Duncan was a bit surprised at the apparent depth of his father’s anger over the matter, but the fact that he was merely added to his own irritation. He was not at all pleased by the fact that he had walked away from a perfectly willing woman for the very reason that his wife claimed for denying him. “I don’t ken what yer so bothered about. Yer the one who was sayin’ I should let her get some rest.”

The last word had barely left his mouth when his father’s fist connected with his jaw. Not having seen the blow coming, and already unsteady on his feet from the whiskey he had been downing all night, Duncan went down like wheat under the blade of a sickle.

Sitting up slowly, he shook his head and raised a hand to rub at his jaw, his eyes moving warily to his father. “What’d ye do that fer?”

“’Cause ye deserved it, ye great Gouk!” Angus roared as his son got cautiously back to his feet. “While ye were off tendin’ those blasted baser needs of yers, an assassin was up in yer room, where ye should have been, stabbing yer poor defenseless wife!”

“What?”

“Ye heard me. Someone crept into yer chamber while ye were out and knifed her. She—” Angus got no further. Duncan was no longer listening. He had whirled to race toward the keep.

Chapter Fifteen

“We shall have to tend to the wound,” Lady Wildwood murmured once Lord Angus had gone. “Ebba, find my daughter a fresh tunic, please. Gertie—”

“I’ll fetch my medicinals.” Turning, the old woman hurried out of the room.

“You shall have to remove your tunic, dear,” Lady Wildwood murmured, worry creasing her face as she took in the way Iliana was suddenly shivering. Shock was setting in, she realized grimly, and was only surprised that her daughter had remained so calm and matter-of-fact for so long.

Automatically doing as she was told, Iliana tugged her gown upward, lifting it over her head. It was not until she caught the shock on her mother’s face that she recalled the belt of chastity. She nearly groaned aloud then.

“What are you wearing?”

Shoulders slumping in resignation, Iliana dropped the tunic and sat upon the bed. “You know what it is.”

“Aye.” Lady Wildwood nodded slowly. Her own had spared her from Greenweld’s advances, though it had cost her many beatings.

Seating herself on the bed next to her daughter, Lady Wildwood took one of Iliana’s hands into her own. “I have suspected that all was not well in your marriage but hoped that with time…I had no idea things were so bad. Does he beat you?”

“Nay! Of course not!” Iliana exclaimed with dismay. “Why, he beat old Willie for daring to raise a fist to his wife. Duncan would never harm me physically.”

“Then he is cruel to you mentally,” she murmured unhappily.