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Flynn grew serious at the mention of Murray, the problem they were having with Myles returning to him. “What is he saying?”
“He has asked ye to meet him at Myles’s castle in two days’ time, so the two of ye can meet the old Laird together and force him to return yer lands and his. He is very insistent about it.”
Flynn knew that Murray was right. They both needed their lands back from Myles, and the easiest way to do it would be by scaring Myles into returning them. He knew that Murray was an excellent ally, since he was both ferocious and determined and would never let Myles live until he agreed to return those lands. Hence, the best way to go about the situation was to follow Murray’s plan.
“Write him back and tell him I will meet him there at the desired time,” Flynn replied as Billy nodded.
Just then, a soft melodic laugh reached Flynn’s ears, and as if on instinct, he knew that it was Astrid’s. He returned to the window, and just as he had expected, Astrid was walking there beside Keira.
He suddenly wished to see her and asked Billy to follow after him as he went downstairs and out into the gardens. Billy followed him wordlessly, except for occasionally mentioning something related to the clan.
“Murray wrote something else in his letter too,” Billy added, which forced Flynn to slow down his speed and turn to look at his man at arms.
“What else?”
“He was asking if ye had come up with any ideas to end the betrothal, or if yer going to follow through with what he proposed earlier.”
Flynn scoffed, unable to believe the nerve of this man. He knew Murray was impatient to have his daughter back home and for this betrothal to end as soon as it possibly could, but the way he was pressuring Flynn into doing something this quickly was entirely absurd.
“I cannae believe this,” Flynn replied angrily. “Murray keeps pestering me to find ways to end this betrothal without angering the King, when I have clearly been very quiet on the subject. He suggested we pretend as if I loved someone else or cheated on Astrid, and Astrid does not wish to come between me and me one true love, and hence, she ended the betrothal mutually. The old bastard wants the King to dislike me while he can escape the situation unscathed.”
Billy laughed at Flynn’s anger. “Me Laird, can I ask ye something?”
“Aye,” Flynn replied as they continued walking through the gardens. He did not know where Astrid had disappeared, but the faint scent of lilies all around him was enough to tell him that she was somewhere around.
“Do ye even wish to end this betrothal?”
Billy’s question made him stop walking, and he turned to face his man at arms, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Flynn knew the answer to this question in his heart and was aware of the fact that everyone else in the castle could sense it too. Despite that, he had never voiced it out loud, but he also knew there was no longer any point in hiding it. He had the feeling that Astrid felt similarly about him and their betrothal, and that was all he wished for.
“I definitely dinnae wish for the betrothal to end, Billy. Unless it ends in marriage, that is,” Flynn replied truthfully.
“Why do ye nae tell this to Laird O’Donnely flatly and be done with it?” Billy asked.
Flynn wished it was that simple.
“Murray would dislike me immensely for it, since he still believes that I kidnapped and apparently killed Aiden. He would never wish for Astrid to marry me, and ye ken that Billy.”
Before Billy could say anything else, there was a sudden crunching of leaves behind them, and Flynn turned to watch Astrid marching towards them, a large smile on her face. He smiled back at her, his heart feeling lighter as he gazed at her.
“There she is, the best part of my day,” he said loud enough for both Astrid and Billy to hear.
Keira, who was beside Astrid, must have heard this too, as she broke into giggles at Flynn’s declaration while Astrid herself turned crimson.
Flynn could not take his eyes off his betrothed as he realized how beautiful she looked in the maroon gown she had donned this morning. He had never seen a more beautiful woman, someone who made his heart feel as full as she always did.
“The best part of yer day, eh?” Astrid asked mischievously.
“Absolutely, me dear,” he replied.
“I came here to ask ye the reason behind stealing Bannock from my room last night.” She cocked an eyebrow at him as he laughed.
“That is an accusation, Me Lady. I didnae such thing,” he vehemently said. Although, he had done exactly what she had accused him of.
He simply needed a reason to sneak inside Astrid’s bedchamber at night to watch her sleeping peacefully, and he had been missing her furry pet as well. Thus, he had gone to her chambers under the guise of getting Bannock, placed a kiss on her forehead, and left noiselessly.
“Aye, ye did, Me Laird. There truly is nay point in lying to me, I ken what yer up to anyway. Nay one would ever steal Bannock from me but ye!” she exclaimed, stressing her point.
