“Ye should keep a closer eye on ’er, Duncan,” Ian chastised mildly, sweeping his long black hair back from his face as he paused and peered up at where his friend sat his horse. “She’s fair bonnie. Anything could have happened to her out here.”

“I dinna ken she’d left ’til Rabbie found me.”

“I thought it might be something like that,” his friend murmured, holding out his hand.

Leaning forward, Duncan grabbed the offered hand, then sat back, pulling at the same time as the other man leapt. Between the two, they managed to bring him up onto the saddle behind him. “Where be yer mount?”

“Ahead.”

Nodding, he urged his horse forward. Within moments they came across Ian’s gray beast. Reining in beside the animal, he waited until his friend had slung himself off his mount and onto his own before asking, “She was a’right?”

“Right as rain. She’s at the keep now, chattin’ with Ma and Da,” he announced, gathering his reins before straightening to eye him. “Ye dinna mention ye were aplannin’ to get wed.”

Duncan shrugged. “’Twas no a plan ’til just afore it happened.”

“Hmm.” Ian urged his horse forward, waiting until Duncan brought his mount into step with his own before saying, “She mentioned as much. How’d it come about?”

Duncan shrugged. “The English king sent a fellow up to ask me would I do it and I said I would if he would see to rectifying the situation fer Seonaid.”

“That’s all he needed to persuade ye?” Ian looked a bit surprised.

“That an’ a dowry only a wee bit smaller than a king’s ransom.”

Ian grinned. “I kenned there’d be more to it. How much?”

“Not nearly enough,” Duncan muttered grimly.

“Nay! Ye’ve only been wed a few days! Doona tell me ye be complainin’ already?”

“Aye.”

“Why? Wha’ has she done?”

Duncan glared ahead briefly, then grumbled, “She be acleanin’ the keep.”

Ian burst out laughing.

“And she expects me to bathe, too.”

His friend’s amusement only deepened at that and Duncan glared at him irritably.

“’Tis sorry I am, friend. But ye must admit ye smell a fair bit rank right now. Should ye try huntin’, the beasties’d smell ye comin’ and flee fer their lives.”

“’Tis June,” Duncan muttered. “I always smell this way in June.”

“Aye, and well I ken it, but it may have been a surprise to yer bride.” He was silent for a moment, then glanced at him curiously. “I also heard yer wife atellin’ me ma that the marriage was to save her from her stepda?”

“Aye. ’Tis why they searched fer a groom so far north and paid so generously. The king wished her far and away from her home in England.”

“Hmm.” Taking in Duncan’s irritation, he murmured, “She seems a fair brave wench.”