“Come on. Let me show ye to yer chambers, so ye can rest. Ye look exhausted.”
“I am.” Lydia stood as well, swaying slightly. “I havenae slept properly in days.”
Iris led her through the corridors, pointing out various rooms and explaining the layout of the castle as they went. Servants they passed curtsied or bowed, their expressions curious but polite. By tomorrow, everyone would know about Lydia’s arrival, but for now, Iris was just grateful to have her sister safe under her roof.
She showed Lydia to a guest chamber near her own rooms. It was close enough that her sister wouldn’t feel abandoned but farenough to maintain proper distance. The room was comfortable with a large bed, a fireplace, and windows overlooking the garden.
“This is lovely,” Lydia said, moving to the window. “Much nicer than me room at the convent.”
“Rest now. We’ll talk more later after ye’ve slept properly.” Iris moved toward the door. “And Lydia? I’m glad ye came. Even if it wasnae necessary, I’m glad ye cared enough to check on me.”
“I’ll always care about ye, Iris. Ye’re me sister, me twin. That will never change.” Lydia smiled, but it was a sad, tired smile. “Even if our lives have taken very different paths now.”
“Aye. But different doesnae mean distant. Ye’ll always have a place here, always be welcome.” Iris paused at the threshold. “Sleep well, sister.”
As she closed the door and made her way back through the castle, Iris found her thoughts drifting to Elijah, to the look on his face when he’d asked if she wanted to leave. The vulnerability beneath the harsh exterior, the fear that she might actually say yes.
She’d meant what she’d told him. This was her home now. These were her people. And while the journey to get here had been unexpected and often difficult, she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Not even for the freedom Lydia was offering.
Because freedom without love, without connection, without purpose—that wasn’t freedom at all. It was just another kind of loneliness.
And Iris had been lonely long enough.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“I’ve decided to stay a bit longer.”
Lydia’s voice carried across the breakfast table the next morning, her tone apologetic but firm. “If that’s still acceptable, me laird. I just... I want to make certain me sister is truly settled before I return to the convent.”
Elijah’s hand tightened on his fork. Three days. He’d given her three days, and now, she was asking for more time. Time to whisper doubts in Iris’ ear. Time to plant seeds of discontent. Time to convince his wife that she’d be better off anywhere but here.
“How much longer?” His voice came out flat, controlled.
“Perhaps a week? Maybe two?” Lydia looked between him and Iris. “I ken it’s an imposition, but I havenae seen me sister in so long.”
“Do what ye wish.” He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the stone floor. “It’s nay concern of mine how long ye stay.”
“Elijah,” Iris started, but he was already moving toward the door.
“I have business to attend to. Excuse me.”
He strode from the hall before she could respond, ignoring the confused look on Codie’s face and the hurt expression on Iris’. His boots echoed through the corridors as he made his way to his solar, each step punctuated by the rising anger in his chest.
Do what ye wish. It’s nay concern of mine.
The words were lies, and he knew it. Every minute Lydia stayed was another minute she had to poison Iris against him. Another chance for his wife to realize she’d made a terrible mistake marrying the Beast of McMurphy when she could have had freedom instead.
He slammed the solar door behind him, moving immediately to the sideboard where he kept his whisky. It was barely past dawn, too early for drinking, but he poured himself a dram anyway.
She’s going to leave. Lydia’s going to convince her to leave.
The thought sent something cold and vicious through his veins because hadn’t he always known this was temporary?
But knowing it intellectually was different from facing reality. Different from watching her sister arrive and offer her an escape route she might actually take.
I should never have let meself care. Should have kept me distance like I planned.
