Alex ignored the insult. Arguing with a man blinded by rage would accomplish nothing but getting one of them killed. There’d been enough bloodshed lately. And Alex owed his father-in-law a generous measure of tolerance. If Keely were his daughter, he would demand justice, too. “If ye will come with me, Laird Oliphant, my secretary will show ye the legal documents that will prove her union with John was invalid. I mean no disrespect to ye or yer sons.”
“Keely.” Her father gave her a gentle shake. “Tell me where ye’ve been all this time? The missives I received revealed little and were delivered by men unwilling to say a word. Did ye flee this place and go to the convent? What was the purpose of all the secrecy? Did John hurt ye?”
“No, Father. I will answer yer questions, but not here.”
Laird Oliphant nodded, letting her go. “Laird John died not a sennight ago and ye’re already remarried?”
“Matthew,” Alex gritted out. “There are things ye doona understand.” If the man only knew how close Alex was to losing his temper. “Will ye join us in my solar?”
“Broc will come, too.” Laird Oliphant waved at his eldest son. “The rest of ye, stay here.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Alex led the way. Keely shared a worried look with him as he opened the door and invited her father to cross the threshold first. Thankfully, the chamber had high ceilings and plenty of room, for Alex needed some space. Petro rose from his chair behind the desk and bowed as Alex walked in and closed the door.
“This is my interpreter and secretary, Petro de’ Medici.”
Laird Oliphant bent his head in recognition. “Get on with it, Alexander.”
Keely and her brother sat down in the chairs along the back wall while her father and Alex claimed the padded seats at the desk.
“Laird Oliphant, Keely’s sire, wishes to know why I married his daughter,” Alex told Petro.
Petro immediately shuffled through the ledgers and papers on the desk. “If you will take the time to read these letters, I am sure you will find the information you seek.”
“Missives? From who?”
“From my father and brother,” Alex clarified. “And one from Father Michael.”
“I’m not interested in the words of dead men,” Matthew spat. “Speak plainly, Alex. There are no soldiers to keep us from shedding each other’s blood in here.”
“Nay, there are not,” he agreed. “Are ye prepared for the truth, sir?”
“I am prepared to listen.”
Alex stood and started to pace. He’d prefer to speak one-on-one with his father-in-law. But as he scanned the faces of his wife, Broc, and Petro, he agreed they all deserved to witness the conversation. The future hung in the balance. “Before ye commanded yer daughter to marry John, we were handfasted.”
Laird Oliphant stretched his long legs out and dinna speak.
“Something my father claimed ye were aware of.”
“If I may, Alex,” Petro said. “Consent was given in the form of sacred vows spoken between your daughter and Alex. According to canon law and the law in Scotland, consent supersedes any betrothal or marriage made thereafter.”
“Holy Christ!” Laird Oliphant fisted his hands. “This wasna supposed to happen.”
“Father,” Keely said. “I did as ye asked and married John.”
Her father twisted round in his chair, staring at her. “Yer virgin blood is on that sheet, Keely. How could ye have married Laird John?”
“We dinna consummate the marriage.”
“And why not, girl?”
Keely averted her gaze.
“She ran away,” Alex answered for her.
“Why?” her father pressed.
Broc took her by the hand. “Be brave, lass. Tell our sire whatever he wishes to know.”
