11 Return (1)

"My lady, we have arrived."

Scarlet looked out the carriage window at the jeweller's shop. She needed a new necklace to wear at the diamond ball and since the jeweller was too busy to come to her, she was going to him.

She needed the distraction after all that she dealt with concerning her family and the divorce. Shopping for new jewellery was something that she enjoyed as she got to see how the jewels from her mines were used.

Scarlet exited the carriage with Harry's help and walked toward the shop with two guards behind her. The paper was eager to get her side of the story, something Scarlet didn't think they needed to hear, and keep following her.

 She wasn't on the best terms with the paper so should she give them any kind of story, they would twist her words.

As Scarlet neared the jeweller's shop, she felt the stares of people passing by. Other than travelling for tea or going to her businesses, she wasn't seen around the town often so when she did leave home, the stares were common.

Scarlet heard the gossip starting up once more but it did not bother her.

"Lady Collins," the jeweller George greeted her. "My apologies for having you come here. With the ball coming up, I had a lot of work. I would have made the trip to you if I could."

"It is fine, George. I needed the fresh air," Scarlet replied.

George always made the long trip to her estate so this time she had no problem coming to him. He offered to send an assistant, but Scarlet liked dealing with George personally.

"I have something you might like prepared so you won't have to stay long," George said, looking out the window at the nosy people. "A fine necklace decorated with rubies. I only made one with this style. I thought one with emeralds would suit you, but you have too many."

Scarlet took a seat as George went to find the box with the necklace. Her father had been gifting her necklaces made by George so she trusted he knew what would suit her most. "Have you received a large supply from the mines?"

"Oh yes! There was a good find in the new mines. Your family is lucky."

"That is good to hear," Scarlet answered. 

Thanks to her great-grandmother Alessandra Collins, mines were shared among her children and her grandfather Elijah kept buying more lands where he thought he could strike big.

George returned from a private room with a box in his hands and gloves to not ruin the necklace when he took it out. George took a seat before Scarlet and opened the box.

"You've outdone yourself, George. I will take it," Scarlet said, admiring the necklace. It was beautiful with how simple it was made. Nothing too flashy that would not suit her, but it showed her ties with fine jewels. 

George glanced at Scarlet's hand which was no longer decorated by her wedding rings. "It is always good to get a compliment from you, Scarlet. I hope that I am not intruding here, but would you like me to make you new rings? They will be ready after the ball."

"You may," Scarlet agreed. She had stopped wearing her wedding ring since she placed it down on a table to return to Jack, but it still felt weird to not have one on her finger. "I won't take any more of your time when you are busy. The payment will be settled by noon."

"Ah yes. Thank you," said George. He had no reason to doubt Scarlet wouldn't pay him whatever price he came up with.

Harry carefully picked up the box to carry for Scarlet. 

George escorted Scarlet to the door. "Nosey old fools. I will have to lock my door after you leave so I don't have to listen to them asking what you bought. That woman has visited me asking for a few necklaces that matched the ones you have over the years."

Scarlet smiled, amused by the fact Beth wanted to dress up like her. "Give them to her. You shouldn't turn down business because of me."

"But my loyalty lies with you. Your family has been kind to me over the years. I don't want to get involved with anyone bringing drama to your life. Should I make her necklaces, the town will say that I don't care for you," said George.

"And if you don't, they will say that I am stopping her from doing business. Both options will lead to gossip so do as you please. I appreciate the offer, but you have a business," Scarlet said.

If Beth and Jack were to ever book a room at one of her hotels, she wouldn't send them away as long as they paid what was owed. She wouldn't be at the hotel to face them so it wouldn't annoy her. The two showing up at her home was another story. One that would end with guns being pointed if they did not get off her land.

"I understand. Have a safe trip back to your estate."

Scarlet made her way back to the carriage. With the business here over with, Scarlet had nothing else to do but to return home. As she got inside the carriage, she started to think of the tea brewed for her a few days ago. 

Some time had passed since she had a good tea and now she was in need of it. Scarlet closed her eyes, upset with herself for wanting to go back when she had stated there was no need for her to return. 

Scarlet imagined amused by her return, something she did not want to see in reality. She could return home and have a bit of tea she wouldn't enjoy, but then her mother would call her, telling her she needed to get out of the estate more.

"Harry, take me back to where I had tea made by Ian," Scarlet ordered.

Harry was surprised to hear she wanted to go back, but was also happy she found somewhere else to get out of the estate to be free from work. 'Right away. We are close by so it will only take a few minutes."

Scarlet wished that it would take a little longer so she had more time to think and change her mind. There were a few moments when Ian popped up in her mind as she tried to figure out why he was back in town after not hearing a word about him in years unless his stepmother spoke of him.

It was like someone from the dead had come back to town and he had a way of hiding in town while not hiding at the same time since he quickly said his name to her. How was it that the papers didn't mention him?

It couldn't be that he was doing a fine job of hiding himself since the woman yelled his name when she entered. Could it be that he had some relationship with the paper to have them not said a word about it or were the Kingsleys the one stopping his name from being mentioned?

"It doesn't concern me," Scarlet whispered, no longer wanting to think about it. 

She was only going for tea not to learn about his life.