Page 110 of Rags to Royals

“The woman my grandfather wants me to marry,” I say.

“Her name is Astrid? Like Astrid Olsen?”

“Yes. I mean…itisAstrid Olsen,” I explain.

Scarlett’s eyes go wide, and she steps away from me. “Your arranged engagement is withAstridOlsen?”

“I wouldn’t call it an engagement,” I say.

Scarlett shakes her head. “But your grandfather wants you to marryAstrid Olsen?” she asks, her voice rising and her eyes getting rounder.

I step toward her and put my hands on her upper arms. I stroke up and down. “What’s wrong? I told you about this.”

“You didn’t tell me it wasAstrid Olsen.”

“Why does that matter?” I ask. “And why do you keep saying her first and last name?”

“Because she’sAstrid Olsen,” Scarlett says. “Cian, why don’t you want to marry her? She’s amazing.”

I hear Fiona snort, and I shoot her a frown. I turn back to Scarlett. “Sheisamazing. But I don’t want to marry her because I want to marryyou. Remember?”

“But she’s…Astrid Olsen.”

“Stop saying that.”

“But she’s beautiful!”

“And you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. You are the only woman I want.”

“And youknowher. You’ve known her for a long time,” Scarlett insists.

“I love everything I know about you, and I want to know more.”

“But she’s smart and brave and so inspiring!”

“Scarlett,” I say firmly. “I wantyou.”

“But she already hassomany projects and causes! You could get involved and do so many good things?—”

“Scarlett,” I say through gritted teeth.

“You should really rethink th?—”

I really want her to shut up about Astrid. So I do the only thing I can. I pull her in and kiss her.

Chapter 24

Scarlett

It seems that Cian kissing me sets off some kind of alarm because within a minute, we’re surrounded by people.

Saoirse seems the most surprised. “Oh my gosh, Cian, what are you doing?”

I hear someone else ask, “Henry, you okay, man?” and Henry laugh.

At which point Cian finally lifts his head and looks into my eyes, still holding my face between his hands, “We’re not done talking about this.”

“That wasn’t talking,” I say softly.

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