Page 74 of Married to the Earl

“You don’t understand anything,” Astrid breathed. “I really thought you did, Father. I thought you knew what we were doing here.”

“Whatarewe doing here?”

“IloveConor,” she said. “This isn’t about my reputation, and it’s certainly not about money. I had no idea you thought so little of me.”

He said nothing.

Maybe that’s all he’s capable of understanding,she realized.Maybe he can’t fathom that a young woman would have another reason to act as I am.

But shouldn’t he be able to?

“You loved Mother,” Astrid said quietly. “Didn’t you? I think you did.”

“I loved her more than life itself,” Tobias said quietly. “I love her still. I think of her every day.”

“If you could do something—anything—to restore her to you,” Astrid said, “wouldn’t you do it? Even if it was dangerous? Even if the people around you told you it was ill advised? Would anything in the world stop you?”

Tobias looked down at his boots.

Astrid waited.

“No,” he said quietly. “Nothing would stop me. I would go to the ends of the Earth to have your mother back by my side.”

“Then you understand why I have to do this.”

“I didn’t realize you felt that way,” Tobias said.

“Neither did I, until recently,” Astrid said. “But I do.”

Tobias squared his shoulders. “Very well,” he said. “I will do all I can to help you.”

“You will?” She was stunned.

“Of course,” he said. “I love you more than anything, Astrid, and I won’t have you suffer as I did. As long as there is a chance that we can get your husband back, I will help you fight to do that.”

Astrid nodded, feeling suddenly tearful. “Thank you, Father.”

Tobias came forward and peered into the window. “Oh, he’s there,” he said grimly.

“He is? Which one?”

“The tall, dark haired one by the bar. That’s O’Flannagan.”

Astrid felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach. Killian O’Flannagan was a massive, hulking man, muscular and powerful. She had been determined to confront him—she was still determined to do so—but it hadn’t occurred to her that she would be facing someone of such bulk and mass.If this does turn violent, he could easily get the best of both me and Father. He wouldn’t even need the help of the other men in the room.

She turned and walked back up the road to the footmen she’d stationed a little way behind her. “Once I go inside,” she said. “Approach the building. If there’s any sign of violence from within, come in and help us get out.”

“Do you expect trouble, My Lady?” one of the footmen asked.

“I hope not,” Astrid said. “But you can’t be too careful, I suppose.”

The footman nodded.

Astrid turned to her father. “Let’s go,” she said.

He gave her no argument and followed as she made her way to the door of the Angry Boar.

You’ve got one chance,she told herself.One chance to speak. One chance to command the room before someone sees you and seizes control of this conversation. Speak first and do it loudly, because you might not get a second chance.

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