5 Lady and the bastard (1)

"The garden house looks lovely. I should get the name of the workers to have mine changed." 

Scarlet paid little to no attention to what was said by her relatives. She patiently awaited Florence's call to help her leave the family gathering.

Scarlet was surrounded by Collins women. Those by blood and the ones who married into the family. Most of them were nothing more than a nuisance. There was only a handful that she and the rest of her immediate family liked, but her mother wanted to be around for family events to avoid conflict.

The Collins were once a family that stuck together, but conflict from the past divided it. Scarlet forgot the story told by her grandfather Elijah Collins of what had caused the rift. She could only recall that the blame was placed on her father's family. 

"I saw the paper this morning. How awful that the woman is now pregnant. Scarlet dear, you must keep your head up high," said Naomi Collins, a young woman who married into the family. 

Scarlet ignored the advice as she knew Naomi didn't care for her. Finally, Naomi had what she considered Scarlet's weakness. Something to speak on and paint Scarlet to be in a pitiful state.

The maids in Scarlet's estate had thrown out the newspaper as it arrived so Scarlet knew nothing of what was printed. She didn't need to relive her interaction with Beth or learn of how it was twisted the make it all more dramatic. 

"So," Naomi started once again. "How did your conversation with her go? I have never seen a mistress be so bold to approach the wife. Did she speak of the child to you?"

Scarlet placed her glass down and for the first time since she arrived, looked up at the women seated at her table. "Why are you seated here?" She asked.

Naomi was taken aback by the question. Scarlet must have been more stressed than they realised because she had forgotten everyone at the table was Collins. "We are family."

Scarlet swirled her glass watching the last of the red wine she requested move against the glass like a small wave. "These days people are weaselling their way into places that they do not belong."

"I beg your pardon-"

"What is it that you wish to ask about my divorce? Be out with it and not be a snake in the grass. If you are going to be nasty, be just that and don't pretend,' said Scarlet.

Naomi glanced around the table for someone to aid her. All of them were just as curious about the state of Scarlet's life. "I don't understand why you are being so hostile when I was just caring for you. You're all alone in that big estate and you push everyone away. You should turn to us for comfort during this time. Heaven knows I would lose my mind should I be in your position."

"I think that estate is too big for one person," Parker Collins chimed in. It was more suited for her with her large family, but there was no way of getting it unless Scarlet would sell it off. 

Scarlet wasn't surprised to hear they thought this. They were after the estate and all the homes left to her for as long as she could remember. Many of her relatives were looking for any opportunity for her businesses to be taken away from her and given to someone else.

"Your life is crumbling-"

Scarlet's laughter interrupted the comfort session she did not ask for. "Crumbling? Because Jack is no longer in my life? I am offended that you think that man has me in such a state. What you see is not crumbling. It is knowing my worth and choosing my happiness."

Naomi didn't believe the front Scarlet was putting on. "It is not too late to take him back and save yourself from the gossip."

"Naomi," Samara, Scarlet's mother, spoke up. "Just because you settled does not mean my daughter needs to. It is unfortunate that not all Collins men only see their wives. I would be silent if I were you before I open doors for your skeletons to be revealed."

Samara was sitting back ignoring the bunch like Scarlet, but she could not stay quiet after the suggestion to go back to Jack. The man had a child on the way so why should Scarlet take him and all his trash into her life to be responsible for?

Naomi gulped, terrified of going up against Samara so she backed down and left the floor open for someone else to question Scarlet. Her husband wasn't high in the ranking of the family for her to go against Scarlet and Samara.

Parker decided to help Naomi. "Naomi was so concerned for Scarlet that she got ahead of herself with a foolish suggestion. Scarlet, should you ever need any help with work, my sons would gladly help you."

"Which one? The one you had to pay off tutors to get him into a good school or the one who curses my name for the businesses I inherited while he is left scraping by? Thank you for the offer, but I prefer not to give my guards work to keep an eye on your sons," Scarlet replied.

Parker clenched her fist, angered by Scarlet bringing to light her scandal of how her son got into a prestigious school. "It is exactly this kind of lashing out that has left you alone. No husband or child. What can you say you have accomplished in life?"

Scarlet placed her hand over her mother's to stop her from unleashing her fury on Parker. This was not the first time someone made the comment that her life was nothing because she was losing her husband and didn't have a child to hold onto.

Had she felt like having a man was the most fulfilling thing in life she would not have called on a divorce, but instead be foolishly preparing to become a stepmother. Scarlet had things she accomplished and it didn't need anyone to acknowledge them.

"Do not forget that it is me or my father all of you run to when you are in need of money. Whether you are on the brink of having to sell all your jewellery or want an investment into what you call a grand business idea. Since I have accomplished nothing and I am in this pitiful state, do not come to me for money," Scarlet said, hoping Parker would listen.

Scarlet was through with being looked to as the one to take care of relatives yet they were so quick to mock her life as it was now. Unlike some of them, she was fine without a man in her life. Scarlet's life never once was in Jack's hands having to wait for what he would offer. 

"Lady Scarlet," a maid said, bringing a stop to the conversation. "There was a message left for you. Something urgent requires your attention at your estate."

'That was a slow thirty minutes,' Scarlet thought.

Nonetheless, Scarlet was ready to leave. She had given enough of her time to satisfy her mother.

Scarlet stood up from her seat joined by Samara who had no reason to stay. 

"It is the same trick as always. You don't need to run away from us," said Parker.

"Run away? Why would I ruin my heels by running away from the likes of you? I intend to gracefully walk out and allow you to speak behind my back as you so desire. No need to thank me. Mother," Scarlet said, offering her hand for them to walk together.