“I-It’s not that easy, Broc.” She palmed tears from her eyes.
“Why the hell not?” her father blasted.
Keely’s lips quivered, and Alex wished he could help her, save her from this inquisition. But truth be told, she needed to learn to stand up to her sire the same way she challenged him and his captains. The lass had it inside her, she just needed to find the courage.
“I dinna love John.”
“Love?” her sire scoffed. “If love had anything to do with marriage, the Highlands would be long gone.”
“I doona understand, Father.”
“Matches are made to benefit the future of our clans, not to sate the passion in yer heart. Alex was but a whelp. It was John who held the future of Clan MacKay in his hands.”
“John is dead,” she observed.
“Aye—put in an early grave by ye and his only brother.”
“Enough!” Alex slammed his fist on the table, startling Keely and her father. “John was killed defending our lands from Sutherlands.”
“His death is convenient for ye, too, is it not?” Matthew accused. “For look at ye now,Laird MacKay.”
“Father…” Broc stood.
“Sit down, lad. I’ll have my say.”
“At what cost?” Alex asked.
“She ismychild.”
“Keely ismywife.”
Silence swallowed the room.
“Does my happiness mean nothing to ye?” Keely asked.
“Where did ye run to, Keely?” Broc asked.
“Dunrobin Castle,” she said.
“Jesus Christ,” Broc growled. “Ye chose the Sutherlands over us? Over John? Over anyone else? I canna stand being in the same room with ye!”
Broc slapped Keely’s face hard enough for her to cry out. Not from pain, Alex knew, but from the shock of it. Broc wasna a violent man.
Alex kicked his chair aside and rushed Broc.
Keely shielded her brother, standing between Alex and him. “Nay, Alex. I willna let ye retaliate. I deserved it.”
“No one has the right to strike ye, Keely.”
“Nay? I’d rather be kicked in the gut than have ye all tugging me in different directions.” She covered her face with both hands, then let out a strangled sound. Squaring her shoulders, she looked between her husband and father. “I doona wish to witness any more hatred.” She stormed out of the solar and slammed the door.
Laird Oliphant was the first to speak. “She has always been a biddable lass.”
Alex laughed bitterly. “Ye doona know yer daughter very well, sir. For she’s anything but obedient, and I wouldna wish her to be anything else.”
*
Keely ran downthe stairs, then marched through the great hall. She’d meant every word she had said to Alex and her sire. When would they consider her feelings?
