The Resilient Lady Collins

Chapter 116: Surprise visit (3)

"It has to be off while your parents are here. Your mother might enjoy the sight of us being affectionate," Ian said, not letting go of Scarlet’s hand.

"Why do you mostly speak of what my mother will enjoy and not what my father will? Shouldn’t you focus on the harder parent? The one who might jump over the table to strangle you if he doesn’t like something you said," said Scarlet.

She continued to say, "My father is protective of me. After trying to stay out of my marriage, he won’t sit back and let someone he believes isn’t good for me stay by my side this time."

"Scarlet, do you think that I am trouble?" Ian asked as everything would be fine as long as Scarlet knew he was a good person.

"Yes," Scarlet answered honestly. "Why do you look offended? You bring me nothing but trouble when you visit. Outside of that, you’ve done nothing to warrant me thinking you are a bad person. To me at least. Robert would say differently if he could speak."

"Then we have nothing to worry about. I’ll win them over now so when you fall for me, you don’t have to worry about getting them to like me then."

"Your confidence is remarkable," Scarlet muttered. She knew a few people who could use some of Ian’s confidence.

"Thank you. I’ve received the strangest thing today. An invitation to the palace. I’m a little busy that day but if you need an escort," Ian said, willing to make time for her.

"I will not be going to the palace. The king and I are not on good terms since the princess is here and I might have challenged him to see who is the one with more power. He’s not fond of when anyone undermines his power. I won’t be going to any balls for a while," Scarlet said.

"Leave it to you to piss off the king. Do you want me to silence him? I know a few secrets," Ian shared.

Scarlet turned to Ian. "Again, you are confusing me. Are you getting these invitations because of your last name or is there something more to the relationships you have with people in this town? I am trying not to look further into your life so I am asking."

"If you want to know so badly, I will share," Ian replied.

Scarlet didn’t think it was so easy. "And what do you need in exchange for it? I am not kissing you again. It’s bad enough that you’ve ruined my innocent office."

"You have swords and guns on display in that office, Scarlet. It was hardly innocent and I wasn’t expecting anything in exchange but since you asked," Ian said, laughing at the curses Scarlet muttered. "I am being honest. I was going to tell you for free but your willingness to do something for me changed my mind."

"My father’s not going to like you. I don’t like you," said Scarlet.

"We both know that is not true. I have more than one business here in town," Ian said, partially revealing how he got invited to parties many could not attend. "With the other one, comes favours."

Scarlet had a little idea that it was some kind of shady business that he could not put in a building for the town guards to see. Ian wasn’t the first and he wouldn’t be the last to do it. She had no use for this kind of business as she had the means to take care of her problems.

"It will cost you to learn more about this business. Oh." Ian’s attention was brought to her neck after glancing there. "I didn’t know that I made one mark."

Scarlet’s hand went to her neck trying to find where he might have marked her. She couldn’t remember him making any as she would have stopped him. She had to visit the hotel tomorrow and the dress already picked out for her did not cover her neck. It wasn’t going to cover much of her shoulders.

"I am teasing you. Would have been bad if I gave in to leaving many of them on you-"

"Scarlet," Leonard said, calling to her as she failed to notice his presence.

Scarlet was taking too long to get her guest so Leonard came to see if Ian was being a coward by trying to leave.

"It is good to see you again, Mr. Collins," Ian said, holding out his hand to Leonard.

Leonard stared at Ian’s hand. "Again?"

"You saw him at the ball, father. He was the only one I danced with," Scarlet said, knowing her father was purposely forgetting this. Must he be so petty?

"And the one you left with?" Leonard asked.

"Yes," Scarlet replied. It was no secret that she left the ball early. Most just didn’t know who but her parents were aware. "Please be nice, father." freewёbnoνel.com

Leonard shook Ian’s hand for a short greeting. freewēbnoveℓ.com

"I am always nice, Scarlet. Don’t put a bad impression of me in the head of your guest. Hold my hand so I can escort you down," Leonard said, offering his hand to Scarlet.

Ian smiled as he liked the challenge of having to win over Scarlet’s father. It was interesting to see how Leonard looked at him with a gaze that didn’t have any interest in him but was full of love when he turned to Scarlet.

Ian let go of Scarlet’s hand so she could walk with her father. He ended up walking behind the two as they made their way to the dining room.

"Ian Kingsley," Samara greeted him, her voice laced with excitement. It was a shock to know that he was still in Scarlet’s presence.

It was quite an odd match. While Samara didn’t hate the Kingsleys, she didn’t exactly love them. If invited to their parties, she would attend if Leonard had to go.

Samara could never forget the slick comment Layla made which she thought no one would notice when she tried to put down Scarlet being the Collins successor to make Victor look good. Samara was all for praising your child but not when you had to put down other children to make your child look good.

"Lady Collins," Ian greeted Samara, taking hold of her hand to kiss it.

"Oh. What a gentleman," Samara laughed. So far, she liked him but she wasn’t rooting for him yet.

This could all be an act and once he got where he needed to be with Scarlet, then his real side might show. He had a long way to go before she would completely trust him.

"Or a flirt," said Leonard. He was never one to enjoy men greeting his wife by kissing her hand. "Let go of her hand."

"While Mrs. Collins is a beauty, it is only Scarlet that I seek to flirt with. If I knew that tonight would be our first proper greeting, I would have brought you a gift. Please forgive me," Ian requested.

"Oh, you don’t have to get us any gifts. We don’t care for those things. What is important is if you are courting our daughter, you must treat her well. Too many have given us gifts to try to impress us and forget what matters most," Samara replied.

What was the point of bringing her gifts when you weren’t going to treat her daughter well? Samara normally didn’t look at the gifts since she had no use for them. Leonard would take a step further by burning them so he wouldn’t have to use a room to hold them.