Page 159 of Rags to Royals

Astrid plants her hands on her hips. “You really think that you will always get your way, don’t you?”

“Yes.” Then he says, “if it makes this easier, your grandfather would have been thrilled with our union.”

Astrid shakes her head. “How do you know that?”

“He told me.”

Her mouth drops open. She looks at Linnea. Then Torin. Then back to Declan. “Hetoldyou that he wantedyou and meto get married?”

“No. He told me that he wanted our families united,no matter what. I took that to meanno matter what. He thought it would be Torin and Linnea, of course.” He shoots an exasperated glance in my brother and Linnea’s direction. “He would have been fine with it being you and Cian.”

She looks at me and I shrug. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say here.

“But I was his favorite,” Declan goes on, sliding his hands into his pockets. “And he worried about you the most. So having me taking care of you would have pleased him, I’m certain.”

Astrid’s eyes get even wider.

No one else makes a single sound.

“He…worried…aboutme…themost?” Astrid finally splutters.

“Yes,” Declan says.

“Andyouwere his favorite?” she asks.

“Yes.”

Wow. I don’t know how I feel about that. I’mwaymore fun than Declan, and Torin and Fiona are both friendlier. But, in Declan’s defense, he spent a lot more time with Alfred than any of us did.

“And you would betaking careof me?”

“Of course.”

“Declan O’Grady, I would rather?—”

Astrid’s sentence is cut off by Miles putting his hand over her mouth and dragging her over to the side, away from Declan.

I follow.

“You’re making this so much worse,” Miles tells her.

“Iam not making thisanything,” she tells him. “He’s ridiculous! I’m not going to justmarryhim!”

“But…” Miles casts me a look that sayshelp. “He’s right.”

“You’vegotto be kidding,” Astrid tells him.

“I’m not,” Miles says. “Your grandfather wanted this. That matters to Declan. A lot.”

She narrows her eyes. “You’re telling methat—” She jabs her finger in Declan’s direction. “Is Declan being soft and caring and nostalgic and…what? Loyal to my grandfather?”

Miles sighs. “Yes.”

She snaps her mouth shut. She frowns. She studies Miles face. “How do you know that?”

“I talk to Iris a lot,” he says without missing a beat.

“Did you know that my grandfatherworriedabout me?”

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