Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“And then he started throwin’ mud balls at me like we were soldiers in battle!”
Iris gestured wildly with her hands, still animated from recounting the afternoon’s events to Aliana. They sat in her chambers as evening light filtered through the windows, and despite everything that had happened with Elijah, she couldn’t help but smile when she remembered Codie’s pure joy.
“Ye should have seen his face, Aliana. He was so happy, so alive. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
Aliana burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand. “I wish I could have seen it! Ye, covered head to toe in mud, havin’ a proper battle with a ten-year-old boy!”
“It was wonderful,” Iris admitted, her smile growing wider. “When was the last time I did somethin’ just for fun? Just because it felt good? Nae in me parents’ castle, I can assure ye.”
“And when was the last time poor Codie did the same?” Aliana’s expression grew thoughtful. “That boy’s never had someone to truly play with. The servants are too worried about their positions to play with their laird’s son, and his faither...”
“His faither treats him like a small adult who should already ken better,” Iris finished bitterly.
“Aye, exactly. The poor lad’s been tryin’ to be perfect his whole life, desperate for his faither’s approval.” Aliana shook her head sadly. “Today might have been the first time he’s ever just been a child.”
Iris felt her chest tighten with protectiveness. “Which is exactly why I daenae regret it. Nae the mess, nae the mud, nae any of it. That boy deserved to laugh like that.”
“But ye’re upset about somethin’ else,” Aliana observed, studying her face. “What is it?”
“It’s Elijah.” Iris’s smile faded completely. “The way he interfered. I’m supposed to be Codie’s new mother, but he swept in like I was some incompetent servant who couldnae manage a simple task.”
“Do ye really think that’s what he meant?”
“What else could he have meant? He took one look at the situation and decided I couldnae handle it. That I needed him to step in and fix everythin’.” Iris stood up, pacing to the window. “How am I supposed to build a relationship with Codie if his faither undermines me at every turn?”
Aliana was quiet for a moment, considering. “Me lady, can I say somethin’ without ye gettin’ angry?”
“Of course.”
“I daenae think that’s what happened at all.”
Iris turned back to face her. “What do ye mean?”
“I mean, I’ve been watchin’ the Laird since ye arrived. The way he looks at ye, the way he... well, the way he pays attention to things that involve ye.” Aliana’s eyes grew thoughtful. “I think he saw what was happenin’, what he thought was trouble, and his first instinct was to help.”
“Help? That’s what ye call humiliatin’ his son and makin’ me look incompetent?”
“I think he saw a situation he dinnae understand and reacted the only way he kens how, with authority and control.” Aliana stood up as well, moving closer. “But I daenae think he meant to undermine ye. I think he was tryin’ to... protect ye, maybe?”
“Protect me from what? A ten-year-old throwin’ mud?”
“Protect ye from lookin’ bad in front of the servants. From bein’ seen as someone who couldnae handle her responsibilities.” Aliana’s voice grew gentle. “Men like the Laird, they fix things. It’s what they do. When they see a problem, they solve it, even when nay one asked them to.”
Iris considered this, her anger beginning to cool as she thought about it from Elijah’s perspective. “Ye really think he was tryin’ to help?”
“I think he’s spent so many years bein’ the one everyone turns to for solutions that he doesnae ken how to step back and let someone else handle things. Even when that someone is his own wife.”
“But he was so... cold about it. So dismissive.”
“Aye, because the man has all the emotional expression of a stone wall,” Aliana said with exasperation. “But that doesnae mean he doesnae feel things. It just means he doesnae ken how to show them properly.”
Iris sank into the chair by the window, mulling this over. “So ye think he wasnae tryin’ to insult me?”
“I think he saw what looked like chaos and did what he always does, took control. But I also think he probably realized afterward that he handled it badly, which is why he’s been broodin’ around the castle like a thundercloud all afternoon.”
“Has he really?”
“Oh aye. Henry mentioned that the Laird spent most of their practice time hour starin’ at into the air, lookin’ like he’d lost his best horse.” Aliana grinned. “Whatever ye said to him in yer chambers afterward, it got under his skin.”
