Page 67 of Wolfehound
Cambria looked at Jordan, who put up a hand to silence her question before she asked it. “I was not in charge of the squires or the pages,” she said. “That was my husband, so I canna tell ye any tales. Ye’ll have tae ask yer husband someday.”
Before Cambria could answer, the dog suddenly rolled over and sneezed, loudly. Jordan was the closest, trying to dodge the flying dog mucus.
“’Tis a big dog, lass,” she said, gingerly brushing off her arm. “He must be good protection if ye allow him inside.”
Cambria was smiling at the mutt. “He’s very sweet,” she said. “He is Liam’s shadow. I love having him near me because it is almost like having Liam with me.”
“Are ye calling my son a dog?” Annaleigh said, eyebrow cocked.
The women burst into laughter, Cambria included. Annaleigh had meant it in jest and they took it that way. BeforeCambria could reply, there was a knock at the door. Caria was the closest and she stood up, opening the panel to see a serving wench standing there.
“What is it?” Caria asked.
The serving woman was young, the daughter of the cook. She caught sight of Cambria and spoke directly to her.
“Sir Liam has sent for you, m’lady,” she said. “He asks that you meet him down in your father’s solar.”
Cambria didn’t even hesitate. He leapt up from the floor, calling for the dog as she went. Bran went from dozing to wide awake in an instant, leaping off the bed and stepping on Jordan’s feet in the process. As she lifted her stinging toes, the dog charged past Cambria, nearly bowling her over, as they both rushed for the stairs.
Down they went to the man they loved best.
Cambria burst into the solar with the dog on her heels. Liam was already there, and he opened his arms for Cambria but the dog beat her to it. He jumped up on Liam, his long tongue licking at his face, as Liam briefly petted the dog’s big head before pushing him down. Cambria had to shove the dog aside to get to Liam.
“I am not sure who is more excited to see you,” she said, grinning, as he took her in his arms. “Bran seems to compete with me in that regard.”
He chuckled. “That is theonlyregard,” he assured her, but his smile soon faded. “How are you, my love? I’ve not seen you in a couple of hours and I am desolate because of it.”
Her smile broadened as she gave in to his strong arms. “I am overwhelmed with female attention,” she said. “Your mother, my mother, Lady Warenton, and Caria de Wolfe. Do not misunderstand—it is lovely to have them here, but I am unused to such companionship.”
He pulled her close. “Caria is a sweet girl,” he said. “I knew her when I served at Castle Questing. She is very friendly and I’m glad that Warenton brought her. I should like for you to become friends with her.”
“Why?”
“Because you do not have any female friends that I know of,” he said. “You never went to foster, and when you go to church, your mother never leaves your side, so I know it has been difficult for you to make friends.”
Cambria shrugged. “It used to bother me,” she conceded. “But as the years went on, I had my puppies and that took up a good deal of my time. I did not have much time for friends or feasts. But I will admit that as a young girl, I used to grow very frustrated that we did not seek the company of allies or friends on a regular basis.”
“But you understand why now,” he said. “It was to keep you hidden as much as possible without actually putting you in a vault and keeping you there, simply for your own safety.”
She nodded. “I know,” she said. “That is the problem with a secret like that. You are never sure if anyone else knows because people cannot be trusted. Someone always sees something.”
He nodded. “And that is what we must discuss,” he said. “It seems that we have a problem.”
“What problem?”
He released her from his embrace and led her over to a pair of chairs that were placed next to the hearth. They were carved oak, with big cushions on them made out of blue silk. He sat her in one while he took the other, facing her.
“You remember Colm de Lara, don’t you?” he said. “The man who served your father?”
Cambria nodded. “Of course I do,” she said. “What about him?”
Liam took a deep breath, seemingly thoughtful for a moment before continuing. “The only way to explain this to you is to get straight to the point,” he said. “Colm de Lara knew your secret. He was here when everything was planned and executed. The man evidently passed away recently, but before he did, he told a priest about you and what your father and William de Wolfe did. This priest told the Archbishop of Canterbury, who in turn told the king, and now we must be married immediately because I must take you to safety somewhere far away from Folkingham. They must not find you, Bria. You understand that.”
Cambria was horrified. “Colm?” she gasped. “He did not do that!”
“I am afraid that he did,” Liam said calmly. “We have confirmation. Therefore, you and I are to be married today, probably within the hour, and then we are heading north to Castle Questing. The Earl of Warenton is going to hide us for a while until this all fades away.”
Tears were starting to pool in her eyes. “Oh, Liam,” she wept. “This morning, I was simply an orphan with no past, but since then, I’ve become a fugitive from a king who wants to shove me in a priory and let me rot.”
