The Resilient Lady Collins

Chapter 35: Contract relationship (1)

"Milady," Florence said, nervous to take the flowers and letter in her hands to Scarlet. "You’ve received another bouquet. This one is from Patrick-"

"Burn it right now," Scarlet ordered, annoyed that the pig of a man was sending her flowers again.

He was twelve years her senior and hardly a man she would waste time with.

"I know that I have no room to speak, but the man has been married three times and all three wives cursed his name. What makes him think that I would want to have him? To care for his child who is old enough to be a sibling of mine?" Scarlet questioned.

The town had such a poor opinion of women getting divorced that men who would never have a chance with Scarlet were trying to court her now as there was some sort of belief that she was desperate to have any men around her so she could wed again.

Florence handed the flowers and letter to another maid for them to be burned. "If I may speak freely."

"You know that you can, Florence. I value your thoughts," said Scarlet.

Florence smiled as little comments like this from the lady made her day. "It is because they are all eager to get their hands on your wealth. It is worth a try to court you and know that they at least tried. You have to pass on the business so they know you will marry again."

"They are fools, that’s what they are. Men of all ages. I get sick just from the split thought of standing near one of them," Scarlet said, touching her head. She would never be so needy for another husband that she would take anyone far older than her to her side.

Florence hoped that the lady wouldn’t easily accept anyone to her side. Anyone looking to use her wealth or wouldn’t treat her well.

"I need to walk around to clear my mind. Please take care of Sunny," Scarlet said, handing the black cat over to Florence.

Florence reluctantly took the cat from Scarlet. She could never predict the cat’s movement as it was only well-behaved with Scarlet.

"If you are going outside, should I get an umbrella?" Florence asked as the day was a bit hot compared to others.

"Would it be wrong of me to take a man by my side now? To end the useless courting?" Scarlet questioned, needing a third opinion as her mind kept agreeing and disagreeing with Ian’s idea.

Florence didn’t see how it could be wrong when Jack already had another woman pregnant and it seemed as though the lawyers were working hard to end the marriage. "You can take a man to your side, but I don’t think it should be just to end the courting."

"I see. I must look for a number. Hopefully, he has a phone," Scarlet said, going to the phone on her desk. "We might be having a guest soon."

Florence’s eyes widened as she could not believe Scarlet was inviting someone here. Someone who must be a stranger since she had to look for the number. Florence looked down at Sunny who was sitting quietly in her arms. There was no one around to share this excitement and confusion with.

Scarlet was acting out of the ordinary to Florence, but the head maid loved that Scarlet was inviting someone to the estate. It was always a sad sight to see the lady sitting alone in the large estate, distracting herself with work. freewebnøvel.com

Florence smiled, happy to see the lady reach the person she wanted to visit. Florence quietly left the room to inform the guards and maids to prepare for a guest.

Over an hour later because of the distance, Ian arrived at the Collins’s estate. It was grander than how many had described it and if he didn’t know any better, he would have assumed it to be the palace.

Seeing the estate alone, one could tell that Scarlet was swimming in wealth. It was why a lot of men wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to court her though they found her to be cold.

"Name."

Ian looked at the guard whose tone was just as deadly as the lady inside whenever she was annoyed with something. How was it that she managed to find people just like her?

"Ian Kingsley," he answered.

The guard at the gate nodded his head and the gates slowly began to open. Ian had been surprised by Scarlet’s call as she had once stated that she didn’t like anyone coming to her estate and now that he was here, Ian couldn’t shake the feeling that he was driving to his death.

The only bright side was seeing a beautiful woman before he died.

There was a woman waiting for him at the bottom of the steps below the front door.

"Ian Kingsley, welcome to the Collins’s estate. I shall take you to the lady," Florence said, once again stunned that the visitor was a man. A handsome man at that. She tried to hide her smile because Scarlet seemed to be moving on.

Ian followed the woman inside, noticing that she seemed happy about something.

"I am Florence, the head maid of the estate," Florence introduced herself. "The lady sent me to personally escort you."

"That was kind of her," Ian said, looking around at the portraits of the Collins family on the wall. He managed to spot a portrait of a young girl who looked like Scarlet just before Florence started to lead him up to the second floor. "You don’t need to sneak glances. You can stare at me if you want."

Florence blushed, embarrassed he had caught her sneaking glances at him. "There is no need. The lady is inside here," she said, opening the door for him. She hoped he didn’t misunderstand her reaction and would not think anything of it.

"Thank you," Ian replied, entering the large room which was a study.

"I hope the long trip here wasn’t so bad. I apologise for calling you here on such short notice," Scarlet said, watching Ian as he entered. She petted Sunny who was a tad bit clingy today.

"The trip was lovely knowing that you would be at the end of it," Ian answered. "I am still not believing that you called me here. Whatever happened to hating guests?"

"Do you wish to leave?" Scarlet questioned, ready to arrange it.

"No," Ian answered, going to sit on the other side of the table Scarlet sat at. "What caused you to bring me here? Did you have an annoying guest?"

"I’ve received several flowers this morning. Many from men far older than me. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of my relatives sent them as a joke to embarrass me. It’s already a joke around the town that money can’t make a man my age want me. I don’t have time to spare for anyone courting me and you were right," Scarlet confessed.

"You had to speak to that jealous man?" Ian asked, referring to Jack. From what he saw at the ball, Jack wasn’t ready to completely cut his ties with Scarlet.

"Taking you to my side will only have Jack questioning where you came from, but it would help stop all the courting till I am ready to court someone. I am now wondering if getting rid of the other men would be worth dealing with Jack’s jealousy," said Scarlet.

"I will get rid of him coming to you. I’ve already proven to you that I can do what I say," Ian replied, referring to the papers.

"How confident of you. I will only need you for a short period of time to keep men from around me. Following what you proposed, you shall need this," Scarlet said, pushing a contract toward Ian. "I trust your word, but I trust what is written on paper more."