Her shoulders drooped as she slipped back into the chair and faced her sire. “I am sorry that I disappointed ye, Father.”
He blinked. “I am accustomed to disappointment, lass. With seven bairns, a man gets used to it. Tis the deception that’s eating a hole in my gut.”
“Deception?”
“Running off in the middle of the night instead of facing yer problems like a woman.”
Keely folded her hands on her lap. Aye—she’d acted irresponsibly. She’d given up her heart’s desire as her father had demanded. Her flight from the MacKays hadn’t been premeditated. “I dinna plan to run away.”
“Did John harm ye? Force ye to do anything? Curse ye?”
“Nay.”
“Did ye feel unwelcome here?” he continued.
“Father,” Keely started, eyeing her four brothers in search of support. “It had nothing to do with how I felt about Laird John or Clan MacKay.”
“Ye’re being deliberately difficult, girl.”
“Nay. I just want ye to understand why.”
“I’ve asked ye a dozen questions and am more confused than I ever was.”
Gavin and Simon snickered.
“She’s a woman, Father,” Simon offered. “Doona try to make sense of it.”
She leaned back in her chair, waiting while her brothers laughed at her expense. The years apart hadn’t diminished the true affection she had for her family, nor had her siblings matured.
“I couldna face ye,” she admitted, deciding to keep the explanation simple. Truth was truth no matter how she expressed it. Her body belonged to her, and as far as she was concerned, that meant her choice in husband should belong to her, too.
“Do ye have anything to be ashamed of, lass?”
“Nay, Father. Unless there’s shame in loving a man.” She watched her da for a long moment. Would he accept her reasoning? More importantly, would he bless her marriage, allow her to stay with Alex?
Laird Oliphant tugged on his beard. “Tis my fault, I shouldna have expected a mere girl to do a woman’s work.”
Finally, something they could agree on!
“I will have a full accounting of what transpired while ye were with the Sutherlands. And doona think the earl willna be held accountable. If I had taken his only daughter in without sending proper word, the man would have been banging on every gate in the Highlands until he found her.”
“Aye, Father.”
“Furthermore,” he boomed. “Ye will promise to never run away again.”
Just as she was about to swear, she remembered her earlier conversation with Petro. In truth, taking a secret trip to Dunrobin Castle would be considered the same as running away, wouldn’t it?
“Well, lass?” Broc said softly.
“I promise.” She couldna refuse to say it—her sire had required it as a condition for forgiveness.
“Tis settled then.” Her sire stood and opened his arms. “As for yer marriage, I will make that decision later. Give me a hug.”
Keely was only too happy to embrace him again. She’d always felt safe in her father’s strong arms—the same way she was beginning to feel about Alex.
“Now, where is my son-in-law?” Laird Oliphant asked much to Keely’s surprise.
“In the bailey training with his captains,” Broc directed him.
