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 McMurphyin 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 meheart 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. “Theywhat?”
“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 himthere 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.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Elijah, this is Lydia. As ye ken, she is me sister. Lydia, this is me husband, Laird Elijah McMurphy.” Iris kept her voice firm, stepping slightly between them. “And there’s nay need to frighten her. She was just concerned about me welfare.”
“Was she?” His eyes never left Lydia’s face, dark and assessing. “Because it sounded like she was offerin’ to undo a marriage that’s legally bindin’—which would be problematic to say the least.”
“I dinnae mean any offense, me laird.” Lydia’s voice was barely above a whisper, and Iris could see her hands trembling in her lap. “I just thought... after everythin’ I’d heard about ye... the stories...”
“What stories?” Elijah’s voice was dangerously quiet.
“That ye’re cruel. That yer first wife... that she...” Lydia’s voice faltered completely under his stare.
