Free Web NovelChapter 54: Simple things (1)
"I apologise for letting my anger get the best of me while there was a crowd around us."
Scarlet looked away from the carriage window to Ian sitting directly opposite her. "You don’t need to apologise when you are defending me. He wasn’t going to stop until one of us reacted that way. Thank you for speaking up as much as you did today. It was good to take a break from protecting myself."
"I fail to see why many dislike you so much that they would allow him to talk to you as he pleases. You’re the heiress of the large Collins estate. Your status is not to be ignored," said Ian.
"I have not spoken to many of the people speaking ill of me for there to be a personal problem. They always bring up my wealth or the estate so I have assumed that it is jealousy. I sit on wealth and people with greed in their body do not like that they cannot get their hands on it," Scarlet replied, thinking of a few relatives.
"I believe the priests at the church when they say that money is the root of all evil. I have lost many friends and relatives over it. There is always someone looking to gain something from me," Scarlet said, turning back to watch the homes they passed. "It is why it is better to be alone. So I won’t face any more betrayals."
"I won’t betray you," Ian promised.
"We have something with rules," Scarlet said, careful not to mention a contract for Harry to hear. "Unless you want me to own your life, you won’t betray me."
"When you put it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad," Ian replied, noting the smile Scarlet tried to hide. "Still, that old bastard shouldn’t have tried to court you. What is so bad about being divorced?"
"There is nothing bad should you do it but most women would rather die than leave their husbands. The scrutiny would be too much to bear with and then there is the fear of never being wanted again. I look forward to the times when divorce is accepted with open arms and not frowned upon," said Scarlet.
Scarlet hoped that the way every detail of her divorce was put in the papers would not scare another woman into staying with her husband. Scarlet had tough skin because she was a Collins as her grandfather would say but others would not be the same.
"If you hadn’t left that man, I wouldn’t have come to like you. I hope there is never a day that you regret the decision you made. The man is an idiot and it only took one meeting to know it," Ian said, his opinion of Jack far lower now.
One day he hoped to get the answer as to how Scarlet ended up married to Jack.
"I assure you that he once had sense. He’s blinded by his anger that I did not stay by his side. I hope that his new marriage will get him to let go of that anger and move on. I am tired of the three of us being grouped," Scarlet replied.
Scarlet hoped that with news of Jack’s engagement, the string someone had tied around the three of them was cut and the stories would end. However, this was Lockwood and such a thing would never happen. Not when it was apparent that Jack was going to meddle in her relationship with Ian.
Scarlet could not understand how he cheated on her and now wanted to dictate who she spent her time with.
"How many old bastards have been trying to court you?" Ian asked as he needed a list of the men he would dispose of.
"I wouldn’t know since I have not been looking at the gifts sent to the estate. Why are you laughing?" Scarlet asked as Ian’s laughter filled the carriage. "You scared Harry," she added as from the small window behind Ian she saw Harry turn around.
Ian turned to pity the men rather than wanting them dead. "What do you do with the gifts?" freewebnøvel.coɱ
"I started to send them back in the beginning but then I found that a fire works better," Scarlet answered.
"I hope that you don’t have any plans of burning my gift," Ian said, looking down at the bracelet which sat perfectly on her hand.
Scarlet didn’t know what he spoke of at first but then it came back to that he had put a bracelet on her when he picked her up. "I will put it away somewhere so that it will be safe. I only burn the gifts from people I don’t care for. It is too lovely to burn."
’There is a pretty necklace to match that I think will suit you. I’m surprised that you aren’t telling me that there are not to be any more gifts."
Scarlet looked away from the bracelet to Ian. He sat with his right leg placed on the left and his gaze fixed on her as though he was admiring art. "Because you will just do as you please. It is your money so why should I continue to tell you not to spend it? You did well in picking something that suited my taste."
"You are surrounded by wealth but I noticed that you are a simple woman. It was amusing to see how you were dressed so simple yet stood out among the women attending today. I noticed a lot about you to see today that a few were mimicking your style," Ian said, thinking of one woman in particular. freewёbnoνel.com
Where was the sense of cheating on Scarlet only to have the new woman by your side playing dress up as her? Ian would bet that Beth didn’t notice it. There will always be a comparison thanks to Beth dressing up as a poor version of Scarlet.
"Careful now, Ian. I might start to think that you are a stalker," Scarlet said jokingly. She knew his compliments came merely from his interest in her. He would have seen something different at the party if he was not by her side.
"A man should notice everything around the woman he is interested in. I noticed that you do like flowers. You enjoyed looking around the garden as you sat. I will bring you flowers next time. Anything other than roses right?" Ian asked as he assumed that was the one sent to her frequently.
"Yes,’ Scarlet replied, her voice softer than she wanted it to be.
"How beautiful. I should take you to find an artist to capture this moment of your first time accompanying me somewhere. The night of the ball doesn’t count as no one knew you were with me then. Now I see why it is worth having portraits done," said Ian.
"Your first portrait should be of yourself," Scarlet said, thinking that one would be more important.
"My mother had one when I was young so I am free to have a second one done with you in it. I’ll treasure it more if my knight in shining armour is in it," Ian replied, serious with every word he spoke. This would be the only way she could convince him to have one done.
"Honestly Ian, what am I going to do with you?" Scarlet wondered.
