“I know. I have told her she should rest, but she will not listen. Mayhap if her leg had truly been broken as we first suspected, she would have the sense to stay abed, but as it is she wishes a bath to prepare.”

“I shall see to it,” Ebba answered.

Murmuring her thanks, Iliana turned to hurry back upstairs. She had been anxious about leaving it in the first place, but on finding the hallway empty of men had warily braved going below to search out Ebba. The hallway had been empty these past two days. The three rooms Duncan had planned on adding were done. The upper floor now boasted six rooms, a hallway twice its original size, and a new railing. Iliana had yet to see these added rooms but was too wary of running into Duncan to explore them, so she hurried back to her mother to assist her with her bath and dressing.

“You are fortunate, daughter; your cook is excellent. I do not believe Jean-Claude could have made this meal better.” Lady Wildwood’s words were deliberately said loud enough for Elgin to hear. As expected, he puffed up under the verbal petting, pride swelling him so that he fairly beamed at one and all around the trestle tables.

The meal had gone pleasantly enough. Elgin had made the finest meal Iliana had enjoyed at Dunbar to date. Lord Angus, wearing Lord Sherwell’s fine new doublet and braies, had been making an effort all evening to make her mother feel comfortable and welcome. He had even gone so far as to flirt shamelessly with her throughout the meal. Iliana supposed she should not be surprised. Even with fading bruises marring her hands, arms, face, and neck, her mother was an attractive woman. Noting the blush his behavior had brought to her mother’s cheeks and her shy smiles, Iliana had almost jumped up and kissed Angus’s wrinkled old cheek in gratitude. Her mother had been so frighteningly pale ever since her arrival that the ribbons of color on each cheek were a relief, and Iliana had relaxed and listened idly to the conversation her mother shared with Duncan and Angus, both of whom sat on her mother’s right. Iliana had organized those seating arrangements.

When she and her mother had come below to sup, it was to find everyone else already at table. Duncan had been seated between his father and his cousin, Allistair, but all of his attention had been focused on his father as the older man spoke to him. Only Allistair had seemed to notice their arrival. The Dunbar warrior had immediately urged the men to slide along the bench, following the action himself, to make room between himself and Duncan.