Free Web NovelChapter 39: The estate (2)
"It’s evident that your family enjoys good art. You’ve gathered many of the popular ones but not the ugly ones I think they were made with a blindfold over the artist’s eyes," Ian commented.
"That is because we have a good eye for it. The art shop sends what it thinks I would like to put up in my home for display. The others are in storage or I send them back to be displayed in the art shop. You should see what the other estate looks like. A second home for all the relatives to gather at the outside of Lockwood," said Scarlet.
"You just might see it depending on the day my grandfather and his siblings decide the family must come together," Scarlet added as once her family heard about Ian, they would want him there.
"I’ll gladly show up as long as you attend a party with me in a few days. I must warn you that the evil woman might be there."
Scarlet smiled as there were so many enemies around her that an evil woman could mean anyone. "You have to be more specific."
"Evil woman is the lord’s wife. Mistress is your soon-to-be ex-husband’s woman. Fools are anyone in your family you hate. When I see the relatives looking to hurt you, I shall give them a better description so you know. Will that work?" Ian questioned, following Scarlet to the next room.
"It will. Does this party you speak of concern a garden at a certain Viscounts home? I received an invitation but I didn’t give my response," Scarlet said, thinking of a dress that would suit the occasion.
"It does concern his garden," Ian answered. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"Very well. I shall hold up my end of the contract and see you bother Mrs. Kingsley. Honestly, I might enjoy seeing someone else’s family drama. It is time that I take a break from mine. Should you turn scared at the party, don’t be afraid to run to me for help," Scarlet offered, smiling as she turned the corner.
Ian stopped, slightly mesmerised by the woman before him. Was she teasing him? "You’re a dangerous woman, Scarlet. I don’t mean that because of the guns you showed me. How is it you don’t want me to have feelings for you when you are this way?"
"I suppose I should have considered how hard it is for those around me to not fall in love. Please do your best to keep your love hidden," Scarlet replied. "I’d hate to have to crush your heart. You will make me feel guilty as I will think about you not having any portraits."
"Did that story truly make you pity me? I have many more to share. How many would get you to give me a kiss on the cheek to cheer me up? Forehead?" Ian said, stopping as Scarlet stopped to stare at him. "Hand? Is it rude that I didn’t let you pick?"
"Are you this way with everyone else or am I just the poor unfortunate one to have to deal with your flirting?" Scarlet questioned. Ian was starting to show a side different from what she thought he would be like when they first met.
"Which one sways your heart to like me?"
"Neither," Scarlet honestly answered. One meant she wasn’t special and the other meant she had to bear his flirty side alone. There was no winning in her eyes. "Are you truly prepared for the attention that should come from being seen with me? I should have brought this up before you sign the contract."
"Do I make you so nervous that you aren’t on top of business like normal? I would be pleased to hear that," Ian said, touching his chest.
"Keep touching your chest so much and I will start to think that you are a pervert. Your efforts to flirt with me will be for nothing-"
"But it would be a show that you enjoy nonetheless. I wouldn’t speak so confidently if I were you, Scarlet. You might one day eat your words and plead with me to forget the contract. I shall be kind and only let you plead for a minute or two. I will even save you the embarrassment of going to your knees," Ian promised.
Scarlet chuckled as she would do no such thing. The day she pleaded with Ian for a real relationship, she would toss the estate right into her relative’s hands. "If you get me to do that, I will even kiss your shoe."
"You’re pushing me to watch you eat your words one day. As pleasant as this is, I must interrupt you to warn you about that woman. She will seek you out again once news of our relationship goes around. I hope that you judge me based on what you see and not on what she says," Ian said as Layla would soon started speaking ill of him again.
"I won’t do that to you. If I did, I would be a hypocrite as you could have believed all the things said about me in the gossip these days but you didn’t. I will form my own opinion of you so don’t worry. If you say that you are smitten one more time, I will throw you out," Scarlet warned.
She could tell based on his smile that he wanted to say something sweet.
"You are a terrible mind reader as that was not what I was going to say. How long do I have to wait for your divorce with that man to be settled?" Ian asked, wanting her to be freed from whatever his name was.
"It should be soon. Nolan and the others are working hard on it. It is already known that we are no longer together," Scarlet answered.
"That doesn’t make me happy. What exactly did you see in that man? I need to know more about your taste," said Ian.
"I would prefer not to speak about him now," Scarlet said as it might ruin the peaceful atmosphere in her home. "I know many might think I want to jump at every chance to curse him for obvious reasons but I don’t. I didn’t cheat but I wasn’t exactly the greatest wife so I wouldn’t get my hopes up for anything wonderful to happen with me."
Ian stayed quiet as prying any further might annoy Scarlet. During the months they would be together, he would make that judgement on whether she was a bad partner.
To lighten the mood, Ian said, "I think this one should be my room for the days I come to make you tea."
Scarlet looked at the room Ian pointed at which was the art room. "Certainly not. Why must you have a room here and why would you be coming here to make tea?"
"Well, I should come here so you aren’t around those drunks-"
"That didn’t matter before this contract," Scarlet interjected.
"Things changed. I’m afraid I must take my leave now as I have important matters to attend to. Feel free to miss me," Ian said, picking up her right hand to kiss the back.
"Right," Scarlet said, surprised he was leaving but she had called him here suddenly. He would have work to get back to.
Ian stared at Scarlet, regretting he had to go as now she would be alone, playing with the creature she called a cat. He would make it up to her the next time they were together.
