The Resilient Lady Collins

Chapter 21: Unlike myself (2)

"Scarlet, please call the guards. He’s attacking me," Layla cried out.

Scarlet slowly stepped forward, focusing on Ian’s hold on Layla’s hands. She didn’t for a second doubt that Ian would throw her over. Had she not been near this might have been a terrible moment to walk in on.

"It sounded like there was an attack from both sides. An attack started by you, Mrs. Kingsley. You should go your separate ways before someone else comes out here. Ian, let go," Scarlet advised him as she thought it wouldn’t be long before someone saw him.

Ian let go of Layla’s hands and stepped away from her. Had Scarlet not returned and Layla continued to speak down on his mother, he might have pushed her over.

Layla touched the balcony edge to balance herself. "You witnessed him trying to make me fall."

"I would have done much worse had someone referred to my mother as a whore or tried to hurt me. When you attack someone, whether with words or physically, you must be prepared for how they defend themselves. I advise you to leave," said Scarlet.

Scarlet would not join in making Ian out to be an attacker when Layla’s actions were not innocent.

Layla was displeased by Scarlet not taking her side when she saw Ian preparing to push her. "As a lady, you should call for the guards-"

"Should I call for the guards, who will be the first person to rush to see if you are fine?" Scarlet asked.

Layla didn’t know the point Scarlet was trying to make at first, but then her eyes widened as she thought about her husband and son. They were not to come to speak to Ian. "Excuse me," Layla said, quickly leaving before either one could come searching for her.

Scarlet stepped to the right to give Layla enough space to pass. Once Layla was far out of sight, she turned to Ian. "If you are going to kill someone, you should be quick and leave from where you committed the crime. Or better yet, wait until there isn’t a ball to do it."

Ian stared at Scarlet, caught off guard that this was what she wanted to say to him now. He laughed shortly after, not believing the woman before him. "You aren’t scolding me for thinking of pushing her?"

"Why would I? Like I said, I would do worse should someone speak ill of my mother. It did sound like she tried to attack you. I could be wrong as I was only listening from a distance. Are you hurt?" Scarlet questioned, giving him a look over to check.

Ian winced and placed his hand on his chest. "Right here."

Scarlet didn’t move an inch from where she stood. "Are you trying to trick me to get me to go closer to you? If you are, I will push you over."

Ian dropped the act as he believed she would push him. "You’re quite the little murderer, Scarlet. Knowing when and how to kill someone. I might need your advice in the future. Now, why did you not leave?"

"I don’t know all about your family, but I am aware that she is not fond of you. I couldn’t ignore the fact that you might need saving and it turned out it did. It is quite unlike myself to get involved in other family matters but I owe you. We are even now," said Scarlet.

"That is disappointing."

"It is disappointing that I stepped in to help you?" Scarlet asked, confused. She saved him from having the guards walk in on a misunderstanding. freёwebnovel.com

"I would have liked for you to do something else to make us even. Saving me from her was a waste. I might have been treated to dinner," said Ian.

"Dinner with me is more important than avoiding trouble with guards? Were you ill before returning to Lockwood? Perhaps kept in a room?" Scarlet questioned, taking a step back. It made a little sense now.

"Are you asking if I was crazy, Scarlet? I was not," Ian replied before she could run away. "I would have found a way from her, but thank you. I’m not exactly in the mood to speak to guards."

"Are you leaving now? It might be a little uncomfortable to have her watching you. I apologise for eavesdropping on your conversation. I heard her wanting you gone because of your brother. I won’t share what I heard," Scarlet promised.

It was no benefit to her to share Ian’s conversation with Layla. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Leave? I have no plans to leave until the ball is nearing its end. I’ve yet to have the town realise that Lord Kingsley’s oldest is back," said Ian.

"That is your intention for coming here. It is quite the place to announce your return. I see now that you are prepared to fight her. Good luck with it. Since you are not hurt and she is gone, I shall leave you," Scarlet said as there was nothing more for her to do here.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Though many in there are quick to take the chance to speak about you, only fools would try to hurt you, especially in the palace. Your parents might be happy to know you are off enjoying the ball. So please, stay," Ian said, looking forward to her company.

"I have looked out at the garden long enough. Pretending to stand here as if I enjoy it will not be fun for me," Scarlet replied.

She could admit that being out here was better than inside. Scarlet could still hear the music and being outside made it easier for her to slip out and find her way home when she became bored.

Also, with her here, her parents did not need to be watching over her and got to enjoy the night. Scarlet wanted them to enjoy their night without thinking of her.

"We don’t need to stay here. There is plenty of space for us to wander before going back inside. Take pity on me since I have never walked around the palace before. There are plenty of guards around to watch over where we walk and if they weren’t, I would not harm you," Ian promised.

He planned to approach his family to see their reaction to his return. Already approached by the evil witch, his father and brother might soon be forced to leave, but he could let go of his plan if Scarlet would stay close.

It was a fair trade.

"One quick walk around the garden. You will be able to see a lot of the palace from there," Scarlet said, leading the way to the stairs that would take them to the queen’s garden.

Scarlet was only doing this as she knew what it was like to be bothered by family. This should make them truly even and she was going to try to have a bit of fun. Besides, being out here meant she could ignore the king or any of the royal family asking her to dance.

Ian followed Scarlet like a happy puppy in her eyes.

Seeing how he was spoken to by Layla left Scarlet feeling sorry for him as she could only imagine what it was like to live with Layla when Ian was a child.

Hopefully, a look around the garden would let him see what he missed as a child when he wasn’t welcome to join his family at balls.