Page 155 of Rags to Royals

He waits until I turn, then says. “Marry her, make Diarmuid happy today. Torin will take the throne, then grant your annulment.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to tell Scarlett?”

“That she should’ve accepted your proposal when you first asked?”

I glare at him. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

“Was she going to marry you?” he asks. “You left in a rush, it was a few days before your big talk was scheduled, but do you think she was going to say yes?” He steps forward. “Because that’s what this was all about. You wanted to find her before you made any commitment to Astrid. You found her.”

“And we fell in love,” I tell him

“She said that?”

“No. Not the words. Not yet.” I feel my chest tighten. I didn’t want to rush her, so I didn’t say the words either. Not directly. Not specifically. But Ishouldhave. Dammit. And I really fucking want to hear those words from her. “But it was happening,” I tell Henry. I believe that. I trust that Scarlett loves me. And I know Henry can see the sincerity in my eyes.

He blows out a breath. Then nods. “Then call this off. Tell Astrid you can’t do this. Tell your grandmother. Tell your grandfather.”

I need to. I do. I need to show my family who I am. I need to let them know the real me. “Fuck,” I groan. “This couldkill him, Henry.”

They told us this morning that my grandfather slept through the night and his vital signs are stable. The doctor thinks that he should be wide awake and able to participate in the wedding ceremony. But he has the king resting, with no visitors allowed, until then. Even if I was willing to risk his heart giving out with my news, I couldn’t get in there to tell him before the ceremony with our entire family around anyway.

“Do you want tomarryScarlett?” Henry asks.

“Yes. She’s it. She’s the one I want to spend my life with. It can’t be anyone else.”

Henry gives me a single nod. “Okay, then.”

“What does that mean? Okay then?”

“It means that my entire job is to keep you safe and happy. And I’m pretty fucking good at it. I don’t expect that to stop today.” He returns and stalks out of my room.

I have no idea what that means.

So I put my tie on and go downstairs.

Everyone is gathered in the sitting room outside of my grandfather’s bedroom. In any normal household, that room would not be big enough to hold a wedding. But this is a palace, and he’s a king.

He’s propped up in one of the armchairs.

I stop inside the door as soon as my eyes fall on him.

He’s pale. And he looks so small.

My grandfather is actually a big man. Tall, broad, and more, he has a presence that fills an entire room. He has a deep, commanding voice. And he is very used to having all of the attention on him.

I’ve always perceived him to be a giant.

Seeing him sitting, surrounded by pillows and wrapped in a blanket, his skin pale and his face drawn, I have to swallow hard before I continue into the room.

I cross to his chair and bow. “Grandfather.”

He smiles. “Cian, my boy.”

I lean over and press a kiss against his cheek. It’s very cool. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to be seen. Especially on this day. Thank you.”

My chest tightens and my heart squeezes. Fuck. He really wants this.

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