Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Watch how ye speak to yer maither, girl!”
Edward Douglas’ voice boomed across the courtyard, and Elijah froze mid-step. He’d just ridden through the gates, exhausted and travel-worn from hard riding, following Iris’ trail. The last thing he’d expected was to hear raised voices before he’d even dismounted.
But that was definitely Iris. He’d recognize her voice anywhere, even raised in anger.
He swung off Thunder, moving quickly but quietly toward the source of the commotion.
“I daenae have to watch how I speak to ye,” Iris’ voice rang out, clear and defiant. “Ye daenae deserve me respect. Neither of ye do.”
“How dare ye speak to us that way!” Catherine’s voice joined her husband’s. “After everythin’ we’ve done for ye, after givin’ ye a home.”
“How dare ye,” he heard her father’s voice exclaim.
“I dare because I’m finally seein’ ye for what ye truly are.
Terrible parents who destroyed their daughter’s confidence because she wasnae the perfect little doll ye wanted her to be.
” Iris’ voice cracked with emotion. “After comparin’ me to Lydia every single day of me life?
After makin' me believe I should be grateful for any scrap of affection? Ye, I dare!"
Elijah rounded the corner to see a scene that made his blood run cold.
Edward Douglas stood before Iris, his face purple with rage, his hand raised.
Catherine hovered nearby, her expression a mixture of shock and fury.
And his brave, fierce wife stood her ground, chin lifted defiantly even as her father drew his arm back to strike.
Time seemed to slow.
Every muscle in his body tensed, rage flooding through him so powerfully it nearly blinded him. His vision narrowed to that raised hand, to the threat against his wife, and something primal took over.
Touch her. I dare ye to touch her.
“Ye ungrateful lass!” Edward was shouting. “We gave ye everythin’! And this is how ye repay us? By runnin’ back here and fillin’ yer sister’s head with yer poisonous words?”
“I told Lydia the truth!” Iris’ voice shook but remained strong. “That she deserves better than to marry someone she doesnae want. That she has choices, even if ye tried to make her believe otherwise!”
“Ye’ve always been trouble,” Catherine hissed, stepping closer. “Always too stubborn, too opinionated. We should have been stricter with ye when ye were younger. Should have beaten that defiance out of ye.”
“Aye, maybe ye should have,” Iris shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Then maybe I would have turned into the perfect little puppet ye wanted. But I’m glad ye dinnae because I’d rather be meself than whatever twisted version of a daughter would make ye happy.”
“That’s enough!” Edward’s hand drew back further. “Ye need to be taught a lesson about respect.”
Elijah moved without thinking, his body acting on pure instinct. He covered the distance in three long strides, his hand shooting out to catch Edward’s wrist mid-swing.
“Touch her,” he said, his voice deadly quiet, “and ye’ll lose that hand.”
The sudden appearance of the Laird of Clan McMurphy, travel-stained and radiating barely controlled violence, had an immediate effect. Edward stumbled backward, his face going from purple to gray in an instant.
“Laird McMurphy! I... We dinnae expect ye.” Edward’s voice had lost all its bluster, replaced by barely concealed fear. “When did ye get here?”
“Clearly ye dinnae expect me.” Elijah didn’t release his grip on Edward’s wrist, holding the man’s arm in place like it was made of iron. “Because if ye’d known I was comin’, ye might have thought twice about raisin’ yer hand to me wife.”
“Elijah?” Iris’ voice was small, shocked. “What are ye doing here?”
He didn’t look at her yet. Couldn’t. If he looked at her now, saw whatever expression was on her face, he might lose his focus. And right now, he needed to deal with these bastards who’d dared threaten her.
“Ye misunderstand, me laird,” Catherine stepped forward, her voice taking on a placating tone. “This is just a family matter. A disagreement between a faither and his daughter. These things happen in every household.”
“A disagreement?” Elijah finally released Edward’s wrist but only so he could step between the man and Iris. “Is that what ye call a grown man preparin’ to strike a woman? A disagreement?”
