Oddly enough, rather than being pleased that her own opinion had been supported, however unintentionally, Iliana wished it were not so. She did not truly believe Duncan did not concern himself with the welfare of the women. Instead, she suspected that, having been raised with very little female company after the age of five, he had simply never realized the lack of comfort and warmth of his home. He simply was not aware of what he had been missing.

Worried as she had been, Iliana had found it hard to sleep last night and had been disappointed and anxious when she went down to breakfast and there was still no sign of him. When Duncan had finally shown up for the nooning meal, she had been terribly relieved to see him hale and healthy, but even more worried by his silent and sullen air. It had been obvious that he had not yet gotten over yesterday’s incident. Iliana had not known what to say to ease his anger. Perhaps there was nothing she could say.

“Ye should sit in the shade an’ rest.”

Rolling her eyes, Iliana turned on the other woman. “I am not working hard,” she argued for the tenth time since announcing that she would help to plant the garden that day. “I am planting seeds. ’Tis not hard work.”

Seonaid glowered at her briefly, then turned back to the seeds she herself was burying in the newly turned soil, muttering under her breath as she did.

Iliana caught Janna’s anxious expression.

“Me lady, the job is sore hard on the back. Mayhap ye should rest a bit and—” She paused as Iliana shook her head in disgust.

“You all behave as though I were made of feathers and might blow away in the first wind. I am young, healthy, and strong. I will be fine.”

“But ye fainted,” the servant pointed out.

“Aye, ye did,” Seonaid agreed. “Ye aren’t as well as ye like to think.”

“I am not ill,” Iliana said firmly.

“Mayhap she’s with child,” Mavis suggested, bringing a scowl to Iliana’s face. The older woman had returned to the gardens that morning, announcing that Willie was too ornery to deserve her care. The man had risen at dawn this morning with a splitting headache and complained about it incessantly. Other than that, Mavis had said little about the incident that had seen her husband carried to his bed and sent Duncan riding off into the woods on his own.