Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The morning sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon when Iris stirred in Elijah’s arms. They’d spent the night at the small inn.
Mairie and the coachman having taken rooms on the lower floor, while she and Elijah had been tangled together in a bed barely large enough for one person, let alone two, but neither had complained.
After everything that had happened, being close felt necessary, vital even.
“Ye’re awake,” Elijah’s voice rumbled against her back, his arm tightening around her waist.
“Aye. We should get movin’ if we want to reach the castle by midday.” She turned in his embrace to face him. “Codie will be beside himself by now.”
“He will.” Elijah’s expression softened at the mention of his son. “I promised him I’d bring ye home. He made me swear on me honor.”
“Did he?” The thought made her chest warm. “Poor lad. He must have been so worried.”
“Terrified, more like. Thought everyone was leavin’ him.” Elijah’s jaw tightened. “I never want him to feel that way again.”
“Then we’ll make sure he doesnae.” She pressed a kiss to his jaw. “Now come on. Let’s get dressed and be on our way.”
They rose and dressed quickly, both eager to complete the journey home. Mairie was already waiting with the carriage when they came downstairs, looking well-rested and entirely too knowing.
“Good mornin’, me lady. Me laird.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Sleep well?”
“Well enough,” Iris replied, refusing to rise to the bait. “Are ye ready to continue?”
“Been ready for an hour, but I figured ye two needed yer rest.” Mairie’s grin widened. “Or whatever it was ye were doing.”
“Mairie.” Iris’s tone was warning, but she couldn’t quite suppress her smile.
“Just sayin’. Ye both look considerably more... relaxed than yesterday.” Mairie smiled. “I’ll follow behind as usual.”
Elijah helped Iris onto Thunder then swung up behind her, his arms coming around to hold the reins. As they set off, Iris found herself settling back against his chest, enjoying his solid warmth.
They rode in comfortable silence for a while, the landscape gradually becoming more familiar as they drew closer to McMurphy lands. But as the miles passed, a question began nagging at Iris’ mind. Something about the way Elijah had spoken to her parents, the threats he’d made.
“Elijah?” she said finally, breaking the silence.
“Aye?”
“Yesterday, when ye were speakin’ to me parents... ye said ye’d destroy them if they ever spoke against me again.”
His arms tensed slightly around her. “I meant it.”
“I ken ye did. But what exactly did ye mean by destroy?” She turned her head to look at him. “What would ye have done?”
He was quiet for a long moment, his jaw working as if choosing his words carefully. “Do ye really want to ken?”
“I wouldnae be askin’ if I dinnae.”
"All right." He took a breath. "I'm goin' to send word to every Highland laird from here to the Western Isles to inform them that the Douglas clan is blacklisted—nae trade agreements, nae alliances, nae protection.
I'll make it clear that anyone who does business with them risks losin' my favor, and my favor controls half the trade routes in Scotland. "
"Ye can do that?"
"I'm nae just any laird, Iris. Clan McMurphy holds alliances with the most powerful families in the Highlands.
When I say a clan is blacklisted, they're finished.
Within months, yer parents will find themselves isolated—nae one willin' to buy their wool, sell them grain, or offer shelter if raiders come. They'll be ruined completely."
Iris felt her stomach drop. “What? Elijah, that’s too much.”
“Nae more than they deserve,” he interrupted, his voice hard. “They raised their hand to ye, Iris. Yer faither was about to strike ye. That alone warrants severe punishment.”
“But blacklistin’ them? That’ll ruin them completely. They’ll lose everythin’—their trade agreements, their alliances, their income.”
“Good.”
The single word, delivered with such cold certainty, made her twist in the saddle to face him more fully. “Elijah, they’re still me parents.”
“Parents who spent yer entire life makin’ ye feel worthless.
Who compared ye to yer sister and found ye wantin’.
Who were about to strike ye for darin’ to speak the truth.
” His dark eyes were fierce, unyielding.
“They deserve far worse than financial ruin, Iris. They deserve to ken what it feels like to lose everythin’. ”
“But Lydia is there too.”
“She will be fine. She’s going to take vows at the convent, ye said so yerself. She’ll be protected and cared for by the sisters. This has nothin’ to do with her.”
“It has everythin’ to do with her! If our parents lose their income, they’ll have nay way to support themselves. They’ll lose the castle, the lands, everythin’ they’ve built.”
