Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Can I have more honey on me porridge?”
Codie’s voice was cheerful as he pushed his bowl toward Iris, apparently fully recovered from yesterday’s riding incident. The morning sun streamed through the great hall windows, casting everything in warm golden light.
“Ye’ve already had two spoonfuls,” Iris said, but she was smiling as she drizzled more honey over his oats. “Any more, and ye’ll be bouncin’ off the walls.”
“That’s the plan.” Codie grinned at her then at Elijah who sat across from them. “Faither, can we go to the village today? I want to tell everyone about the horse and the rescue and Lady Iris’s knife throwin’.”
“I’m sure the entire village has already heard about it from the servants.” Elijah’s tone was dry, but Iris saw the corner of his mouth twitch. “News travels fast in a castle.”
“But they havenae heard it from me. And I tell it better than anyone.” Codie took a large bite of his honey-soaked porridge. “I could make ye sound even more heroic, Faither. Like ye jumped from yer horse onto the runnin’ one while fightin’ off bandits at the same time.”
“Let’s stick to the truth, lad. It’s impressive enough without exaggeration.”
“But exaggeration makes stories better,” he continued, “and I feel fine! Better than fine, actually. The medicine worked perfectly.” Codie bounced slightly in his seat to demonstrate. “See? Full of energy.”
“Full of honey, more like,” Elijah observed dryly though there was amusement in his voice now. “Perhaps ye should slow down before ye make yerself sick again.”
“I willnae get sick. I’m strong now, like Faither.” Codie flexed his small arms. “Lady Iris said I’m one of the bravest boys she’s ever met.”
“Did I? I believe I said ye were brave for takin’ yer medicine without fussin’.” Iris tried to keep her expression stern, but she couldn’t quite suppress her smile. “That’s a different kind of bravery.”
“But it’s still bravery. So, I’m brave in multiple ways.” Codie’s logic was irrefutable in his own mind. “Which means I should definitely be allowed to go to the village today.”
The great hall doors burst open, cutting off Codie’s argument. Mairie rushed in, her face flushed and her eyes bright with something that looked like excitement mixed with concern.
“Me lady!” She hurried to Iris’s side, slightly breathless. “Ye have a visitor. At the gate. And I think... well, I think ye’ll be very happy to see them.”
Iris set down her spoon, confusion washing over her. “A visitor? Who would be visitin’ me here?”
“I daenae want to say’, but please, come quickly.” Mairie was already pulling at her arm. “They’re waitin’ at the main entrance.”
“Should I come with ye?” Elijah’s voice held concern now, his body already tensing as if preparing to deal with a threat. His hand had moved instinctively closer to where his sword would normally rest.
“Nay, I... I’m sure it’s fine.” Iris stood, wiping her mouth with her napkin and trying to calm the sudden racing of her heart. “I’ll be right back. Codie, keep eatin’ yer breakfast properly.”
“But I want to see the visitor too!” Codie protested, already half out of his seat.
“Stay with yer faither,” Iris said firmly but kindly. “I’ll tell ye all about it when I return.”
She followed Mairie through the corridors, her mind racing with possibilities. Her parents? No, they’d never come here, not after the scandal. Malcolm? She hoped not. Then who.
The castle seemed longer than usual as they walked, each corridor stretching endlessly before them. Mairie kept glancing back at her, clearly bursting with the secret she was keeping, her lips pressed together as if physically holding the words inside.
“Mairie, please,” Iris said as they turned another corner. “At least give me a hint. Ye’re makin’ me nervous.”
“I daenae want to ruin the surprise. But I promise, it’s a good surprise. At least, I think it is.” Mairie’s expression wavered between excitement and uncertainty. “Ye’ll see in just a moment.”
They turned the corner into the entrance hall, and Iris stopped dead. Standing by the heavy wooden doors, travel-worn and pale but unmistakably alive, was Lydia.
“Oh me God.” The words came out as barely a whisper. “Lydia?”
Her sister’s head snapped up at the sound of her name, and relief flooded her features. “Iris!”
Lydia ran across the hall, and Iris met her halfway, catching her twin in a fierce embrace. They clung to each other, both trembling, and Iris felt tears streaming down her face before she even realized she was crying.
“Ye’re alive,” Iris managed, her voice breaking. “Ye’re alive and ye’re here.”
“I’m so sorry.” Lydia pulled back, her own face wet with tears. “I’m so, so sorry, Iris. For everythin’. For runnin’ away and for leavin’ ye to deal with the mess I created.”
“Stop.” Iris cupped her sister’s face, studying her features. Same blonde hair, same brown eyes, but something was different about Lydia now. Something harder around the edges. “I’m just happy ye’re fine. That’s all that matters. Where have ye been? Are ye hurt? Have ye been eatin’ properly?”
“I’m fine. I’ve been stayin’ at a convent near Inverness.
The sisters took me in when I showed up on their doorstep.
” Lydia’s hands gripped Iris’ arms. “But I couldnae stop thinkin’ about what me actions might have caused for ye.
If Da and Ma had made ye suffer for me choices.
I had to come see ye, had to make sure ye were all right and see if ye hated me for what I’d done. ”
“I could never hate ye.” Iris felt fresh tears threatening. “I was worried sick, but I never hated ye. Ye did what ye had to do.”
“But at what cost to ye?” Lydia’s voice broke. “When I heard that they’d made ye take me place, I couldnae believe it. I thought I’d be sick.”
