“For what, exactly?”Elijah’s voice was hard as stone. “For the daughter ye sold? For the years of abuse ye inflicted? Or are ye simply tryin’ to extort money from me by threatenin’ Piper’s reputation?”
Paisley’sfalse tears dried up instantly. “We’re nae threatenin’ anythin’. We’re just pointin’ out the facts.”
“The facts,”Elijah said. “Are that ye’re both desperate, graspin’ parasites who see an opportunity for profit and are willin’ to destroy yer own daughter’s name to get it. And I’m nae interested in playin’ along.”
He turnedto the guards who were still standing nearby. “Take them away. Now.”
“Aye, me laird,”the guards said in unison, moving forward.
“Ye cannae do this!”Findlay protested as the guards grabbed his arms. “We’re her parents! We ken what’s good for her!”
“Ye ken nothin’,”Elijah said flatly. “And if ye attempt this farce again, if ye try to spread rumors about Piper’s honor or me intentions, I’ll have ye both charged with slander. And in me territory, slander against a member of me household is punishable by imprisonment. Do I make meself clear?”
Paisley’s facetwisted with rage, all pretense of tears gone. “Ye think ye’re so powerful! Ye think ye can just do whatever ye want because ye are the Laird.”
“I daenae think,”Elijah interrupted. “I ken. Now get them out of me sight.”
The guards began draggingFindlay and Paisley toward the gates. Both were shouting now—threats, curses, promises that this wasn’t over.
“We’ll tell everyone!”Paisley shrieked. “Everyone will ken what kind of man ye are! What ye’ve done to our daughter!”
“Tell whoever ye like,”Elijah called back. “But remember, I’m a laird with a reputation for honesty and honor. Ye’re gamblers with a reputation for cheatin’ and lyin’. Who do ye think people will believe?”
That finally silenced them,though Paisley shot Piper a look of such pure hatred that Piper actually took a step back.
Then they werethrough the gates and gone, their voices fading into the distance.
The courtyard remainedsilent for a long moment. Then, gradually, the servants began returning to their tasks, though Piper could see them whispering to each other. Glancing at her. Judging.
“I’m sorry,”Piper said quietly, once most of the crowd had dispersed. “I’m so sorry. They… they shouldnae have said those things. Shouldnae have tried to do somethin’ so dreadful.”
“Piper.”Elijah’s voice was gentle. “This isnae yer fault.”
“But they’re me parents.They came here because of me. And now they’ve… they’ve tried to damage yer reputation, and they’ve made it seem like I… like we have an improper relationship.” She couldn’t look at him properly.
“They tried,”Elijah agreed. “But they dinnae succeed. And anyone with half a brain will see through their lies.”
“But what if people believe them?”Piper wrapped her arms around herself. “What if people start talkin’? Start sayin’ that I’m… a whore.”
“Then I’ll deal with it.”Elijah stepped closer, his voice low. “Ye’re nae responsible for their actions, Piper. Ye dinnae ask them to come here. Ye dinnae encourage their behavior. They made their own choices, and those choices reflect on them, nae ye.”
“But I still feel…”Piper stopped, her throat tight. “I feel like I’ve brought trouble to yer household. Like maybe ye would have been better off never meetin’ me.”
“Daenae.”Elijah’s voice was sharp. “Daenae ever say that again.”
Piper looked up at him,startled by the intensity in his voice.
“Ye’ve brought nothin’but good to this household,” Elijah continued. “Me children are happier than they’ve been in years. Me maither smiles more. And I…” he stopped, seeming to catch himself. “The point is, yer parents’ actions daenae change any of that. Ye’re valuable, Piper. To this family. To me.”
Piper’s breath caught. “Elijah.”
“If ye still feel bad,”he interrupted, as if he needed to change the subject quickly. “Then help me with somethin’.”
“With what?”
“Ye toldme I need to reconnect with me children. That I need to spend more time with them, actually be present in their lives.” Elijah ran a hand through his hair, looking almost… nervous. “But I daenae ken where to start. I’ve been distant for so long, I’m nae sure they’d even want me around.”
“They do,”Piper said immediately. “They want it desperately. They’re just afraid to hope for it.”