“She was bein’ disrespectful!” Edward rubbed his wrist, trying to regain some dignity. “Speakin’ to us in ways nay daughter should speak to her parents. Underminin’ our authority with Lydia, fillin’ her head with dangerous ideas.”
“I daenae care if she called ye every foul name in the Gaelic tongue.” Elijah’s voice was sharp as broken glass. “Ye daenae raise yer hand to her. Ever.”
“She’s our daughter!” Catherine stepped forward, her hands twisting in her skirts. “We have every right to discipline her as we see fit!”
“With all due respect, me laird, this is a matter between family.” Edward straightened his shoulders, trying to reclaim some authority. “Surely ye understand that a man must maintain order in his own household.”
“With all due respect?” Elijah stepped closer to Edward, using every inch of his height and breadth to intimidate. “Ye’ve shown me wife nay respect her entire life from what I understand. So daenae stand there and talk to me about respect.”
“That’s nae fair!” Catherine’s voice rose. “We only wanted what was best for her! We tried to help her understand her place, tried to guide her toward bein’ a proper lady.”
“By bringin’ her down with ye words, makin’ her feel everythin’ about her was wrong?” Elijah turned his gaze on Catherine, and she actually flinched. “By makin’ her believe that nay man would ever want her? That she should be grateful for whatever scraps of affection she could get?”
“We were preparin’ her for reality!” Edward’s voice rose again. “The world is harsh, and we wanted her to understand that.”
“Ye wanted to break her spirit.” Elijah cut him off, his voice cold with certainty. “Ye wanted to turn her into somethin’ malleable, somethin’ easily controlled, but ye failed. She’s stronger than ye ever gave her credit for.”
“Now see here…”
“Nay. Ye see here.” Elijah’s voice dropped to something dangerous. “That woman behind me? She’s nae just yer daughter anymore. She’s Lady McMurphy. Wife of the Laird of Clan McMurphy. And any insult to her is an insult to me and me entire clan. Do ye understand what that means?”
The color was draining from Edward’s face now, reality setting in. “Laird McMurphy, I’m sure we can discuss this reasonably. There’s nay need for threats.”
“Threats?” Elijah laughed again, that same cold, humorless sound. “I havenae made any threats yet. I’m simply statin’ facts. Ye raised yer hand to strike me wife. I saw it with me own eyes.” Elijah’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “The only question is what I’m going to do about it.”
“Surely ye can see that we were only correctin’ her.”
“All I can see is that ye favored one twin over the other so blatantly that it’s a wonder Iris doesnae hate her sister for it.”
“We never favored anyone.”
“Daenae lie to me.” The words came out as a growl.
“Me laird, please.” Catherine wrung her hands. “We’re her parents. We love her.”
“If that’s what ye call love, then I’m grateful she’s far away from ye now.” Elijah’s voice was ice. “Because that wasnae love. That was control, manipulation, and cruelty dressed up as guidance.”
“Elijah.” Iris’ hand touched his arm, and he finally allowed himself to look at her. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock, but she was steady. Strong. “It’s all right. I’m all right.”
“It’s nae all right.” He turned fully toward her, and the urge to pull her into his arms was almost overwhelming, but first, he needed to finish this. “How long has this been happenin’? How many times have they struck ye?”
“They... they havenae. Nae since I was a child.” Her voice was quiet. “Today was just... I said some things, and he lost his temper.”
“What things?”
“The truth. About how terrible they’ve been. About how they destroyed me confidence.” She straightened her shoulders. “About how I’m nae the disappointment they’ve always said I was.”
Pride surged through him. “Ye’re absolutely right. Ye’re nae a disappointment. Ye’ve never been a disappointment.”
“Laird McMurphy, surely ye can see that our daughter has always been... difficult,” Catherine tried again, her voice taking on that false sweetness he’d heard nobles use when trying to manipulate. “We were only tryin’ to help her, to guide her.”
“By comparin’ her constantly to her sister and findin’ her wantin’?” Elijah turned back to face them. “I’ve heard the stories. I ken how ye treated her. And I’m tellin’ ye now, it ends here.”
“Me laird.” Edward’s face was turning purple again. “Ye cannae come into me castle and threaten me in me own courtyard.”
