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Flynn was satisfied to see both guilt and fear in their expressions, for he was determined to tell them that what they had just said was enough to make him dismiss them from his employment.
“My Laird, do ye need something?” one of the maids asked. Flynn noticed that she was wearing a leine of the usual house colors and that her stature was short but chubby. She could not meet Flynn’s eyes because of the obvious guilt over spreading false rumors.
“Ye two can pack yer bags and leave the castle right now. I am dismissing ye,” he said simply, not wishing to yell at them or teach them how to respect his betrothed.
“Me Laird, we are sorry!” the other maid, who was taller and slimmer, cried.
He heard footsteps behind him and watched as Astrid finally entered the kitchen, her gaze falling on the two maids. She came to stand beside Flynn, Bannock still in her arms.
“Please, dinnae do this. I will forever feel guilty if ye take away their jobs because of me,” she whispered, trying to convince Flynn.
“I am nae dismissing them because of you,” Flynn replied, making sure they heard each word he said. “I am dismissing them because they enjoy spreading false rumors while at work and talk absurdly about me betrothed, me future wife, and the future lady of this house. If they dinnae ken how to respect those around me, I dinnae need them in me castle.”
“They made a mistake, Flynn. I am sure they willnae do it again,” Astrid reasoned, and Flynn couldn’t help but wonder how and why her heart was so pure. If it were someone else in her place, she would have delighted in the fact that Flynn dismissed the two maids.
“Yes, Me Laird, it was a mistake. Please forgive us,” the taller maid said.
“We will apologize to the lady too. It really was our fault, and we should have known better than talking this way about the future lady of the house,” the other maid added.
“It is just what has been going around the village, and everyone is repeating such rumors,” the taller maid said again before turning towards Astrid. “Me Lady, please forgive us. It is true we dinnae ken ye as a person, and we simply just assumed and repeated things being said by others. We never meant to hurt ye.”
“Ye will never hear such words from us again, Me Lady. Please forgive us this one time, and it shall never happen again,” the other maid pleaded.
“I forgive ye. Stop apologizing now,” Astrid replied calmly, assuming her higher position and exercising her authority as not only a noblewoman but as Flynn’s betrothed.
Despite that, Flynn felt even angrier at this knowledge, knowing that these maids were not the only ones who disliked Astrid so. The people of his entire clan disliked her and were making up false rumors simply for the sake of entertainment. Although, it did not mean he was going to entertain them.
“I dinnae care where ye heard it from. All I care about is the fact that I shouldnae hear it again from either of ye, or it willnae take me one second to dismiss ye!” Flynn yelled, trying to keep his anger under check. “I am only leaving ye this time because Astrid has forgiven ye. And ye should ken that I am not a very forgiving man and nor do I give second chances.”
“It will never happen again, Me Laird,” the taller maid said before curtsying and leaving the kitchen through the back door.
Once both maids had left, Flynn turned towards the woman beside him, who looked as beautiful as she ever did. He wondered what it was about her that made her seem beautiful in the simplest of attire but could not find an answer to that.
“Ye didnae have to get so angry. I already ken the people of the clan hate me, just like the people of me clan hate ye,” Astrid reasoned, and Flynn knew she was right.
“I dinnae care if they hate ye or love ye. As long as yer me future wife and residing under me protection, it’s me duty to make sure that yer respected and loved by those around ye. I want ye to feel safe Astrid, and I will do anything for that.”
Flynn watched as her expression softened at his words, and she moved closer towards him with a smile. He knew she could not understand why he said these things, but he wished to tell her that he meant every single word. He truly wanted her to be respected by all, and as her betrothed, it was his responsibility to make that happen.
“Ye really dinnae need to take such good care of me,” she whispered, a smile on her face.
His heart calmed as he watched her smile and return to her old self. It was evident that listening to the maids talk this way about her had really saddened her, and he couldn’t see her in such a position.
“Aye, I do, Astrid,” he said honestly. “Yer me responsibility, and I never shy away from my responsibilities.”
Astrid laughed at his words and lovingly stroked Bannock’s fur as the cat meowed softly. Flynn turned to look at her cat, whose gaze was trained on him, and he wondered if Bannock liked him or not. He had heard Astrid say how her cat was very selective about people and only allowed the people she trusted and loved to touch her.
“I am glad ye think that way,” she finally replied, still stroking Bannock unconsciously.
“Can I pet her?” Flynn asked, and Astrid looked at him confusedly.
“I thought ye hated Bannock.”
“Nay! I never said that. It is true I dinnae like pets in general, but I dinnae hate them either,” Flynn said.
“Well, in that case, ye can give it a try. Although I am not certain if she likes ye or nae.”
“All we can do is try,” Flynn replied before moving his hand forward, inching it closer to Bannock.
