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“Is she going to be all right?” Astrid asked, turning to look at him.
“Yes, she will be just fine.”
He walked towards the decanter on the side table and filled two glasses of whiskey for him and Astrid. As he turned around and walked back towards her, he noticed that even though she was seated, her posture had tension written all over it. It was evident she was not comfortable, and he hated himself for making her feel this way. He had never wished for her to be uncomfortable in his presence. He knew, if he tried hard enough, he could perhaps help her feel better.
As he sat down beside her, his gaze dropped to her hands, which she constantly wrung in her lap.
“Here,” he said, handing her the glass of whiskey, which she held firmly before taking a sip. He was certain the alcohol would help her get calmer.
He took a sip out of his glass as well, wondering what he was supposed to talk about with her. It wasn’t as if he knew her well enough to know her interests, likes, or dislikes. He was completely unaware of what her life was and what she enjoyed doing. Even though he wished to find out each of these things about her, he wondered if it would seem inappropriate to ask such questions. For all he knew, Astrid disliked him and did not desire any association with his person. Hence, the two of them sat in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before he could no longer take it.
“Ye do realize that Grandmother left us here alone so we could talk in private?” Flynn asked, the ploy pulled by his grandmother still running afresh in his mind.
“What do ye mean?” Astrid demanded, her brows turning up in confusion. She turned slightly so her posture and face were directed towards him entirely.
“I mean, she wasnae really sick. She was pretending,” Flynn answered honestly, knowing that Astrid liked his grandmother enough already to not put this against her.
To his surprise, a smile broke out on her face, and she laughed softly. As the melodic sound filled his ears, he once again wondered what he felt towards Astrid, for he knew it was not hate. He could never hate someone like her.
“I did have the slight inkling that it could have been staged, but I dinnae ken her well enough to ken for sure. Although, since she is yer grandmother and ye ken her, I am certain yer right,” she replied rationally. “She must want us to spend time with one another.”
“I wonder why,” Flynn muttered shortly, and Astrid turned to face him completely, her eyebrows rising in confusion.
“What do ye mean why?”
“There is no point in ye and me spending time together.”
“Well, I am sure she wants us to get along and be cordial towards one another or at least get to ken each other,” Astrid said calmly.
“And what will that lead to?” he asked, sipping whiskey as he turned his body to face her entirely as well. They were seated on the two armchairs, both of them facing the other as the fire warmed their skin.
“A simple understanding perhaps, or maybe harmony between us and the clans?” Astrid suggested, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.
“She must ken that an understandin’ between us is impossible.”
Astrid raised an eyebrow. “I think she might not because she disnae ken that her grandson is entirely unreasonable and impossible to converse with.”
“I could say the same for ye.”
“But that wouldnae be true,” she countered quickly, her cheeks flushing with exasperation.
Though it wasn’t what he had intended, he was making her angry. He was simply trying to tease her, for this was always something that existed between them, and he knew she was comfortable this way.
“It is true, Astrid.” He whispered her name, and her eyes widened. “Ye have done nothing but fight with me since the day I met ye a year ago, and I am certain ye will do it every other day too.”
“Yer the one who always starts the fight, Flynn.” She whispered his name the way he had whispered hers and inched closer. “I am completely innocent in the matter.”
“Innocent? Ye?”
“Ye just dinnae ken me that well yet, Me Laird.” She smiled at him, and his heart melted at the sight.
He did not know what it was about her, but she was extremely charming when she wished to be. A simple smile from her was enough to accelerate his heartbeat, and he wondered if he had a similar effect on her.
Flynn softly tucked away a loose strand of hair that had fallen out behind her ear, and her eyes widened in surprise as a faint blush tainted her cheeks crimson. He did now know if it was the effect of his proximity or the argument they had been having, but no matter the reason, he could see it made her extremely attractive.
“I wish to ken ye that well, Me Lady,” he said, addressing her with the title of his wife. He wondered how she would react to such a thing, for the two of them had constantly been restating the falsity behind the betrothal.
“What did ye just call me?”
