Page 75 of Wolfehound
Time to get Cambria safe.
As le Mon departed through the hall entry, Liam went over to his father and Carlton and Scott.
“Bloody brilliant,” War muttered. “My God, I’ve raised a clever lad.”
Liam perched himself on the edge of the bench, right next to his father. There was a half-full wine cup in front of War and he picked it up, draining it.
“He wanted to see a Welsh princess,” he murmured. “I gave him one.”
“You told Caria everything?” Scott said softly.
Liam nodded. “I had to,” he said. “I needed her help.”
Scott understood. He emitted a pent-up sigh, signifying his relief. “She’ll keep it to herself forever,” he said. “You do not have to worry about her. But for now, I suggest we still go through with our plans. Marriage and then sending Liam and Bria north to Questing.”
Carlton nodded his head. The man looked so relieved that he was surely going to slither right to the ground. “We did not have time to summon the priest before le Mon arrived, so let us do so now,” he said. “There will be a wedding and a feast tonight and then Liam and Bria can be gone in the morning.”
“I would make sure le Mon is well clear of this place first,” Scott said. “And make sure he is not lingering somewhere, watching the roads.”
That made sense. “Then mayhap we’d better not leave immediately,” Liam said. “Mayhap we should stay until we know he is well back to London.”
That brought about an entirely new discussion, and they proceeded to finish off the pitcher of wine on the table and called for another because they’d earned it. As the wine flowed, so did the relief.
But that was until the shouting started.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
There was agentle rapping, rapping on the solar door.
Startled, Cambria came off her chair.
The rapping came again, more loudly this time, and she timidly made her way over to the door.
“Who is it?” she whispered.
“Me, my lady! Alwyn!”
Cambria knew the servant. He was from the kitchen yard and helped her watch out for her puppies.
“What is it, Alwyn?” she asked.
“It’s one of the puppies, my lady,” he said. “A hawk injured him. You must come!”
If anything could make Cambria forget Liam’s orders to remain in the solar, it was any mention of her puppies in danger. Quickly, she unbolted the door only to see Alwyn standing there, looking quite upset. Her gaze darted around the keep entry to see if anyone else was present.
“How did you get in here?” she asked.
He turned and pointed to the entry door. “It wasn’t locked, my lady,” he said. “I thought you might be in here. Hoped you would, anyway, so I knocked on the door. You must come!”
Cambria wasn’t sure why the entry door wasn’t locked, but she looked around again and didn’t see anyone in the entry or on the stairs. She knew that a young de Wolfe knight had been inside, making sure the door was locked, but he was gone and the door hadn’t been locked by anyone else. Alwyn had managed to get in with news of an injured puppy, and although she knew she wasn’t supposed to leave, she couldn’t ignore the distress of one of her dogs.
“How badly is he wounded?” she asked. “What happened?”
Alwyn held up a hand, like a hawk hovering. “He went after the littlest pup,” he said. “The others were feeding in the den, but the littlest one hadn’t managed to make it in to feed. I was standing just a few feet away and the hawk still swooped. It must have been watching and waiting. Usually, it tries to take a chicken, but this time it went for the pup. The little thing has punctures and is bleeding. Will you not come to him?”
After hearing that, Cambria couldn’t stay away.
She hoped Liam would forgive her.
