Wrapping herself in the wet sheet, Lady Wildwood hurried to the window and screamed at the men who worked below.

“They are coming,” she gasped a moment later, returning to Iliana’s side and adding her own efforts to battle the fire.

All of her concentration on the task she had set for herself, Iliana did not spare the energy needed to acknowledge her mother’s words.

The heat was scorching. The smoke, thick and black, was stealing her breath away, hampering her efforts at fighting the flames. And hacking coughs were wracking her body as the acrid air burnt her lungs. Iliana had never experienced fire before in such a manner; it seemed almost to be alive. She would beat at one spot, damping the flames there, only to find them turning their attack and seeming almost to try to run past her. It was a war she could not win and had little hope of holding off for any length of time at all did help not come soon. Iliana had already been forced backward to stand directly before her husband as she fought the flames. She was managing to slow the spread somewhat, but not by much. In a moment she would be tripping over her husband’s legs.

“Dun-can.” The name came out on Iliana’s cough, but her mother seemed to understand. Giving up her weak efforts to aid in combating the fire, Lady Wildwood began tugging his legs sideways, trying to shift them out of Iliana’s path. She had managed to move them a bare few inches when they both heard shouts and feet pounding up the hallway. In the next second, the door crashed open and cool air rushed into the chamber. As if in response, the fire Iliana faced jumped up and forward with a roar of fury.

Crying out, she stumbled backward, tripping over her husband’s legs and tumbling to the floor as her skirts went up in flames. She heard her mother’s scream join her own; then something heavy crashed down upon her, knocking the air out of her lungs and sending her head bouncing back against the floor.

Chapter Sixteen

“She’s awakening.”

Iliana opened her eyes at those words, wincing at the pain reverberating within her head as she squinted against the light in the room.

“Thank God!”

Angus and her mother suddenly appeared above her from opposite sides, worry apparent on their faces as they peered down at her.

“Are ye a’right, lass? Ye took a fair knock.”

Iliana blinked at those words from Angus, confusion her first reaction until she noticed the burning pain in her lungs and recalled the fire.

“Duncan?” The name came out on a croak, and Iliana winced as she became aware of the pain in her throat as well.

“He is fine.” Tears of relief filling her eyes, Lady Wildwood patted her shoulder. “And you shall be too, now.”