The Resilient Lady Collins

Chapter 56: Simple things (3)

"You intend to cook for me? You don’t need to," Scarlet said, not wanting to trouble Ian to do it. "I ate-"

"Sweets that wouldn’t have filled you," Ian finished, continuing to gather what he needed. "Allow me to show off my skills. I promise you will not be disappointed."

"Very well," Scarlet said, allowing him to continue. "I shall sit far away from you. I cannot offer you any help as I have never cooked a day in my life. Only baking but I wouldn’t trust myself helping you with that."

"All I want for you is to sit and enjoy your time not working. I would like for my kitchen to remain in one piece so I never planned for you to join me. Care for wine?" Ian offered.

"Not right now," Scarlet denied the offer. She took a seat on the chair Ian brought into the kitchen. She was yet to have the tour as Ian claimed that she needed to eat first.

When Ian said there was somewhere he wanted to take her for dinner, she never thought it would be his home or that they would be having dinner when it was still bright out. Scarlet unfortunately could not stick around until evening to have dinner at the right time so she would let him continue with his plan just this once.

It was better than having to go somewhere in town and have all the whispering about the two of them. Scarlet had enough of whispering for the day thanks to the garden party. She would bet the hat that she wore now that though they left long ago, she and Ian were still the topic of the party.

Scarlet watched as Ian moved around the kitchen as though he worked as a chef all his life. It was the first time that someone who was not a servant was cooking for her and she was sitting in the kitchen watching them.

Her mother didn’t know how to cook and her father certainly had time for it. The only time they got their hands dirty with food was when they attempted to bake in her younger days during the start of winter.

Scarlet thought Ian’s ability to cook might come from the fact he had to take care of himself in the past. When he lived with his father and then when he ran away. He was among the small group of children from nobles who couldn’t enjoy the luxury of the life their parents had.

"What made you think of cooking for me?" Scarlet questioned as this was a first. She was always invited to somewhere where the food was already prepared for her without having someone intending to sit with her to do the cooking.

Scarlet wouldn’t share it with him, but she enjoyed that his ways of impressing her were unique from all her other experiences. It was always assumed that she would only enjoy something if it was grand.

"I thought you would like to avoid seeing people," Ian replied, looking over his shoulder at Scarlet. "That and I know the garden party might have moments to upset you so I have to make it up to you. You wouldn’t have been there if not for me." freeweɓnøvel.com

"You don’t have to do something as an apology to me each time we go anywhere. I am used to those kinds of interactions. I’ve dealt with it all my life. I normally go home and forget about it," said Scarlet.

"I don’t believe you," Ian replied as he had been in her shoes. "At some point, having to constantly protect yourself from gossip gets to you. I hope there is a day you are willing to open up to me before you turn depressed."

"There is no doubt that you are a strong woman but sometimes there is sadness in you."

"You are here to cook for me, Ian. Please do not tell me about what I am feeling. I don’t need to hear about it from you," Scarlet said, finding the occasional talk about her loneliness to be a bother. She wasn’t the happiest person in town but she didn’t need any help or to talk about her feelings.

"That’s the problem. If you don’t talk about what you are feeling, it will one day- Hey!" Ian exclaimed, moving to catch up to Scarlet when she started heading for the door. "Scarlet, there will be no running away," he said, trapping her in his arms.

The wall behind Scarlet helped to prevent her from leaving.

"If you like your toes, I suggested that you move," Scarlet warned, looking up at Ian. His smile greatly annoyed her. "Why must you keep speaking of things that do not concern you?"

"Because I would hate for you to run like I did," Ian answered honestly. "I mean it when I said that we’re alike in some ways for what we put up with from this town. You’re a woman from a wealthy family, taking over the family businesses. Many are jealous and seek pleasure in trying to ruin you to make themselves feel better."

"You did your questioning in the carriage and I did not mind it. I promise not to share what you speak of with me. Use me as you like to find your happiness. Years ago, I would have liked a friend around before I reached the point of wanting to give up."

"You," Scarlet said, her eyes widening slightly because of how she interpreted his words. "Did you..."

"I should get back to making your food," Ian changed the subject. He carefully moved her hair back over her shoulder so it wouldn’t bother her.

"It wouldn’t be fair that you try to make me happy when you bottle up what you endured in the past. If you want me to speak, you must open up to me. It would be an equivalent exchange," said Scarlet.

Ian rested his head on Scarlet’s shoulder as he laughed at her response. It was always like she was speaking of business.

Scarlet leaned on the wall behind her. "You’re heavy, Ian. Do you want to crush me? Where do you think your hands are going?"

"For a hug, Scarlet. What else were you thinking? Let me help you with your thoughts," Ian teased.

"Ian, please get off of me before I hurt you. I want to go back to my seat," Scarlet said, hoping it would get him to budge.

She didn’t like the feeling of how close they were as she could feel his chest pressing against her. It was easy to tell just from looking that he was someone who kept himself in shape and now she felt it.

"What bad thoughts are filling your head- Shit," Ian cursed, his right foot in pain from where Scarlet stepped on it. "You don’t need a gun with how you use those shoes."

"I did warn you," Scarlet said, not feeling sorry for him. "You’re heavy and even with the wall, I can’t hold you up much longer. Are you just doing this to touch me?"

Ian smiled as he was caught. "Guilty."

"I am going to hurt something else and you are not going to like what it is," Scarlet warned.

Ian lifted his head and backed away from Scarlet as now her threats were getting a little too dangerous. "I won’t say anything about your life anymore so please, take a seat. Let me finish having you fall for me by watching me cook."