Page 46 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“Ye ken, I think ye might be onto something,” he conceded. “If Astrid is wit’ child, we’ll need to let the others ken of her new position.”
“So, when do ye want that to happen?” Reid asked, his smile growing wider.
“Are ye sayin’ that ye’re goin’ to organize the event?”
“Well…” Reid pressed his hand to his chest. “I do have some experience in throwin’ events at the last minute. And I’m certain it will be an event to remember.”
“Fine, go and handle the arrangements, but keep it quiet. I dinnae want Astrid to find out. Let it be a surprise,” Thomas urged.
Reid sprang to his feet and grabbed his brother’s hand. “I willnae let ye down. I swear it,” he said.
He grabbed the ledger and turned it right side up before handing it back to Thomas. He didn’t say a word before sprinting to the door.
Thomas glanced down at the ledger, completely dumbfounded by the fact that he’d been caught daydreaming. It was the first time ever, and it was all because of Astrid. His desire for her was all-consuming. Frustrated, he set the ledger down and marched toward his study door. He charged through the castle, hunting for his wife.
Her kiss lingered on the edge of his memory, pushing him to find her. Each empty room he looked into only added tohis frustration. Then, he heard it—her voice drifting down the corridor. It hit him like a blunt claymore right in the chest.
“Are ye sure that’s the story ye want?” Astrid asked.
The question was an odd one, until he peered into the room. There, in the sitting room, curled up on the couch, was Astrid. She cuddled Melody close as she picked up a book from the stack next to her.
He stopped, his breath catching in his throat as time seemed to freeze around him. All the needs and wants that had plagued him, the restless desire that had almost driven him mad, vanished the moment he spotted Melody. In that instant, everything shifted.
The weight of his worries dissolved, leaving behind a stark clarity.
Instead of viewing Astrid as a mere instrument of his torment—a reminder of his struggles and heartaches—he found himself seeing her in a new light, transformed by the gentle scene unfolding before him. She was no longer just a figure of his past, but a nurturing presence, embodying the warmth and safety he had longed for. Her kindness radiated from her as she sat beside Melody, her delicate fingers stroking the girl’s hair with a tender touch that spoke of love and reassurance.
As Astrid read the fairytale, her voice flowed like a melodic stream, rich and inviting.
Thomas leaned against the door frame, captivated by her impeccable French, the lilting cadence wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. Each word she spoke seemed to weave a magical spell, drawing him deeper into the moment. Images of fantastical realms and heroic adventures flashed through his mind, but it was the sight of Astrid, of her nurturing nature, that truly entranced him.
In that quiet space, the world outside faded away. The tumult of his thoughts quieted, replaced by a profound sense of peace.
He realized that in this small, intimate setting, he had found something he thought was lost forever—an understanding of love, connection, and the possibility of healing.
The bond between Astrid and Melody illuminated the path forward, guiding him toward the hope and solace he had been searching for all along.
Tonight, Astrid. Ye promised me I could have ye tonight.
16
“Ye’ll nae take me alive.”
Astrid’s body froze as if every ounce of warmth drained out of her in an instant. She scrambled down the hallway and burst through the door. Her eyes widened as she spotted Tavish in the corner, mustering every ounce of strength he possessed to wield his dirk.
“Tavish, ye put that down before ye lob off yer foot,” Alba ordered calmly, clearly unaffected by the scene unfolding before her. “Astrid? What… That daft man—I asked him to send for Thomas.”
“I can help,” Astrid offered as Alba motioned for the maid there to come closer.
The poor girl kept one eye on Tavish as he brandished his blade at her.
“Get Thomas. Tell him that his faither is in one of his moods again. But dinnae alert the rest of the castle, understand?” Alba instructed.
“I can help, though,” Astrid offered again as she hunted for a weapon of her own.
If only the Laird hadn’t confiscated her dirk, she’d have already had this handled. But she didn’t have her dirk with her. Nor was there any other weapon in the room.
“And how did he get his hands on a weapon in the first place?”
