Page 76 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
Astrid exchanged a glance at Thomas as they both came to the same conclusion.
“If that’s what ye wish, I can do that,” he answered, as kind and compassionate as ever.
Astrid couldn’t help but see him not as the Laird, but as the young man she had always dreamed of having. Despite therough edges of his personality, she found it easier and easier to envision a future with him.
“Did ye hear that? The Laird is takin’ me some place special too,” Melody cooed and clapped her little hands together.
“But tomorrow,” Thomas interjected, his eyes flicking to Astrid, the flames of lust kindling and burning within them, “it’ll be just ye and me. And I’m hopin’ that perhaps we’ll have a wee bit more to say, aye?”
“And why is Me Laird doin’ this?” Astrid asked.
Thomas paused at the threshold of his study. He rolled his shoulders back as his gaze darkened. “I thought it might be a good idea to get to ken me wife.”
25
“Nae that I dinnae want ye to be happy. I do. But are ye sure that leavin’ the castle tomorrow is the wisest thing to do? Surely there are other places the Laird can show his wife to impress her,” Duncan suggested. His cautious tone grated on Thomas’s nerves.
“I’m takin’ me wife out of the castle. I dinnae think that a few hours away will bring down the place. Besides, I’m merely takin’ her to the loch.”
“Where yer faither proposed to yer maither?”
“Aye,” Thomas answered, a hint of pride ringing in his voice.
He understood the implications of taking Astrid to such a place. But it held a special place in his heart, and for the first time, he found someone he could share it with.
“The one and the same. We’ll get there at sunrise, maybe take a dip, and come back.”
“Ye’re nae just doin’ this to bed the lass, are ye?” Duncan asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
His gray hair and the wrinkles on his face made him look formidable. But the scowl on his face only made Thomas chuckle.
“I dinnae think I’ve ever seen ye wit’ such a pitiful expression on yer face. Ye look as if I’m purposefully burnin’ the castle to the ground,” Thomas said.
“Ye dinnae think that Laird Chalium isnae watchin’ the castle? I guarantee that he has someone at every entrance, ensurin’ that the moment ye leave, he’ll be able to attack.”
“Ye’re bein’ paranoid. Laird Chalium wouldnae dare step foot on me lands. He kens he’ll lose,” Thomas said, a bit too overconfident.
The truth of the matter was that he didn’t know what the future held, but he could no longer put his future with Astrid on hold. He wanted to give her everything right now, not later, when his strength failed him.
“I understand yer concern,” he continued as he pushed through the heavy oak doors of his study. The popping of the fire was a comforting sound as he entered. He pulled in a deep breath,letting the familiar scent of paper and dust fill his nostrils. “I do. But I cannae keep Astrid locked away as if she were a prisoner. And she’ll be wit’ me.”
“If it’s the lass ye’re concerned about, then send her off. But ye shouldnae leave the castle,” Duncan urged. He pursed his lips as Thomas lowered himself into the leather chair behind his desk.
“The purpose is to get to ken me wife,” Thomas pointed out as he plucked a ledger off a nearby stack and began going over the inventory of his grains. “I cannae do that wit’ everyone right on top of us all the time. I barely have any time wit’ her at all.”
“What happened to this bein’ a marriage of convenience? Ye cannae tell me ye’ve fallen in love wit’ the girl?” Duncan asked, his eyes widening with shock.
“And what if I am? So what? It’s nae that uncommon for a husband to dote on his wife every now and again,” Thomas said as images of his parents flashed through his mind.
How he wanted a marriage like the one they had. Their love was epic and spanned over generations.
It was the kind of union that Thomas had always wished for but never thought it would be something he would obtain.
“Then get her flowers. Set up a special dinner for her,” Duncan suggested with a wave of his hand.
“I dinnae think food is the key to producin’ an heir. If it were, I’m sure there would be many marriages spared of adultery,” Thomas argued as he shook his head at the thought of a leg of lamb being nearly as savory or satisfying as lying with Astrid. The thought was nearly inconceivable. “But now that ye’ve mentioned it, a picnic would be nice.”
“Do ye even hear yerself? It’s like ye’ve hit yer head a bit too hard and ye’re nae thinkin’ clearly. I’m tellin’ ye that ye are puttin’ the castle in danger if ye go out tomorrow,” Duncan pressed, slamming his fist on the desk as if that would snap Thomas out of his daze.
