“Aye. ’Tis not so much o’ a chore to please me wife. Once I put aside me own stubbornness I find I can even admit to likin’ it.”

Iliana pulled back to eye him doubtfully. “You are claiming to like bathing?”

“Well…” He grinned slightly. “When the conditions are right.”

“Conditions?” Her eyebrows arched slightly.

“Aye. Fer instance…” Putting her a little away from him, he began to work at the stays of her gown. “When yer naked and in it with me, I find I rather like it.”

Iliana chuckled softly at that, her hands trailing down over his body. “It must be because I can help to scrub your back, my lord,” she murmured teasingly, and he considered it briefly, then nodded.

“Aye. Though in truth I prefer it when ye scrub me front with yer own sweet soapy body.”

“Oh, my,” Iliana breathed huskily as a memory of their soapy bodies sliding slickly together came back to her from the first time they had consummated their marriage.

Duncan had just managed to undo the last of her stays when the faint sound of knocking came to them from the bedroom.

“Ignore it,” he ordered firmly, pushing her gown off her shoulders so that it slithered to the floor.

“What if ’tis important?” Iliana asked as the knock sounded again. “After all, they know we are in the bath; surely they would not interrupt unless it was important?”

Releasing the undertunic he had been about to divest her of, Duncan sighed and stepped out of the tub. Trailing water, he crossed to the doorway between the two inner chambers and bellowed, “What is it?”

“Lady Seonaid has returned.” Ebba’s voice came muffled through the outer door as Iliana stepped up behind her husband. “She rode into the bailey just moments ago followed by Lord Rolfe, the bishop, and Lord Sherwell.”

“Good,” Duncan said firmly, turning to smile at Iliana and wrap her in his arms. “Now go away!”

“I…but…she has locked herself in her room and will not come out.”

Duncan rolled his eyes at this news. “Tell me father. ’Tis his problem.”

“I tried, but he…er…was preoccupied.”

“Preoccupied how?” Duncan asked suspiciously.

There was a pause, then Ebba half-whispered her answer, obviously not eager to say it loud enough for all the keep to hear. “He is…er…assisting Lady Wildwood.”

“My mother?” Iliana frowned. “But my mother is taking a—”

“Bath?” Duncan asked with a smile when she hesitated.

Iliana’s eyebrows rose. “How did you know?”

“Father was telling me that he used to enjoy ‘assisting’ my mother in her bath,” he answered with a devilish grin. “Just as I enjoy assisting you.”

“My lord?” Ebba’s uncertain voice queried. “Did you hear me?”

“Aye! And I am likewise engaged. The English will have to cool their heels!” he bellowed back, then swept Iliana up in his arms.