Free Web NovelChapter 153: Spend the night (4)
"Don’t be sad on my behalf about it," Ian said as he could tell she was pitying him. He didn’t need Scarlet to pity him since he was fine without his mother. He did well without his parents to look after him.
"I am not. I was wondering how many more sad stories you have saved to tell me. That was all," Scarlet lied.
How was she not to feel sorry for him? Aside from a maid who cared for him, Ian didn’t have his family the way he should.
"I know that you are lying, Scarlet. Your face reveals that you want to cry in my stead. Though I am curious about your crying face, I don’t want you to cry because of me. I am better off without those two in life," Ian replied.
"Where did you go when you left Lockwood? Did you have someone you could go to?" Scarlet questioned, hoping he found family during that time.
"No. I didn’t know my mother’s family and another Kingsley wouldn’t have taken me in. I wandered around, heading far away from this town. I got rides on carriages and just went where they did. I slept outside a few times. I did small jobs since I wouldn’t get the money my father put aside for me right away," Ian revealed.
Ian turned to lay on his back. He had never gone so far back with anyone about his past. "I travelled all around the kingdom by hopping on strangers’s carriages. I ended up getting a ride from a woman who offered for me to work around her home in exchange for using a room in her house. I warned her never to offer a stranger a room there."
"The plan was to stay there for a few days while I decided where to go next and what work to do. I ended up staying there longer. She had no one visiting her so I couldn’t just leave her. She was clumsy," Ian said, remembering how she would drop everything her hands touched. "I didn’t have anyone and neither did she."
Scarlet enjoyed that he ended up bonding with someone. They need to share blood to feel like family.
"Do not smile because she later passed. I went to wake her in the morning and she did not respond. Once I informed the town guards, her son finally showed up, looking to take everything that she left behind. Money is all that many care about. To our surprise, she left everything to me," Ian said, still surprised years later that she did.
"You were around for her last moments while her child was not. She must have known that he was not deserving of it. Did you stay there since you had a home now?" Scarlet questioned.
"No. Her son made it hard to live there with how often he tried to get inside and get the court to look over what his mother had sent them. Tried to claim that I killed her and forged what the court believed to be her final wishes so I moved. The house is still there. I have someone to watch over it now," Ian said, knowing the son would go inside if it was not guarded. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
"It says a lot about his character and how he would be around now that his mother has passed. It would be best to stop and wonder why your mother trusted her things more with a stranger than with you," Scarlet said, curious about the son.
Ian thought differently. "His concerns were fair since I suddenly showed up beside his mother and received everything. The town guards wanted to take me but the court there confirmed that she did it herself. I moved to another town and rented a room. Came to the decision that working odd jobs wouldn’t last forever so I had to start a business."
"I planned what to do until I was to receive money from the court. Thanks to working for others before, I knew what needed to be done and the first business was successful. I continued to move around towns opening others and met with Owen then others like him who now work for me. Years later I ended back here," Ian finished.
There were bits and pieces that Scarlet didn’t need to be aware of. Things he had to do to survive as a young man living alone. People like to trouble you when they see you alone and believe there isn’t anyone to protect you.
"So, is it your plan to return to the home she left for you?" Scarlet asked as it made more sense to do that than stay in Lockwood.
"That was my intention at first, but you cannot leave Lockwood for so long. I can stay in this town," Ian replied, his thoughts about Lockwood the same, but it was more bearable to be here when there was someone around that you cared for.
"So, I am included in your plans?" Scarlet asked, somewhat pleased to know that. It was too soon for either of them to make plans for the other, but it was still good to know.
"Certainly. Don’t you hear what my father says? He claims we shall be married by winter and the season is soon upon us," Ian said, laughing at her reaction.
"I am not getting remarried anytime soon. It should be applauded that I have accepted your courting so fast. We can take our time to get to know each other. If there is anything you want to know about my youth, you may ask," Scarlet said, wanting to be fair. "I didn’t spend all my days in Lockwood."
Despite the estate being in Lockwood, there was another large home where her family stayed when they needed a break from others. Scarlet wanted another home of her own far out of Lockwood for when she needed to take breaks from the people here.
"It is the home we all go to reunite. Should you be on your best behaviour for the next few weeks, I shall allow you to accept my mother’s invitation to join us. Some of my relatives are not what you expect. Some might even challenge you to a sword fight, so you are welcome to say no," Scarlet gave him the chance. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
"I will start learning to use a sword now," Ian replied, taking up the offer. "So far, I have enjoyed your family. Well, your parents. Not Peter and Peter’s wife."
Scarlet sighed as once again he was getting names wrong. "Must you do this when they are not present? It is Preston and Naomi. You are starting to make me think his name is Peter."
