79 Guards at the door (3)

"Did you kill him the same day as the party? Is that why you did not take me home?" Scarlet asked.

"I did kill him that night, but I sent you off with my carriage so I could visit your estate for it. He would have bothered you, Scarlet. It is-"

"Thank you," Scarlet thanked him, surprising Ian. 

Scarlet thought back to her conversation with Alana about how she always had to be protecting herself. Ian had been doing it often and regardless of his intentions for doing it, it was nice to have someone make the move before she needed to. 

Other than her close relatives, it was new for her to have someone go this far to protect her when Ian was almost a stranger to her. There were people she knew for years who would see the danger coming her way and not say a word.

"Did I hear wrong?" Ian wondered, staring at Scarlet as though she had grown a second head. "Say it again so I know that I heard you."