She did not need to turn around to see that her husband was storming after her. She could hear the thud of his footfalls as he crashed after her. Iliana immediately put on a bit of speed, running for the door. Unfortunately, in her hurry, she didn’t notice the fact that her father-in-law was in the room until she collided with him, nearly sending them both crashing to the floor.

Gasping as the senior Dunbar caught her to his chest to steady her, Iliana glanced up into his face and flushed brightly. “Oh, my lord. I—er I was just—My mother is awake and hungry,” she babbled nervously, taking a step back from his hold. “I thought to fetch her a bowl of broth and—”

“And me randy bull o’ a son jumped ye again,” Angus finished for her heavily, reaching out to tug at her gown.

Eyes drawn downward, Iliana saw with some embarrassment that her gown was still out of place, leaving the better portion of one breast in plain view. Flushing brightly, she took over the task of straightening her gown.

“Get ye upstairs, lass, and sit with yer mother. Elgin’ll bring some broth to ye. I’ve a word or two to say to me son.”

Nodding with relief, Iliana slipped past him and out of the room, ignoring Duncan’s shouting of her name even as his father began to speak to him.

Chapter Fourteen

“Do you not think you have hidden up here long enough?”

Iliana glanced up warily from the chessboard between her and her mother. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Shifting uncomfortably under the older woman’s keen gaze, she turned back to the game. “I have not been hiding.”

“Nay.” The dryness of Lady Wildwood’s tone was known well by her daughter.

“Nay,” Iliana insisted impatiently. “Check.”

“I suppose you have been here day and night for the last week out of filial devotion?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm.” Shaking her head, Lady Wildwood took her own turn at the game “Checkmate.”

Iliana blinked at the board. Her mother had turned the game with one simple—and almost impossible—move. Sighing, she sat back and peered at her irritably. “You have not been well.”

“Nay. I have not.”

“I thought you would appreciate the company.”

When her mother merely stared at her, Iliana glanced away uncomfortably.

“All is not well with your husband.” It was an accusation and Iliana sighed as she shrugged.

“Well enough, Mother. How well would you expect? We are newly married. Still getting to know each other.”

“Aye. Well, it seems to me ’tis hard to get to know someone should you not spend any time with him.”

When her daughter merely stared stubbornly at the chessboard and did not answer, Lady Wildwood lifted the game from her lap, where it had rested, and set it aside.