Iliana watched Janna work at weeding the garden. The other woman seemed to alternate between viciously ripping the weeds from the ground and pulling them out almost absently as her gaze gained a faraway look. It seemed to her that the young woman—and most of the women of the keep—were suffering the same lack of concentration and worry that she herself was. It was the men’s fault, of course. It had been one day since Duncan and his men, including Janna’s husband, Sean, had marched off after Seonaid.

Sighing, Iliana moved along the path toward Janna, her thoughts turning to her mother. Lady Wildwood seemed to be the only person within Dunbar who was unaffected by moodiness. She, Ebba, and Gertie had spent the remainder of the day after the men had left performing some mysterious task in one of the newly built rooms. Whatever it was, they had finished shortly ere sup the eve before. Today, Lady Wildwood had split her time between trying to reassure Iliana that Duncan would be all right and telling Angus that his son would bring his daughter back well and unharmed.

Iliana was growing so sick of hearing her good-intentioned platitudes that she had abandoned Angus to the woman and spent as much time away from the two people as possible.

“Me lady!” Janna straightened to sit back on her haunches when her mistress blocked out the sunlight with her body, making her aware of her presence. “I did not hear you approach.”

“You seemed lost in thought.”

“Aye.” The other woman sighed, her gaze moving absently to the wall around the garden, as if she could see beyond it. “Think you they will be a’right?”

“Of course,” Iliana murmured, hoping her own worry was not obvious. “You do not have to do this today. Why not leave it for now?”

Janna shook her head sadly. “’Twould just give me more time to fret.”

Understanding, Iliana nodded. “Well, I just thought to have a peek at the garden to see how it fares before joining Lord Angus and my mother to survey the wall.”

“The wall?”

“Aye. Mother asked Lord Angus to show us the improvements Duncan has made. I believe ’tis another attempt of hers to distract us from worrying.”

Janna grinned slightly. “I am sure she means well.”

“Aye.” Iliana smiled wryly. “’Tis the only reason I agreed to accompany them. Stop when you wish, Janna. It seems to be faring well enough on its own.”

Nodding, the other woman went back to her work and Iliana turned away, moving slowly along the rows of growing plants, back toward the kitchen.

“’Tis a fine sturdy wall. You must be proud of your son.”

Angus’s expression softened at Lady Wildwood’s words. “Aye. Duncan is a good lad. A bit too stubborn for his own good at times and quick to anger, but he has a sharp mind and a good heart.”