Iris pulled back slightly, her hands still gripping her sister’s arms. “Wait. How did ye hear? How did ye even ken what happened? Ye promised to write when ye were safe, but I never received a letter.”
Fresh tears spilled down Lydia’s cheeks.
“I ken. I’m so sorry about that too. I wanted to write, I truly did.
But the Maither Superior at the convent convinced me it was too dangerous.
” She wiped at her face with shaking hands.
“She said if I sent a letter, it could be traced back to where I was stayin’.
That Faither or Laird McMurphy might come for me and force me back.
She said the kindest thing I could do was disappear completely and let everyone move on. ”
“So ye just... stayed silent? All this time?” Iris felt a flash of anger beneath her relief. “Do ye ken how worried I was? I had nay idea if ye were alive or dead, safe or sufferin’!”
“I ken, I ken, and I’m so sorry.” Lydia’s voice cracked.
“Every day I wanted to send word, but Maither Superior kept sayin’ it was for the best. That silence was safer for both of us.
And I... I was a coward, Iris. I was so afraid that if I reached out, someone would find me and drag me back to that marriage.
Besides, it was a good thing, was it nae?
Me letter would have been received by Da and Maither. ”
Iris wanted to stay angry, but seeing the genuine remorse and fear in her sister’s eyes, she felt her fury soften. “Aye. Then what changed? How did ye find out I’d married Elijah? And how did ye even ken where to find me?”
“A merchant came through the convent last week.” Lydia’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“He was deliverin’ supplies and chattin’ with the sisters.
He mentioned the scandal of the Douglas family—how the bride had run away on her weddin’ day, and how her sister had married the Beast of McMurphy in her place.
” She looked down at her hands. “The moment I heard what he said, I felt like I’d been struck.
I realized what me cowardice had cost ye. ”
“How did ye get here?” Iris pressed. “McMurphy lands are days away from Inverness.”
“I begged the merchant to tell me how to find Castle McMurphy. He drew me a map, gave me directions.” Lydia’s hands twisted in her lap.
“Then I convinced one of the lay sisters to help me leave. She gave me travelin’ clothes and enough coin for food.
I caught a ride on a farmer’s cart when I found one kind enough to carry me.
Walked when I had to. It took me five days. ”
“Ye traveled alone for five days?” Iris felt her anger melting into concern. “Lydia, ye could have been hurt or worse!”
“I had to come. I had to see ye, had to ken if ye were all right.” Lydia gripped Iris’s hands tightly.
“The merchant said terrible things about Laird McMurphy. That he was cruel, that his first wife had thrown herself from a tower rather than stay married to him. Just what me maid told us that night. I was terrified of what I’d condemned ye to. ”
Iris felt her throat tighten. “And that’s why ye came? To see if I were all right?”
“Aye. And to apologize properly.” Lydia’s voice grew more desperate.
“And to... well, to see what kind of situation I’d left ye in.
I never thought they’d force ye to take me place.
When the merchant said Da had offered ye as a substitute, I thought me heart would stop.
I thought Da would negotiate somethin’ else, maybe offer a larger dowry or postpone the weddin’ until I could be found. ”
“Well, he dinnae. He tried to convince Elijah to wait, tried to tell him I wasnae suitable.” Iris’ voice grew sharper with the memory. “He and Maither listed all me failin’s right there in the great hall, tryin’ to persuade the Laird to reject me and wait for ye instead.”
Lydia’s face went white. “They what?”
“They told him I was too tall, too opinionated, too everythin’ wrong.
Said I’d make a terrible wife and that he should wait for them to find ye—the beautiful, biddable sister who would be worth the wait.
” The old hurt flickered through Iris, even though Elijah’s defense of her had healed much of that wound.
“But Elijah refused. Made it very clear that one daughter would do as well as another, and since I was there, he’d take me. ”
“Oh, Iris.” Lydia’s voice broke. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“I ken ye dinnae.” Iris squeezed her sister’s hands. “But it did happen, and now, here we are.”
“But ye shouldnae have had to marry him! That was me betrothal, me responsibility.” Lydia leaned forward, her expression intense.
“Iris, I can help ye. I can help ye run away, or I can go to Laird McMurphy and offer to take yer place. Tell him there was a mistake, that I’m the one he was supposed to marry. We could make this right!”
Iris stared at her sister, seeing the desperate hope in Lydia’s eyes. The offer was genuine. Lydia truly believed she could somehow undo everything that had happened, could step in and free Iris from what she perceived as a terrible fate.
But before Iris could respond, a deep voice cut through the moment like a blade.
“I have me bride, and I daenae want anyone else.”
Both women jumped at the sound of Elijah’s voice.
Iris turned to find her husband standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable as he looked between her and Lydia.
His broad shoulders filled the frame, and there was something dangerous in his stillness, like a wolf watching prey that had wandered too close.
“How long have ye been standin’ there?” Iris asked, her heart suddenly racing.
“Long enough to hear yer sister offerin’ to help ye run away from me or take yer place.
” He moved into the room, his presence seeming to fill it.
Every step was deliberate, controlled, and Iris saw Lydia shrink back in her chair.
“And I thought I should make me position clear before she says any more to convince ye.”
Lydia had gone pale, shrinking back in her chair as Elijah approached. Iris felt a flash of irritation—this was exactly the kind of fear Elijah inspired in people, the kind that made them see him as a beast instead of a man.