6 Lady and the bastard (2)

Scarlet held onto her mother's hands tighter as she waited for her mother's carriage to come around. "Why must we come around these people when it is never pleasant? I don't want to fix what was broken in the past."

Samara patted Scarlet's hands. "I don't like to be around most of them, but the family has been so divided for a long time. I am just here to do my part to keep the peace. It displeases your father and grandfather that I am here."

"Grandfather doesn't attend these family gatherings so why should we?" Scarlet asked.

"He did in the past. Your grandfather Elijah made a few attempts as it was something he thought his mother would like, but then he said it used to annoy his father so he stopped. Those foxes are normally good at hiding their claws. They couldn't wait today," Samara said, peering back at the small mansion. "Are you alright, Scarlet?"

"I am fine. I sent word to the lawyer to speed it up. I do not want to be attached to his mess," Scarlet replied.

"You always say that you are fine, but you are not. Scarlet," Samara said, lifting Scarlet's chin so they would be eye to eye. "I gave birth to you. I know you. Should you ever need me or your father around, say it. I show up from time to time to check in on you, but it would be nice if you could reach out to us."

"There is nothing to call for you since I am fine. No need to get father worked up again when he just got over wanting to shoot Jack," said Scarlet.

Samara awkwardly smiled as that wasn't over with yet. The two could never be in the same room with a gun around. "Why are you using that carriage when your father bought you a nice automobile?" Samara asked, looking at the black carriage Scarlet used today. 

"I prefer to only use it for special occasions. It brings too much attention. Go on ahead of me. I will be doing a little drive around Lockwood before heading home," Scarlet said, guiding her mother to the carriage. She was suddenly in the mood for tea. "Don't invite me to anything else that concerns these people."

"Will you at least be attending the Diamond ball? The Castros expect all of their relatives to be there. Would you like-"

"I don't need to be set up with anyone. Goodbye mother," Scarlet bid goodbye, walking away before her mother could say more.

"Oh, that child," Samara sighed. "Should I give Leonard the gun?"

Harry held Scarlet's door open. "To the estate, Lady Collins?" He asked to confirm.

"No. Did you find a new place for me to enjoy tea?" Scarlet asked, not ready to go back to the manor just yet.

"I have received a recommendation from a few of your guards," Harry answered.

"Very well. Take me there," Scarlet said, willing to give it a try. It was better than going back home with the maids walking on eggshells around her. "I- Those bastards," she muttered, enraged by the sight of a servant walking with a stack of what looked to be newspapers.

The papers were tossed in a large bin outside the mansion. Luckily by leaving early, Scarlet had ruined someone's efforts to humiliate her with yesterday's events. 

"Ha." Scarlet was almost tempted to return to the gathering and point out the trouble in the lives of her relatives, but she wouldn't go so low just yet.

Scarlet sat down inside of the carriage. She leaned her head back on the seat as Harry went to his seat.

How had it turned out for her to be the one mocked when her husband not only cheated but now fathered a child?

"This town and its filthy love for ruining someone," Scarlet muttered. 

It was the main reason she hated Lockwood and often thought of moving, but she could not because of her businesses. She could not place the responsibility on anyone else. 

Scarlet looked around the town with disinterest as the carriage moved. It was out to ruin her life now because there was normally nothing to gossip about when it came to her.

The carriage made a stop in front of a large building Scarlet had frequented once in the past when she thought of buying it. She peered out the window, searching for a name, but could not find one.

Had Harry stopped at the wrong place?

Harry opened the carriage door and offered his hand to Scarlet. "My Lady?" He asked, puzzled by her not making an effort to move.

"This is where you intend for me to drink tea? It does not look like it is open," Scarlet said, assuming that since there was no one outside. No one to greet her. 

Scarlet managed to see a few people moving around inside, but they were all wearing the same clothing so they had to be workers. "Are you trying to kill me?" She jokingly asked.

"Never."

Scarlet accepted Harry's help out of the carriage and took the lead in walking toward the building. "No need to panic about it since it was merely a joke. I like to make those from time to time," she said to stop Harry from worrying she thought he was a traitor. 

Harry walked ahead of Scarlet to push open the doors for her. To his surprise, there weren't any customers inside so the information told to him was wrong. "They are not open. We should leave."

"To what do I owe the pleasure of having the princess of the Collins family in my business?"

Scarlet was already turning to leave, but hearing the nickname and the unfamiliar voice, she wanted to see who it was.

"Don't be so quick to leave when you've only just arrived. I can make a special exception for you," Ian Kingsley said as he cleaned a glass with a white cloth. 

Scarlet narrowed her eyes at the man standing behind the long bar with his shirt, not all the way buttoned up and his hair messy like he had just gotten out of bed and came to work.

"My eyes are up here princess-"

"Refer to me as princess once more and you shall lose those eyes," Scarlet warned. The nickname might be cute to some, but she didn't care for it. 

It was once used as a hidden insult when she was put in charge of family businesses. Scarlet could not forget the faces of men bothered that she was picked to lead.

"My driver made the mistake of coming here at the wrong time. I apologise on his behalf," Scarlet apologised since they stumbled into a closed business.

Ian placed the clean glass down on the counter. "Don't apologise. Thanks to his mistake, I get to have you here as a guest. I would love to serve you," he said, going around the counter to get near Scarlet. A rare treat. "Easy now," he said, seeing the man with Scarlet reach into his coat for something. "I am Ian Kingsley."

'Lord Kingsley's oldest son,' Scarlet thought.

Scarlet knew of Lord Kingsley and his family, but the older of two sons was never seen in society with other members. It was well-known that Lord Kingsley's wife didn't take too kindly to the child known as a bastard. 

"Again, Lady Collins. How may I serve you?" Ian questioned. 

Scarlet disliked the sense of there being more to what Ian was asking her. As handsome as Ian was, she didn't like his stare and smile as if she amused him. "Nothing. I came for tea and this doesn't look like the establishment to serve any. Not to forget that it is closed."

"I can make tea for you,' Ian said, not wanting the young heiress to leave. She would make a fine customer.

"I don't like tea made by everyone," Scarlet responded. 

"You won't know if you like mine until you take a seat. I can't let you walk out of my business not satisfied."

"Your business," Scarlet replied, surprised to hear it belonged to him. How was it that he set up a business and not a word of it was mentioned in the papers?