“I told ye, Janna, Duncan cares little if we women are happy, so long as the men have no complaint and will follow him off to battle.”

Janna opened her mouth to respond, then froze, catching sight of Iliana. Fear crossed the woman’s features, and Iliana opened her mouth to quickly reassure her that all would be well. But before she could, the scuff of a footfall drew her gaze around to see Duncan standing behind her. The shock on his face told Iliana that he had heard the whole conversation. She actually managed to feel sorry for him. Then his face closed up and he whirled away, rage oozing from every pore of his body as he headed back the way he had come.

“Oh, lord.”

Biting her lip, Iliana glanced back at a worried-looking Mavis and tried to offer a reassuring smile. “He is not mad at you, Mavis. There is nothing to fear.”

“Aye,” Janna agreed, sighing. “’Tis my guess it’s Willie who should be worrying.”

Iliana’s eyes widened at that; then she muttered under her breath and hurried after her husband, aware that the women were dropping their hoes to follow.

Chapter Eleven

Duncan had already exited the kitchen by the time she reached it. Rushing past a startled Elgin, Iliana hurried to the door that still swung slightly from her husband’s exit and pushed through into the great hall. She was just in time to catch a glimpse of his stiff form as, ignoring his father’s startled questions, he slammed out of the keep.

“What the devil?” Angus stared after his son with astonishment, then glanced toward Seonaid, who only shrugged in bewilderment. Duncan had looked furious. The swish of the kitchen door opening caught his ear and brought him around in time to step out of the way as Iliana charged by in pursuit of her husband.

“Lass! What—” he began, but she was already charging out of the keep.

“What the devil,” Angus repeated and took a step after her, only to pause when several women crashed through the kitchen door and raced across the room with Elgin hard on their heels. Catching the roly-poly little man, Angus drew him to an abrupt halt, demanding, “What goes on here?”

Elgin shook his head in bewilderment. “I don’t ken, me laird. First they rushed one way, now they rush another. But judging from everyone’s expressions, ’tis not something to be missed.” With that, he hurried on.

Muttering under his breath, Angus took up the tail end of this odd parade, gesturing for Seonaid to follow.

Grabbing up her skirts, Iliana sped after her husband as he charged toward the men working on the wall. Her steps slowed, and dismay made an O of her mouth a moment later when Duncan reached them, grabbed a tall burly fellow by the scruff of his neck, and tossed him to the ground.