He was onthe approach.
That was the word from the sentries at the gatehouse because they had a bird’s-eye view of the countryside and could see the approach of the Herringthorpe escort. The scarlet-and-black banners were snapping in the breeze, clearly visible. Cambria was excited, of course, but given the conversation she’d had with her mother a couple of hours earlier, she was still startled. Still overwhelmed.
Very much confused.
She needed to see Liam.
