Page 11 of Wolfehound (De Wolfe Pack Generations #11)

Fourteen Years Later

Folkingham Castle

“I do not like a visit from him,” Colm said with hazard in his tone. “Something is amiss. I can feel it.”

Things had not changed at Folkingham over the years.

Colm was still complaining and Carlton was still listening.

Those dynamics made it possible for those at the castle to live normal lives, productive lives, because the relationship between Carlton and his knight remained constant and that brought comfort.

Like now.

Colm was complaining and Carlton was listening.

It was the natural order of things.

The pair had been out in the bailey of Folkingham when they received a missive that Liam Herringthorpe was on the approach.

The messenger was a de Wolfe soldier who had ridden ahead of Liam and the rest of the escort.

Given that Liam had been stationed at Questing for the past fourteen years, the soldiers with him bore the black and dark green of the Earl of Warenton.

Every one of de Wolfe’s sons had their own variation to the de Wolfe shield standard, but the one worn by the messenger was the original standard—the tri-point shield with the stylized wolf’s head in the center.

But it was anyone’s guess why Liam was coming.

And that had Colm worried.

“I do not know why the man is approaching, but I am certain it is nothing more than a birth or marriage announcement, or something of that nature,” Carlton said, setting the yellowed missive onto the table that carried his maps and documents, everything he needed to manage his properties.

“It could also be the fact that Warenton has sent him south to visit his betrothed. You know he sends the man every year or so. He wants Liam and Cambria to become comfortable with one another, since they are to marry.”

Cambria.

Dearest Cambria Eudoxia Rose, to be exact.

It was the name that he and Fair Lydia had selected for their daughter, the name of ancient Wales.

“Dearest” had been added because every woman in Fair Lydia’s family had a term of endearment preceding their Christian name.

It was tradition. In any case, Warenton’s intention, long ago, had been to bury Cambria’s heritage under the crushing weight of an English life, and that had all come to pass.

Everything had happened as it should have.

The only reference to that heritage was, in fact, her name.

And it suited her beautifully.

“When was Herringthorpe last here?” Colm said, scratching his beard. “It has to be at least two years.”

Carlton nodded. “Two and a half, I believe,” he said. “Bria was in that awkward stage between a child and a woman, and I seem to remember her following Liam around until the man begged for mercy.”

Colm grinned. “She held his hand, constantly.”

“He could not even use the hand to eat.”

“She adores him, you know.”

“I know,” Carlton said. “But the feelings were not reciprocated in the least. However, he is in for a surprise. Two and a half years can make a big difference at this age. One moment they are children, and in the next… Well, she is a woman now, but even so, she’s too young for marriage.”

Colm shrugged. “She may be too young of body, but her mind is not,” he said. “She speaks like a wise old woman. It is frightening sometimes.”

Carlton chuckled. “She gets that from her mother,” he said. “Fair Lydia always spoke to Cambria as if she were a person, not a child. She reasoned with her and spoke to her as if she had a mind and could reason in return. That has made my daughter old though she is young.”

Colm shook his head. “Nay, it is more than that,” he said. “Your daughter has a way of looking at people as if she can see into them.”

“She can.”

Colm snorted softly. “I believe it,” he said. Then he took a deep breath as if to steady himself. “Then we shall assume that Herringthorpe is coming simply to see to the health and well-being of his betrothed. Do you want me to tell her?”

Carlton shook his head. “I will,” he said. “I’m sure she’s out with her dogs, so I will find her there.”

Colm headed for the solar door. “Yesterday, she had several goats with her,” he said. “I think she intends to breed them.”

Carlton appeared displeased. “No more animals,” he said, waving his hands around.

“God’s Bones, she has those black dogs that she sells for a profit, and although I have nothing but pride in her business skills, we do not need any more animals in the kitchen yard. It looks like Noah’s Ark out there.”

Colm opened the door. “Focus on her business skills,” he said, grinning. “She does not have the pets simply to have them. She sells them. She will make you rich one day.”

“Rich or insane.”

“Take heart,” Colm said. “She’ll be Herringthorpe’s problem one day.”

“True.”

Colm glanced out into the entry beyond. “I suppose I’d better go prepare for his arrival,” he said. But he paused before continuing. “Carlton… do you think Warenton ever told him the truth?”