“They should have thought of that before raisin’ a hand to the wife of a Highland Laird.” Elijah’s voice was implacable. “I willnae tolerate anyone threatenin’ ye, Iris. Nae yer parents, nae anyone. And I need to make an example of them, so everyone kens what happens when they dare.”
Iris stared at him, seeing the determination in every line of his face. This wasn’t just about protecting her, this was about sending a message. About establishing that Lady McMurphy was under his protection, and anyone who threatened her would face severe consequences.
“How long?” she asked quietly. “How long will the blacklist last?”
“Permanently. Unless I choose to lift it.”
“And will ye? Choose to lift it?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether they ever show genuine remorse for how they treated ye. On whether they ever apologize properly instead of makin’ excuses.
” His hand came up to cup her cheek. “But honestly, Iris? I daenae think they will. People like them never see their own faults. They’ll blame ye for their ruin instead of acceptin’ responsibility for their actions. ”
She knew he was probably right. Her parents had never apologized for anything in their lives, had never admitted fault or shown genuine remorse. They’d blame her for “provoking” them, for “forcing” Elijah’s hand, for everything except their own choices.
“What if I asked ye nae to do it?” The question came out hesitantly. “What if I asked ye to show them mercy?”
He was quiet for a long moment, studying her face. “Why would ye ask that? After everythin’ they’ve done?”
“Because they’re still me parents. Because despite everythin’, some part of me still remembers when things were better.
When I was small and Faither would smile at me sometimes, when Maither would brush me hair.
” Her voice cracked slightly. “I ken they’re terrible people.
I ken they daenae deserve me compassion. But I cannae help feelin’ it anyway.”
“That’s because ye have a good heart. Better than they deserve.
” He sighed, his expression softening slightly.
“But Iris, I need ye to understand. If I daenae make an example of them, if I let this pass without severe consequences, it sends a message that threatenin’ ye has nae real repercussions. And that puts ye in danger.”
“I understand that.”
“I still think ye’re bein’ too kind to them.” His arms tightened around her. “But I suppose that’s one of the things I love about ye. Yer ability to show compassion even when it’s nae deserved.”
“Or me inability to fully harden me heart even when I should,” she said dryly.
“That too.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Ye’re a better person than I am, Iris Craig.”
“I’m nae sure about that. Ye rode out to find me and bring me home. That takes a good heart too.”
“Or just a desperate one.” But there was warmth in his voice now, the coldness from earlier fading. “I meant what I said yesterday. I love ye. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep ye safe and happy. Even if it means showin’ mercy to people I’d rather see destroyed.”
“I ken. And I love ye for it.” She settled back against him. “Now, how much longer until we’re home? I miss Codie.”
“Miss him?” Elijah’s voice held amusement. “Ye’ve only been gone three days.”
“Three days is a long time when ye’re worried about someone.” She smiled. “He’s ours now, Elijah. Mine and yers. And I hate the thought of him bein’ frightened or upset.”
“Ours,” Elijah repeated, and she heard the wonder in his voice. “Aye. He is ours.”
They crested a hill, and suddenly, Castle McMurphy was visible in the distance, its gray stone towers rising against the morning sky. Iris felt her heart leap at the sight.
“Home,” she breathed.
“Home,” Elijah agreed. “Ready?”
“More than ready.”
He spurred Thunder forward, and they began the final stretch of their journey. As they drew closer to the castle, Iris could see figures gathering in the courtyard—servants, guards, and most importantly, a small figure with dark hair who was practically vibrating with anticipation.
“Codie,” she said, feeling tears prick her eyes.
“I’m sure he’s been waitin’ there every mornin’ since I left,” Elijah said quietly. “He would have refused to move until someone promised him we’d be back today.”
“Oh, that poor boy.”
As they rode through the gates, Codie let out a whoop of joy and came running. Elijah brought Thunder to a halt and dismounted quickly then helped Iris down just as Codie reached them.
“Lady Iris!” The boy threw himself at her with such force he nearly knocked her over. “Ye came back! Ye really came back!”
“Of course, I came back, sweetheart.” She dropped to her knees, pulling him into a fierce embrace. “I never wanted to leave ye, and me heart broke to do it.”
“Everyone leaves,” Codie said, his voice muffled against her shoulder. “Maither left. Miss Lydia left. And ye left too, and I thought... I thought ye werenae comin’ back either.”
“Oh, Codie.” Iris pulled back to look at his tear-streaked face. “I’m so sorry ye were frightened. But I promise ye, I wasnae leavin’ ye. I was just takin’ me sister home safely.”