Page 50 of Wolfehound
“The Earl of Warenton, my lord,” the soldier said. “The House of de Wolfe is approaching.”
“Ah,” Carlton said in understanding. “Excellent. But no sign of my brother from Netherghyll?”
The soldier shook his head. “Nay, my lord.”
That was disappointing, but not unexpected. Hamilton de Royans, Baron Cononley, Constable of North Yorkshire and the Northern Dales, was a difficult man to get along with. Carlton had never gotten on well with his ambitious and arrogant brother, something that had bled over into both of his sons. Baron Cononley was an inherited title, as the de Royans had held it for well over one hundred years, and Hamilton wore the title like a badge but did little to actually fulfill the requirements. He was about the prestige, not about the work. Carlton had pointed that out, once, and that was nearly the last time he’d ever had a meaningful conversation with his brother.
Such were the complex dynamics of a family.
Therefore, he didn’t linger on Hamilton’s lack of response. Other than Warenton, he was the only other person Carlton had invited to the wedding. It was to be a very small affair, and that was bred from the fact that Carlton was still trying to protect his daughter after all of these years. The fewer people who attended and questioned the roots of an adopted woman, the better.
The less chance of someone finding out something that he wanted to keep buried.
“Send riders out to escort Warenton,” he said after a moment. “Meanwhile, we shall greet Herringthorpe.”
The soldier nodded and headed off. That left Carlton and Cambria at the gatehouse, waiting with anticipation for Liam’s arrival.
It wasn’t long in coming.
He was, literally, the first person through the gatehouse, with his father’s escort about a quarter of a mile behind him. One look at Cambria standing next to her father and he bailed from his warhorse, a gigantic grin plastered all over his face. He went to Cambria as if Carlton didn’t even exist, drinking in the sight of her beautiful face.
He was a man who had waited a very long time for this moment.
“My lady,” he said, reaching out to take her hand and kiss it most sweetly. “I cannot believe the beauty my eyes are beholding. Is it possible that you have become more heavenly in the time we’ve been apart?”
As Cambria smiled and flushed a bright red, Carlton groaned.
“Christ, Liam,” he muttered. “How long have you rehearsed those words?”
Liam started to laugh. “Toolong, thanks to you, my lord,” he said. “It is your own fault. I have been saving them up for this moment.”
Carlton shook his head and started to move away. “I am going to become ill if I hear one more sickly-sweet platitude come out of your mouth,” he said. “Can you promise me that your father will not use the same greeting on me?”
“I cannot, my lord.”
“Then I will have to throttle him.”
He moved off, leaving Liam and Cambria laughing. When Carlton was far enough away, Liam’s expression softened as he beheld the vision he’d been dreaming of.
“I did not intend to chase him off,” he said. “But I would be lying if I said I was not glad for it. And I meant every word I said to you.”
Cambria smiled shyly. “He has been dreading this,” she said. “I suppose most fathers are reluctant to see their daughters married.”
Liam cocked an eyebrow. “Not all,” he said. “I have sisters, and I am sure there are days when my father would like nothing better than to see them married off and someone else’s burden.”
“Is that how you look at a wife? As a burden?”
Liam shook his head. “Not me,” he said. “Because my wife shall be you, and you could not be a burden if you tried. Have you been well?”
Cambria nodded. “Very well,” she said. “I—”
She was cut off when something big and black appeared between her and Liam. She looked down to see the pup she’d given him, now an enormous dog with a head that was larger than hers.
“Bran,” she said softly, bending over and putting both of her hands on the dog’s head. “What a beautiful lad you are. Have you been good?”
The dog was quite happy to see her, wagging his tail and slobbering on her wrists. But he was threatening to dirty the blue silk, so Liam pulled him back by the big collar around his neck.
“He’s the best dog in the world,” he said. “But he weighs more than you do, so be careful with him. I do not want to see him knock you over.”
