Free Web NovelChapter 51: What is mine (1)
"Why aren’t you eating? You didn’t get this platter for me to eat alone, did you?" Scarlet asked as Ian hadn’t touched anything on it. "I am not starving for you to need to let me have everything. Take one."
"I am not fond of sweets," Ian answered. "I feel full watching you eat."
"That will not work on me. Put it down between us so you can eat," Scarlet said, trying to take the platter from Ian but he moved his hand. "Ian."
"Scarlet. Good that we know each other’s names," Ian replied.
Scarlet gave up, folding her arms as she was not going to eat.
"You have a childish side to you, Scarlet. Not that I mind as I enjoy learning more about you. Would it please you if I eat just one or would you forget it if I said that I don’t eat sweets because I still listen to what the woman who raised me said?" Ian asked, looking down at the treats for what might not be so sweet. "Why couldn’t they have some sort of bread?"
Scarlet was curious about who raised Ian and what was said so she asked, "What did she tell you? A trick that children shouldn’t have too many?"
Ian shook his head as it always seemed far more than that. "The sweets were usually gifts from my father. I knew Victor would get them too but his was better from what the servants said. Noelle would throw them out as soon as they were sent. She did it with many of the gifts my father sent."
"I never enjoyed sweet things since she disliked them. It may be foolish to do it now even at this age but I am used to listening to her because she was the one person to protect me then."
"You were once a good boy?" Scarlet asked, regretting letting her thoughts come out. "I’m sorry that was meant to be in my head."
"Have I done something to show you that I was not a good child? I was rebellious at times but an angel at other times according to Noelle. I cared for her more than I did for my mother. Is that sad enough for me to not eat?" Ian asked.
"It is. I thought you didn’t want to eat because you wanted me to have it all. I wasn’t expecting a memory of your childhood. Are you planning to get close to your father to find out what happened with this Noelle?" Scarlet asked, her mind filled with all possibilities of how else Ian could get his answers.
"It doesn’t matter how close I get to him, he won’t share anything about her if they did something to her. Noelle cared for me like she had birthed me. To anyone looking to get rid of me, she was a problem. It’s going to take some time to uncover the truth myself," said Ian.
"I would think of Mrs. Kingsley as the one to get rid of who is protecting you. You’re a threat to her son since you are healthy. I am assuming that you are," Scarlet said as she had not witnessed him looking unwell.
"Would you like to test that I am a healthy-"
"If you think that something will annoy me don’t say it or you will find a treat in your mouth or somewhere on your face," Scarlet warned. "Why are you smiling like a fool? Do you want food pushed on your face?"
"I’ll consider you trying to feed me. I can make an exception for that. My lips are the best spot for you to smudge something. I see why many look to annoy you. It is fun," Ian said, enjoying how she glared at him. She wasn’t any different from her cat that attacked him. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"Can we go back to what is important? Are you well?" Scarlet asked.
"As healthy as I can be. I’ve never been sick like Victor is. Must be something he inherited from his evil mother. If I was, would you nurse me back to health? No, running away," Ian said, grabbing her hand before she could leave him. "You’re a good distraction."
"From what?"
"Watching those three walk around together. I don’t think that’s a tear on your face. It is starting to rain so we should get inside. Here," Ian said, standing first to offer his hand. "Perhaps the sky wishes to help hide your tears for me."
Scarlet didn’t reply as she placed her hand in Ian’s to get up. It was remarkable how he seemed to have a terrible childhood yet he remained so happy. If she were in his shoes and she had come face to face with her family, she wouldn’t have been able to be in their presence as long as Ian did without cursing at them.
"Before I forget, you must know that I admire your strength. Many would have stayed weak and crumbled from what you faced yet here you stand positive and determined. I am good at gathering news about anyone in secret. I can help you find out what happened to Noelle if you want. I don’t need anything in exchange," Scarlet offered.
"That is kind of you but I don’t want you getting involved in this. You are already helpful by having a certain someone angry that you are by my side. Just continue to be a good distraction for me today," Ian requested as she was the perfect remedy to keep his thoughts from his father. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Ian didn’t want to be part of the Kingsleys and go around pretending to be a happy family but seeing them together had brought up memories from the past. When from afar he had to watch as the three walked around together while he was off to the side.
They placed plenty of space between him and them to remind him that he was nothing more than his father’s bastard. It took everything in him to not react to his father suddenly speaking of his other son.
"That I can do," Scarlet agreed. "How unfortunate that the Viscount’s party was ruined by rain. It didn’t look like it was going to rain today but I guess we should have noticed from the wind. Perhaps the sky wanted to be an excuse for us to leave soon. We shouldn’t ignore the gift."
"You are aware that when we leave you are still stuck with me as there is somewhere else I want to take you," Ian said, placing his right hand around Scarlet’s waist as he spoke. He stood to the right of her in the direction the rain was blowing to shield her from it.
"You have said it enough for me to not forget. Anywhere will be better than here. You are receiving many looks so it must be known now that you are Lord Kingsley’s son. I don’t mind staying around for you to mingle but we must greet the Viscountess before we think of leaving," Scarlet said, looking around for the host as she walked inside the mansion.
Scarlet unfortunately met eyes with Jack who seemed to have been watching her before she noticed him. She looked away from where he walked and kept her gaze ahead. She had a feeling that the drama for the day was not over.
