“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 saidone 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 whowas 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.