“I can do whatever I want. I’m a Highland Laird with a vast army at me back and strong alliances across Scotland.” His voice was cold, factual. “And ye? Ye’re a minor laird who would rather cower behind high castle walls and seek alliance by marryin off yer daughters. ”
The implications of that statement settled over the courtyard like a heavy blanket. Edward’s face went slack, and Catherine made a small, choked sound.
“Ye wouldnae,” Edward whispered. “Ye wouldnae withdraw yer support over somethin’ so...”
“So what? So trivial?” Elijah’s smile was sharp as a blade. “Ye just tried to strike me wife. Give me one good reason why I shouldnae withdraw all support from Clan Douglas right now.”
“Because we’re her parents!” Catherine’s voice had gone shrill. “We raised her, fed her, clothed her.”
“Ye did the bare minimum required by law and decency. That doesnae give ye the right to abuse her.” Elijah’s voice was like steel. “And make nay mistake, what ye did was abuse. Years of it, by the sound of things.”
“Who do ye think ye are to speak to us this way in our own home?”
“I’ll speak to ye however I please when ye threaten what’s mine.” He turned back to Edward. “And I’m the man who can destroy yer entire clan with a single word to the right people. So choose yer next words very, very carefully.”
“Elijah.” Iris’ voice was firmer now. “This is nae necessary. I just want to leave.”
“And ye will. But first, they’re going to understand exactly what they’ve done.
” He turned back to Edward and Catherine.
“Ye will never speak to me wife again without respect. Ye will never contact her unless she wishes it. And if I ever hear that ye’ve said one word against her character, spread one piece of gossip about her, or done anythin’ to harm her reputation, I will destroy ye. Completely. Do ye understand?”
“Aye,” Edward managed, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I daenae think ye do.” Elijah stepped closer. “Let me be very clear. Iris is under me protection now. She’s part of Clan McMurphy, and we protect our own. If ye threaten her, ye threaten all of us. And I promise ye, we’re nae as forgiving as she is.”
“We understand, Laird McMurphy.” Catherine’s voice had lost all its false sweetness, replaced by genuine fear. “We meant nay disrespect.”
“Then ye shouldnae have raised yer hand to her.” He turned away from them, dismissing them as completely as if they’d ceased to exist. “Iris.”
He looked at Iris, really looked at her for the first time since arriving. She was staring at him with something like wonder in her eyes, and relief flooded through him so powerfully it nearly brought him to his knees.
“Are ye ready to leave?” His voice gentled when speaking to her. “Or do ye need to collect anythin’ from inside?”
“I... nay. I have everythin’ I need with Mairie in the carriage.” She glanced back at her parents one last time then at Lydia who was watching from the doorway with wide eyes. “I’m ready to go.”
“Good.” Without warning, he swept her up into his arms, cradling her against his chest. “Then let’s go home.”
“Elijah! What are ye doing? Put me down!”
“Nay. Ye’re comin’ with me, and that’s the end of it.” He strode toward where Thunder waited, Iris clutched securely in his arms. “We have a great deal to discuss, wife. But nae here. Nae in front of them.”
He could feel her trembling against him, whether from shock, anger, or something else, he couldn’t tell, but she didn’t fight him as he carried her across the courtyard, past the watching servants, away from the parents who’d spent her entire life making her feel worthless.
Behind them, he heard Catherine’s voice, faint and disbelieving. “Did he just... Did the Laird of Clan McMurphy just walk into our castle and steal our daughter?”
“She’s nae yers anymore,” Elijah called back without looking. “She’s mine. And I take care of what’s mine.”
“Hold on tight,” he murmured against her hair. “We’re going home.”
It wasn’t a suggestion, more like a command.
Now I just need to convince Iris to give me another chance. To listen to what I need to say. I called her convenient. Told her she was only my wife by coincidence. Said she was naive for expecting love.
The memory made him sick. He’d lashed out like a cornered animal, trying to hurt her before she could hurt him, and he’d succeeded spectacularly.
The question was whether she’d let him make it right. Or whether he’d destroyed the best thing in his life beyond all repair.