“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 wouldever 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.”