Despite herself, Iris felt a flutter of satisfaction. “Good. Maybe he’ll think twice before interferin’ again.”
Aliana’s expression grew serious. “Me lady, if ye want to make this work, truly work, nae just survive, ye’ll have to find a way to communicate with him. Otherwise, ye’ll spend the rest of yer marriage fightin’ battles ye daenae need to fight.”
Iris stared out the window, watching the last of the evening light fade from the sky. Was Aliana right? Had she misinterpreted Elijah’s actions?
Maybe he wasnae tryin’ to humiliate me. Maybe he really was just tryin’ to help in his own ham-fisted way.
“Ye might be right,” she admitted finally. “But that doesnae make it less frustratin’.”
“Of course, nae. But understandin’ his reasons doesnae mean ye have to accept his methods. Ye can still tell him how ye want things handled in the future.”
“If he’ll listen.”
“Oh, he’ll listen,” Aliana said with confidence. “That man might be stubborn as an ox, but he’s nae stupid. And from what I’ve seen, yer opinion matters to him more than he wants to admit.”
Before Iris could ask what she meant by that, a soft knock came at the door.
“Come in,” she called.
A young servant girl peeked her head inside. “Beggin’ yer pardon, le lady, but Cook wanted me to tell ye that supper will be ready shortly. She’s prepared yer favorite, roast lamb with rosemary, just like ye requested.”
“Thank ye, Abigail I’ll be down soon.”
After the girl left, Aliana gathered up the sewing she’d been working on. “Will ye think about what I said? About talkin’ to the Laird?”
“Aye,” Iris nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
But as she prepared for supper, she found herself dreading the meal. Would Elijah be there? Would they sit in awkward silence, or would he bring up the afternoon’s events? And what would she say if he did?
One day at a time. Just get through supper without startin’ another fight.
The next morning, Iris made her way to the great hall with careful deliberation. She and Elijah had not discussed things further when they retired to their chamber. He had quietly changed into a lighter shirt for sleep and bid her goodnight without so much as gracing her with a glance.
Iris had spent half the night thinking about her conversation with Aliana, and by the time sleep claimed her, she’d decided to approach the new day with an open mind. Maybe they could find a way to have discussions without it devolving into another argument.
She woke up to find Elijah was gone, and she dressed quickly to join him for breakfast. But the moment she entered the great hall, her resolve wavered.
Elijah was seated at the high table, his posture rigid and formal.
Beside him sat Codie, and gone was the happy, animated child from yesterday’s garden adventure.
In his place sat the subdued little figure she’d met when she first arrived, his shoulders hunched, his attention focused entirely on his porridge.
Iris felt her heart shatter into pieces.
“Good mornin’,” she muttered, settling into her chair with careful grace.
“Mornin’, Lady Iris,” Codie mumbled without looking up from his bowl.
“Good mornin’, Codie. Did ye sleep well?”
“Aye, me lady.”
But she could see the tension in his small frame, the way he kept glancing nervously at his father between spoonfuls. It was like watching two strangers sharing a meal, instead of a father and his son.
He’s so uncomfortable around his own faither.
“Elijah,” she said, finally drawing her eyes away from Codie, and turning to her husband, “good mornin’.”
He looked up from his own meal, his dark eyes unreadable. “Iris.”
The single word was neutral, giving away nothing of his mood this morning or thoughts about yesterday’s confrontation, but she could sense the tension in him and the subtle warning to her not to start anything.
She reached for her own bowl of porridge, determined to make the best of an awkward situation.
At least they were all together, like a family should be.
Maybe if she could keep the conversation light and pleasant, or just focus on Codie and see how she if she could make the laddie feel more at home with her.
As for the Beast of McMurphy, she did not see any sign that he had heard anything she had said to him yesterday.
“I expect ye to come with me to the village today.”
The words came out of nowhere, delivered in Elijah’s usual no nonsense tone just as she took her first bite. The porridge went down wrong, and she began coughing violently.
“Me lady!” Codie looked up in alarm as she struggled to breathe.
