17 Diamond ball (1)

"Should we go greet the queen and king first?" Samara wondered.

"No," Scarlet and Leonard answered.

"You two are a bore. Leonard, remember that you promised me three dances tonight and then you can ignore others or go speak with your friends," said Samara. 

Samara was not leaving the palace until those three dances were done with or without music. She did not travel to the palace to stand around doing nothing.

Scarlet looked around the party at who was attending. It was the usual bunch with a few new faces. A few people who recently got their hands on wealth or had done something worth being invited to the palace.

Scarlet had yet to see Ian or Lord Kingsley. At this point, she was hoping he didn't show up so she wouldn't have to dance with him. He should be the one to break the deal by staying wherever he was now.

"Are you looking for someone, Scarlet? You're searching the crowds as if you are," said Samara. She joined Scarlet in looking around though she didn't know who was on Scarlet's mind. 

"I am not," Scarlet said, stepping into their private space.

Samara smiled as she didn't believe her daughter, but she would keep quiet and just watch. Nudging Scarlet to speak would only end with Scarlet being more secretive. Samara had long realised that she only had to wait for what was on Scarlet's mind to come to light.

Scarlet took a glass of wine from a servant who came to them with a tray. "Thank you."

Leonard attempted to take one but Samara sent the servant away before he could.

Scarlet's smile was hidden behind the glass she brought to her lips. She remembered her mother speaking of cutting down her father's drinks. Not that he would become a drunkard, but her mother thought he should use less.

Scarlet enjoyed her glass of wine as she listened to the music. She watched as couples made their way to the middle of the ballroom to begin dancing. It was a beautiful sight and so far, the ball was going well.

"Oh, Nolan! You look dashing."

Scarlet looked away from the dancing couples to Nolan approaching her family. He was dashing as her mother said and would certainly get the attention of many women present. As a lawyer, there would be many looking to settle for a comfortable life with him. 

Scarlet turned back to the dancing couples as she was not part of Nolan's conversation with her parents.

"Are you here with your family or here with a young lady?" Samara asked.

"My family is here, but I made the trip here alone. I was too busy to find someone to bring with me," Nolan answered.

"Well, there are plenty of young ladies here without an escort so I am sure you will find someone to dance with by the end of the night. Was it Scarlet that kept you busy?" Samara questioned, eyeing her daughter. 

The chances of Scarlet dancing with anyone who came to her were low so since Nolan was here without someone, Samara saw it fitting that the two should enjoy the night together. 

Samara couldn't spend the night looking after Scarlet to make sure she was having fun so she was entrusting that to Nolan should Scarlet accept dancing with him.

Nolan felt awkward as he didn't want to reveal that it was the rushed divorce that had kept him busy. He had never been tasked with making a divorce happen quickly. It was almost impossible but for Scarlet, he was getting it done.

"Your reluctance to answer tells me it was my daughter. Well, since it was partially her doing, Scarlet should help you find someone to dance with."

"Mother," Scarlet sighed. "Nolan doesn't need my help to find someone wanting to dance with him. Look at all the attention he is gathering."

Nolan glanced around the room and found that there was a lot of attention his way, but quickly realised it wasn't for him. With where he stood, he was blocking Scarlet. The attention was meant for her.

Nolan turned to Scarlet to see what was getting the crowd's attention and found nothing wrong, so he looked around again. He followed where others were looking and to his horror found that Jack had come to the ball with Beth by his side.

Nolan panicked, worried about Scarlet having to be in the same room as the two. How unbothered could she be when Jack was already bringing Beth to such an event? Couldn't Jack have waited for the divorce to be done before bringing Beth here?

"Mr. Collins, might I have a word with you?" Nolan asked.

Leonard nodded his head, leading Nolan away from his wife and daughter.

Scarlet, on the other hand, was occupied in looking around the ballroom, still ignoring the attention she noticed she gathered once more. She peered at the queen and king sitting beside each other, laughing about something. The two were doing better than the last time she saw them. 

Scarlet's mood started to dampen as the man she did not wish to see was drawing closer to where her family stood. Jack had some nerve coming close to her. The ballroom was big enough for him to find another corner. 

Scarlet placed her empty glass on the tray held by a passing servant. 

"How embarrassing that she stands alone while her husband is here with another woman."

"It couldn't be as embarrassing as dressing yourself like a silly peacock. Too many feathers on the dress will have someone mistake you for a large bird to shoot," Scarlet said to the woman who made the comment. 

The woman huffed and walked away, pulling her friend with her. 

Scarlet wished the town would understand that being alone didn't mean you were going to be unhappy. For how much longer would she need to hear about not being with Jack?

"The night is too young for you to look annoyed."

Scarlet turned to her right to find Ian standing in a black suit which matched the black dress she had chosen for the night. "I am not annoyed," she replied.

"Hmm. I see otherwise. I'm also a bit annoyed," Ian confessed. "I enjoyed being the only one to notice how great of a woman you are, but now other men are looking your way."

Ian made his way to Scarlet as soon after he heard the whispers from men about how she looked and then heard that her soon-to-be ex-husband brought his woman here.

"There's no need for you to worry about competition as I am not interested in any of you," said Scarlet. 

Ian smiled, amused she thought that he was worried. He was well above the other men thinking of courting her. "Why would I be worried when I secured a dance with you? A new dance is starting shortly. Are you a woman of your word?" He asked, offering his hand for her to join him for the promised dance.

"I am," Scarlet replied, placing her hand on his. "Just one dance."

"Then I shall make it memorable for you to want to do it again," Ian replied. 

"Scarlet," Nolan said, leaving his talk with Leonard to go to Scarlet's side.

Ian paid no attention to the man now standing by Scarlet and kept his gaze on her.