Free Web NovelChapter 257: Relaxed (2)
The next day, Scarlet headed out early with Ian to explore the town. This time, Ian sat at the back of the carriage as one of his guards took his spot up front.
Ian used this to make up for the time he wasted not being by Scarlet’s side on the way here. He held her hand, rubbing it occasionally to warm her up. He made a mental note to buy Scarlet gloves. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
"Winter might be upon us sooner than we think. I do not mind as it will be the perfect weather to convince you to stay inside," said Ian.
"If you mean when we return to Lockwood then you are sadly mistaken. Winter brings many parties at my hotels so I will be busy making sure those customers get what they paid for. Winter brings many visitors as well. I only hope that this winter isn’t so bad as to ruin my family reunion," Scarlet said, looking away from the carriage window to Ian.
"Is it because you are excited to introduce me to your other relatives? I hope that is the reason," Ian responded, lifting Scarlet’s hand to kiss it.
His focus went to the ring Scarlet picked out to use as her engagement ring. It was grand to be easily mistaken for an engagement ring though Scarlet referred to it as one of her more simple rings. Seeing what Scarlet called simple, Ian knew that he had to do something special for her real ring.
Scarlet made it clear that she didn’t want something grand but Ian couldn’t help his need to spoil her. Just because Scarlet had the world at her fingertips thanks to her wealth did not mean that everyone around her should be thoughtless with their gifts.
"It is not busy," Scarlet noted about the town.
The roads in Lockwood would be busy at this hour but here there weren’t many around which Scarlet enjoyed.
Ian opened the door when the carriage stopped and offered his hand to help Scarlet out.
Scarlet placed her hand on Ian’s and stepped out of the carriage. She held his hand so they could walk side by side. "Where should we go first?"
"Wherever catches your attention. Seeing how you are now makes me think we should settle down in a quiet town later in life. This one wouldn’t be too bad or we can go further away from Lockwood so you wouldn’t be concerned about the hotel," Ian suggested.
Scarlet laughed as Ian learned much to learn about her. "There are other hotels all over the kingdom. Some are looked over by relatives close to them but most are run by me. You cannot escape the hotels. By the time I move out of Lockwood, there should be someone else to be the heir to deal with the hotels. I hope."
"There will be. I have a lot of relatives to impress so guide me to know what gifts to pick out or will your family think that I am trying to buy their love? I am certain that your mother and grandmother will gladly accept a gift from me," Ian said, not worried about Samara or Rue.
Leonard and Elijah were the two he had to worry about and then there was Ryan who couldn’t help stirring the pot. Ian didn’t know what the other men in Scarlet’s family were like so he was going into this blind.
"My father will pretend that he doesn’t care for the gift but then he will treat it well and as long as I am happy, my grandfather will like you. Everyone will welcome you to the family after questioning you a little bit. Relax," Scarlet said, rubbing Ian’s arm. "You will be fine."
Scarlet thought of herself as one of the hardest Collins to open up to outsiders and Ian had gotten her to say yes to his proposal. He just had to be himself and he would fit right in with her family. They would be most excited to hear that she was not going to change her name this time around. The Collins name would continue in the estate.
Scarlet smiled when she noticed a couple walking and lifting their child to have them swing. It was a breath of fresh air to see others so relaxed and enjoying the moment. It truly wouldn’t be so bad to settle here later on. Everyone had to leave Lockwood at some point.
Scarlet enjoyed just taking a stroll while holding Ian’s hand. It was already day two so time was moving fast and Scarlet did not want it to. She did not want the few days to be over so fast and have to return to Lockwood.
"Ian, what do you think of staying here until it’s time to go to my family reunion? It was a bit dramatic for you to almost trip," Scarlet said, letting go of his hand before he made her fall. "We planned to be here for a week and the reunion is right around the corner. We can buy more clothes here and head there instead of returning to Lockwood."
Ian couldn’t believe his ears. He touched Scarlet’s forehead to check if she was sick. "Are you willing to leave your precious hotel for so long?"
Scarlet slowly nodded her head as she couldn’t believe that she was doing this. "I will. I have plenty of employees who should be able to keep the hotel together in my absence or they will be fired. Alana is looking after the estate so I only need to inform her that I will not be returning as planned before. We do not have to if you want to return to take care of your businesses."
"Nonsense. That is what I left Owen there for. We will need to buy more food and make the calls when we return home. You cannot take this back later when you realise what you have planned for us to do," Ian said, sticking out his pinky for a promise to be made.
Scarlet found it to be childish but still did it to reassure Ian that she would not change her mind. She had not spent much time in the town but something convinced her to stay a little longer. "There are pretty glass teapots," Scarlet said, pulling Ian towards the window where she saw them displayed. "You must make tea while we are here. The cold weather calls for it."
Ian smiled as Scarlet pulled him around like a wife eager to shop and him being the one who had to spend all his money on what she wanted.
