Free Web NovelChapter 55: Simple things (2)
"I don’t ask this very often as I prefer to make a judgement myself, but I must do it now. Can I trust you, Ian?" Scarlet asked as they were going down a road she was not familiar with.
"It’s a bit late to be asking me that now with how close we are to where I am taking you. You can," Ian quickly changed his answer because of the look he received. "I am not taking you to kill you if that is what you are concerned about. I told your driver where we were going and he wasn’t suspicious."
"I will not place my life in Harry’s suspicion. Can I know now where we are going?" Scarlet asked her curiosity at its limit.
"To my home. You gave me a tour of your estate so I thought it was only fitting that I showed you my home. You’ll know where to find me if I am not at my business. Too soon?" Ian asked.
"How could it be when I invited you to my home?" Scarlet said, not scared to be alone with him.
Harry was a guard along with being a driver so she would be safe.
"I am curious about where you reside. I am still wondering how you managed to sneak your way into this town without someone noticing you. How were you able to set up a business and a home? Do you have some secret tie to the family that owns the paper? Maybe you’re a relative somehow?" Scarlet asked, once again suspicious.
"I do not. The only family that I know of here is the Kingsleys. My mother was a maid with no power to her name. I can always tell you more about my connections and my past if you adhere to my conditions. Dinner won’t satisfy me anymore when there is a room-"
’And there goes my curiosity. It flew away," Scarlet interjected.
Ian smiled as her responses were always amusing. "Wouldn’t it be easier for you to use the very people you ordered to look into me? I’ve assumed you’ve started it."
"I did have someone poke around for news about the time you left the town but nothing more. To find out more about you would take some time as you said that you travelled around the kingdom. I was giving you the pleasure of telling me about yourself. Asking to see what you would answer," said Scarlet.
"How kind of you. I will tell you one thing to feed your curiosity. I am a man owed favours so that is how I returned to town without notice."
Scarlet didn’t feel like her curiosity had what it needed because now she had more questions. What kind of favours and who owed him? Was he owed before he returned to town? There was a lot to know but she didn’t ask any more questions as she had her secrets that weren’t easy to share.
Scarlet looked out the window at a mansion coming into view. "Please tell me that the spooky-looking mansion isn’t your home."
"The spookiness adds what I need to keep wandering fools away. Don’t worry as the inside has a better appearance. What are you doing?" Ian questioned, watching as Scarlet poked him.
"I had to check that you are not a ghost-"
"Everyone else has seen me," Ian replied.
"What matters isn’t what they see but what I see. If you have come back from the dead to get revenge, leave me out of it," Scarlet requested.
"Very well," Ian answered, adding to her theory. "I shall spare you. It was a quick buy as I needed somewhere to stay fast. I have not had the time to fix up the outside. Not that I care about the gardens as long as the gates are sturdy."
"I see. There don’t look to be any guards by your gates. Either the spookiness is working or you don’t fear someone coming to attack you," Scarlet said, looking around for any signs of servants.
"I have guards. I am not a fool to bring you here without others around to help protect you. You will see them throughout the tour. Allow me," Ian said, exiting the carriage first after it stopped. He offered his hand to Scarlet to help her out.
Scarlet placed her hand on Ian’s and stepped out of the carriage. Up close the mansion looked less scary than it did in the distance. It had a certain charm to it that allowed it to stand out from other homes Scarlet had visited. "What about Harry?"
Ian spared a glance at the driver. "Feel free to walk around but when stopped by anyone, state who you are. Do not open any doors you come across. I won’t keep her out of sight from you for long."
Scarlet gave Harry a nod to tell him to relax whilst she would go inside with Ian. "You should boast about your home more. It is quite large. Nothing like what I thought because of how you spoke of it. Is it only you here?"
"Yes," Ian replied as he guided Scarlet up the stairs. "No butler or headmaid yet. Just a few servants who come every few days to do the cleaning."
"And how is your food prepared?" Scarlet asked.
Ian opened the door, giving way for Scarlet to enter first and then followed behind her. "I cook my food. I am rarely here since I spend most of my time at my business. There is a room with a bed there." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Scarlet looked around at the inside of the mansion and didn’t find a single portrait like Ian said. The walls were almost bare with only a few pieces of art placed. "Florence would lose her mind if she saw your walls. My mother would also make it her life’s goal to turn this mansion around."
"Feel free to change the decor if you want. I will provide whatever money you need, but I don’t know how long I will be here to think of making it look different. I planned to leave Lockwood at some point," Ian revealed.
His business would stay but he would live elsewhere as being in Lockwood for too long would disrupt your peace. freewebnovel.cσ๓
"It has a certain charm to it so nothing needs to be added other than a few portraits. You have a good eye for art," Scarlet said, recognising a few pieces. "So you were the one to beat the art shop to this one."
Ian stood beside Scarlet, looking up at the painting of a tree. "It reminds me of somewhere I’ve been and it was one of the more beautiful pieces of art. I’m not a collector like you are but there are a few more pieces I bought during my travels placed throughout the mansion. Would you like to see your room?"
Scarlet turned to Ian hoping he wasn’t serious about her having a room here. "You are not serious."
"I am. When you feel alone in that estate and want a place to visit for a break, you can come here. You’re free to use the room whenever you like and I won’t ask for anything in exchange for it. I’ve even made it princess-themed. Ah ha," Ian nervously chuckled, stepping away from Scarlet as her hidden claws were about to come out.
