Not having seen her husband since the incident in the storage room, she had not been eager to face him. Stepping quickly forward, Iliana had dropped onto the bench next to Allistair, forcing her mother to take the space next to Duncan. She had spent the meal seemingly completely absorbed in her food but had really been listening to the conversation around her.

Once again, listening in on conversations between her husband and someone else had shown her another side to the man she tended to think of as a great stinking bear. Duncan’s every action and word toward her mother had been gentle and polite. In truth, his behavior was almost chivalrous. He had also talked with her mother more openly than he had ever seemed to do with her, telling of his plans for the keep and listing what was already accomplished. The upstairs rooms were not only finished being built, all but one were furnished as well. She had also learned that the men had immediately turned their efforts back to the wall, and that was nearly done as well. Then, too, she had learned why there suddenly seemed so many more men in the keep. It seemed that several of the men had been off on a mercenary expedition, but were now finished and returned home. With the crowds that now filled the keep, Iliana could well understand her husband’s desperation to enlarge Dunbar.

“You shall have your room back tonight.”

Iliana stiffened at her mother’s words, her own thoughts flying to the four winds. “What?” she asked, grabbing desperately at her arm when the woman turned away to gesture for her maid to approach.

Glancing back, Lady Wildwood frowned slightly at Iliana’s obvious dismay, but nodded. “Now that I know that your husband has gone to the trouble of building extra rooms, it seems only right that I use one.”

“But—” Iliana paused when her mother reached out to caress her cheek gently.

“Do not fret, child. He seems to be a good man. All will be well.” Her mother kissed her gently on the cheek, then turned toward her maid. “I am ready to retire, Gertie.”

“Aye, my lady.”

Iliana continued to sit where she was as her mother’s maid helped her to rise, until she took a step away from the bench, leaving a clear view of her husband. Duncan met her gaze, the expression in his eyes and the smile on his face telling her that he had overheard her mother’s words.

Rising abruptly, she stepped over the bench after her mother. “I shall help you,” she announced nervously, sliding her hand beneath her elbow to take some of her weight.