So they were Innes men. She had gone the right way after all. “I apologize for coming without an invitation, but ’twas quite important. You see, I have only been at Dunbar for a few days and the cook told me that we had no spices; then Giorsal said that the spice merchant had crossed our land this morn on his way to Innes. It seems he gave up coming by Dunbar because Laird Angus was never home to make a purchase when he called.”

Realizing that she was babbling, Iliana paused and forced a pained smile. “At any rate, I feared he might not be by again for months, and we are in dire need of his goods, so I thought to ride over and see if I could persuade him to stop by ere he moves on. After finishing his business with you, of course,” she added on a winsome smile.

“And Dunbar agreed to this?” The man looked quite doubtful at the idea.

Iliana phrased her answer carefully. “Well, now…You see, my new father-in-law was away from the keep at the time, visiting crofters or some such thing. And my husband claimed to be too busy for such a task…If you see what I mean?”

“Aye.” His lips quirked upward. “Ye mean ye dinna tell him ye were acomin’.”

Iliana colored slightly but only gave a wry grimace and a shrug as response.

His amusement apparent, the man murmured something in Gaelic, then led her horse forward. The other men followed at once. “We’ll take ye to the keep.”

“Thank you,” Iliana murmured as they moved into a clearing where six horses waited. Still holding on to her reins, the man mounted his horse and set out in the direction in which she had been heading.

Worrying her lip, Iliana held on to her mare’s mane and peered at the silent, solemn men about her. They had not actually said they were McInnes men. Actually, whether they were or not might not be a good thing anyway. She had never thought to ask if the Dunbars got along with their neighbors. What if the Dunbars were at war with the McInneses?

Now was a brilliant time to think of that, she scolded herself, then supposed she would know soon enough. If they were McInneses they would take her to the McInnes keep. Otherwise, they would take her to another keep. And, if they were feuding with the Dunbars, she would most likely be shackled up and ransomed off to her husband. If he paid for her. If they even did things like that here. Mayhap they just kept you.