The Resilient Lady Collins

Chapter 133: Growing love (2)

"Ian, do not walk by me. I have dealt with you trying to embarrass me long enough. I’ve come here to speak to you about something important. Scarlet can hear it too. I’m sure she will enjoy it," said Hank.

Scarlet thought differently because she had no interest in what the Kingsleys did. Nothing about Hank impressed her. They should stop making the mistake that her interest in Ian meant that she had an interest in the entire family.

Scarlet wanted Ian’s family troubles to stay with him. She did not need to be dragged into it when she had relatives after her home to take care of. She didn’t need Hank or Layla like little flies around her.

Ian ignored his father and went to Scarlet’s carriage rather than his own. They would find a way for him to return home later or possibly, not return at all.

"Ian," Hank raised his voice. Not only was he Ian’s father, but he was also a lord. There was to be respect given to him when he spoke.

Ian finally had his father’s attention but was going to waste it. Hank wanted to laugh at how Ian tried to act like he didn’t need family. Hank would always remember how desperate Ian was to get his attention. That boy was still somewhere in Ian.

"Scarlet, do you mind if I speak for a moment?" Hank questioned, turning to her for help.

Scarlet got into her carriage with the help of Ian. The door was still open for her to see Hank. "You have been speaking since we walked out. Why do you need to ask me now?"

"Lovely, isn’t she?’ Ian asked, joining Scarlet inside the carriage. Hank knew that there would only be talking when they got somewhere about what happened to Noelle.

Hank approached the carriage to stop the two from leaving. He had not come all the way here for Ian to ignore him. He was tired of this game of having to chase his son. Ian’s disrespectful ways were always why it was so hard to fit in with the family.

"Ian, I will not be so kind as I am now if you keep this up. I have been offering you a welcome back into the family and the chance to take after me. Your brother is starting to get far ahead. If you want a chance, you must be on my good side now," said Hank.

Ian closed the door, still uninterested in the offer. "We all know that you and that woman of yours want to put the son made between you as your heir. You are just a bastard to want a spare should Victor be too sick. You don’t believe in him like your wife does."

Hank didn’t see it as so bad that he wanted a spare. "I have two sons. Why wouldn’t I place my plans on you should Victor fail? I am giving you a chance to compete-"

"You failed to admit that you don’t want me to compete. You want me to be there to pick up the slack when Victor cannot and then toss me to the side when Victor is well. If Victor was not sick right now, I would have never been an option. It must pain you to have to consider the son of a maid. Be on your way," Ian advised Hank.

"You are still stuck in the past," Hank said, annoyed by Ian’s response. Why would he have considered a bastard first? Ian should be grateful to be counted into these plans now. freёwebnovel.com

Ian had the chance to come back home and live in the main house instead of the small cottage. He had the chance to make use of his last name finally. To get help to no longer be known as the family bastard. To be able to match with Scarlet.

"Rather than think of it as pleasing me, why don’t you think about your future? Wouldn’t you like for her to marry someone with a little bit of power to their name? Right now you are just Ian," Hank said, not seeing another Kingsley before him.

Ian would only be seen as a family if he accepted what Hank proposed.

"Dawson, take us from here," Scarlet said, done with hearing the conversation now that marriage was brought up.

Hank was getting a little too ahead of himself. She knew she was already involved in Hank’s plans for Ian. She would always make a valuable woman to marry into a family, but Scarlet wasn’t interested in being of use to Hank.

Hank wasn’t pleased with Scarlet being the one to make the carriage move off. This had nothing to do with her. This was the Kingsley business so she should stay quiet at times.

Scarlet touched her forehead. It wasn’t a long talk with Hank but there was already a headache. If Layla was present, Scarlet would need to take medicine.

Scarlet looked at where Ian was still holding her hands.

"Are you thinking that should we marry, I should take your name?" Ian asked, jokingly. It bothered him a little that should he start a family, he would be continuing the Kingsley name.

"I am not thinking of marriage. Now that you mention it, I think it would be a horror to marry into your family. I don’t care what title your father has. I see that look in his eyes where he thinks he can benefit from me being around you. I hate it," Scarlet said as she didn’t like to be used.

"You don’t have to worry about what he wants. The only Kingsley you should think about is me," Ian said, raising Scarlet’s hand to kiss the back of it.

"One of you is already hard to put up with. It might be time that I stop frequenting your business. It is too easy for those who annoy me to go there," said Scarlet. She would rather stay at home than come all this way to enjoy tea and be bothered by others.

Ian had too much attention on him right now for her to be going to his business for a quiet cup of tea.

Scarlet noticed that Ian wasn’t happy to hear this. "I will allow you to come to the estate to make it. Whenever you are not busy. I don’t want to take you from your plans or work."

Ian smiled as Scarlet was making quite a big leap today. Not only was she trying something serious with him, but now he had another reason to visit the estate when he wanted.

"What are you doing?" Scarlet questioned the reason for him touching her face.

"I must check if you are sick. I can’t have you feeling better and then take this all back," Ian said, using this as an opportunity to touch her face.

Scarlet moved his hand from her face. "I am not sick. I would not have said all of this just to take it back. What kind of person do you take me for?"

"My mistake," Ian replied. "I’ll make a pot of tea when we get to the estate as an apology."

Scarlet couldn’t say no as she was in the mood for tea after bringing it. It should help her relax after all the headaches she had today.