The door was open and Carlton’s head snapped up before he motioned sharply to the panel, which Colm quickly pulled shut.

Given that he’d been part of the escort from Wales those years ago, and he knew the blue-eyed infant they’d brought to Folkingham, there was no way Carlton couldn’t tell him what had happened.

He’d been sworn to secrecy about it, but it was something he hadn’t been happy about since the beginning.

He thought that Edward was going to eventually discover the deception and they’d all be sent to the executioner.

Carlton was aware of the man’s feelings.

He’d heard about them constantly for the past fourteen years.

“I’ve told you not to speak on that,” he hissed. “You are well aware of the peril.”

Colm put a hand up, a silent apology. “No one is around to overhear,” he said. “But you are correct. I should not have. I was simply thinking aloud.”

“Do not do it,” Carlton said. “If it comes into your mind, bite your tongue. Cut it out if you have to. But never speak of it again.”

Properly contrite, Colm simply nodded. “It was careless,” he said. “I did not mean to be. It will not happen again.”

“It had better not.”

Colm had his head down. “I swear it,” he said. “But you do know that, as with all secrets, someday this will come out, Carlton. It is inevitable.”

“If it does, it will not be because of carelessness. It will be because of maliciousness.”

“Or guilt.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Colm shook his head. “Nothing,” he said. “I simply meant… Never mind. I did not mean anything by it. I shall go about my business now. There is much to do before he arrives.”

He turned to leave, but a word from Carlton stopped him. “Wait,” he said quietly.

Colm stopped and looked at him. “What is it?”

Carlton sighed sharply before answering. “Liam… He knows,” he murmured. “Warenton told him everything. For his own safety, he had to.”

Colm’s eyebrows lifted. “I thought so,” he said. “Herringthorpe rode escort with us. He, more than any of us, was physically closer to the infant. He saw… Well, he saw what happened when we arrived. With Fair Lydia and the infant. How could he not know?”

“That is what Warenton thought,” Carlton muttered. “And that’s why he told him. I know I’ve jested about her being too young to wed, and she is, but the moment she reaches eighteen years of age, the marriage will happen. That union will protect her more than I ever could.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because if the truth is discovered now, Edward would have to raze Folkingham to get to her,” he said.

“There would be nothing to stop him, and Warenton’s aid is weeks away, up in Northumberland.

But when she marries Herringthorpe, she goes north, where an army of tens of thousands of men can protect her from a king who would see her sent to Sempringham, or worse.

God himself could not protect her more than a Herringthorpe husband and the de Wolfe empire could. ”

“Are you genuinely concerned that the truth might somehow be known?”

“I am concerned that somehow, someway, it will reach Edward’s ears.”

Colm considered that for a moment. “Not today it won’t,” he said. “But you do realize we’re in the middle of something. The middle of Warenton’s struggle against Edward. We have been ever since he took another infant to Sempringham.”

Carlton knew that, but there was no point in discussing it. “I cannot change it,” he said. Then he gestured toward the bailey. “You’d better go. There is no knowing how soon he will arrive, and we want to be ready.”

Colm departed without another word, leaving Carlton thinking on a daughter with a betrothed who knew everything about her.

More than she knew about herself. He had the feelings that most fathers had, hoping the marriage would be a success, hoping Liam and Cambria would have a contented marriage. All he wanted was a good life for her.

The little lass who meant everything to him.

Thoughts of Cambria lingered as he quit the solar.

He intended to tell her about Liam’s approach, yet with thoughts of her leaving him in a few years when she came of age, all he could feel was longing.

The longing that any father would have for a daughter.

As he headed out of the keep, he could hear a couple of servants in the small dining hall speaking about the smell of dogs in the room.

Given the fact that Cambria insisted on bringing her dogs into the hall at mealtime, the smell couldn’t be helped.

She had eleven of them these days—a big male, three adult females, and seven puppies who would soon be going to good homes.

Her dogs, big and black and fearsome in adulthood, were much in demand among the nobles of Lincolnshire.

In fact, she’d given Liam a puppy when he last came to visit out of the first litter she’d ever had.

Carlton hoped he still had the dog because it would most definitely upset his daughter if he didn’t.

She was even attached to the pets she no longer had.