“I’m... fine...” she gasped between coughs, taking the cup of water Elijah handed her and drinking a large gulp. “Just... went down the wrong way.”
She took another gulp just to buy herself a moment. When she finally caught her breath, she found Elijah watching her with something that might have been amusement though his expression remained carefully neutral.
“The village?” she asked, her voice still slightly rough.
“Aye. There are matters that require me attention. Disputes that need settlin’, complaints to be heard.
” His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather.
“It’s part of yer duties to accompany as me wife and get acquainted with the people and some of these issues.
Learn the clan ways and how I handle the villager’s concerns. ”
“But I... that is, I wasnae aware...” She fumbled for words, suddenly feeling completely unprepared. “What kind of disputes?”
“Some of them may require a woman’s perspective. Matters of household management, conflicts between the wives of crofters, questions about the distribution of supplies.” He cut a piece of bread with precise movements. “Things that fall under the lady’s purview.”
Iris felt her stomach clench with nerves. She’d been learning about managing the castle household but dealing with village disputes? Making decisions that would affect people’s lives? She wasn’t sure she was ready for that kind of responsibility.
“Perhaps... perhaps we could wait a few more days? Give me time to prepare.”
“Nay.” His gaze sharpened, focusing on her with uncomfortable intensity. “This clan has been waitin’ for their lady for long enough. There’s nay time to give ye. Everyone expects ye to start fulfillin’ yer obligations as lady of this clan.”
There was something in his tone, as if he were daring her to refuse, to prove that she really couldn’t handle the responsibilities he’d given her.
This is about yesterday; he’s testin’ me.
“Be ready in thirty minutes. Dress appropriately; ye’ll be representin’ clan McMurphy.” He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the stone floor. “Daenae be late.”
And with that, he was gone, striding from the hall with his usual commanding presence.
Iris stared after him, her mind racing. Thirty minutes to prepare for something she’d never done before with a man who seemed determined to find fault with everything she did.
Perfect.
“Lady Iris?” Codie’s small voice drew her attention back to the table. “Are ye all right?”
She looked at him, this sweet, frightened little boy who was watching her with such concern despite his own obvious distress, and she felt her resolve strengthen.
“Aye, Codie. I’m fine.” She reached over and gently touched his hand. “And ye? How are ye feelin’ this mornin’?”
He glanced quickly toward the door where his father had exited then back at her. “I’m sorry about yesterday,” he whispered. “About the mud. I dinnae mean to get ye in trouble.”
Her heart broke a little more. “Ye dinnae get me in trouble, sweetheart. We were havin’ fun, and there’s nothin’ wrong with that.”
“But Faither seemed upset.”
“Yer faither was... concerned about the mess we made. But that doesnae mean what we did was wrong.” She squeezed his hand gently. “Sometimes adults worry about different things than children do. It doesnae mean the children are bad.”
“Really?”
“Really.” She smiled at him, hoping to see some of yesterday’s joy return to his face. “Would ye like to play again sometime? Maybe somethin’ that involves less mud?”
For a moment, hope flickered in his eyes then he glanced toward the door again, and the light dimmed.
“Maybe,” he said quietly. “If Faither says it’s all right.”
The resignation in his voice made her want to gather him up and hold him tight, to promise him that he deserved to be happy regardless of what anyone else thought.
But she also knew that pushing too hard, too fast, would only make things worse for him. Better to build trust slowly, to show him through her actions that she was someone he could count on.
“Well,” she said, standing up, “I should go get ready for this village visit. But remember Codie, I’m yer maither now. Ye can come to me whenever ye want to.”
Her words drew a smile from him, and she ruffled his hair before hurrying to prepare for whatever challenge Elijah was about to put before her. But one thought kept echoing in her mind:
That boy needs someone to fight for him. Someone to make sure he gets to be a child, even if it’s only in stolen moments.
And if Elijah couldn’t see that, if he was determined to turn his son into a miniature version of himself...
Well, then she’d just have to find a way to change his mind.
Even if it meant going toe-to-toe with the Beast of McMurphy himself.