The Key by Lynsay Sands

dined with the Mclnneses, enjoying far better fare than had yet been served at
     Dunbar, then sat on for a while, the women chatting about various things as the men
     continued discussing Duncan's plans for his home. Iliana had learned a thing or two about
     her husband while listening to the conversation flow back and forth. First, beneath all of
     that dirt and gruff behavior, was a very intelligent man. It had become obvious as he
     spoke that a lot of the plans he had outlined had been well thought out. It had also
     become obvious that he was not simply cheap. At least not when it came to updating and
     reinforcing Dunbarkeep. His miserly manner when it came to dressing and feeding his people
     was merely a matter of necessity to save the coins he needed to ensure their future.
     Something she found herself admiring deeply. He was very disciplined. Far more so than she
     herself.
    Iliana had also concluded that evening that her husband was very ambitious. She actually
     found herself in awe of the grand plans he had forDunbar. Plans he had already set in
     motion, she had realized at one point asDuncanhad explained the renovations already
     underway. He'd been accomplishing it bit by bit over the years, and now the large dowry
     had made it possible for him to do much at once. It seemed that while she had been busy
     scrubbing the great hall,Duncanand his men had been working diligently on the moat and
     wall. Deepening, expanding, reinforcing...
    'Twas a large undertaking, involving heavy work and long hours. This had been something of
     a relief to her. It explained the air of weary satisfaction that had hung over him these
     last three days, and why he had not pestered her unduly over his husbandly rights. Iliana
     had fully expected there to be a nightly battle over the matter, so she had been
     surprised, mayhap even a bit insulted, that he had seemed so indifferent to her. He had
     not even bothered to come to their room since their wedding night. That had truly annoyed
     her at first, for she'd feared that he had turned his attention to one of the village
     women.
    Iliana was not sure why she was bothered by the idea ofDuncan's taking a mistress. 'Twas
     common for husbands to do; besides, she did not want the great, smelly oaf in her own bed.
     Still, she had not been pleased at the possibility. In fact, the thought of it had plagued
     her, making her most irritable the first morning after he had not joined her in their
     chamber. But Ebba had informed her that her husband had spent the night sleeping in his
     sister's empty room. Alone. He had done so every night since then, much to her relief.
    “Are ye even listening to me?”
    Iliana pulled herself from her thoughts and met her husband's annoyed glare. He had held
     his temper through dinner and during the first part of their ride home, waiting until
     they'd reached this spot. Then he had suddenly grabbed the reins of her mount and drawn
     their horses to a halt to make his announcement.
    “Aye, husband,” Iliana murmured now. 'This is whereDunbarland begins."
    He nodded grimly. “Ye would do well to remember that in future, wife. For if ye ever
     leaveDunbarland again without me permission, I shall beat ye.”
    Her back stiffening, Iliana eyed him warily.
    “And once I've finished beatin' ye, I'll most like lock ye up fer a goodly time as well.”
     The grim expression that accompanied his words seemed to indicate the conviction behind
     them, and Iliana shifted uncomfortably as he continued. “I do not make such a threat idly.
     Yer actions were beyond foolish today. They could have got ye killed. I don't ken who yer
     enemies were at Wildwood, but as a member o' the Dunbarclan, ye now have a whole new set
     o' 'em to add to it. Anyone o' them could have taken ye today and done with ye as they
     willed; whether that be rapin', or killin', or both, and I would've been able to do naught
     about it except to avenge