Page 23 of The Thief
“The kids will be so excited to see you. If you will just follow me this way.”
She started off down the hall and Scarlett and Alastair followed her, having to quicken their pace because Petunia walked very quickly. Petunia abruptly stopped and Alastair pulled Scarlett to the side to avoid crashing into the nurse, bringing their bodies in close contact to one another. They stared at one another for a moment and then Alastair set her away from him, clearing his throat.
Petunia turned and said, her voice excited, “I will go in and come up with something and then I will introduce you, all right?”
Scarlett and Alastair both nodded, Petunia’s excitement becoming contagious. Scarlett peeked into the room that the kids were playing through the half-open door.
“I have never seen a door like this,” she whispered, turning back to look at him.
“I had it specially designed so that the nurses could stand out here if need be and look in the room and check on them. I found the gentleman who was able to create the door by accident one day when I walked past his shop. It has two handles, but only on the outside of the door. That way they can open the top and leave the bottom shut, but the handles are on the outside of the door so unless the children are tall enough to reach, they can’t get the door open.”
“That is very impressive,” she said, looking at the front of the top piece that had the handle on it.
“I think I would like one of these doors if I ever had a child. I would love to be able to just stand up and look into the room and check on the child playing. That way I would not have to bother them by sitting in there and they could play freely.”
The thoughts those words brought up for Alastair frustrated him. He had not known Scarlett long enough to want babies with her, much less marry her. For the last six weeks, he had done everything he could to avoid her because of their kiss.
He pushed those thoughts aside and said, his voice slightly frustrated now, “I can definitely give you his information when you leave so that should you ever need one created for you, he would be happy to help.”
Scarlett couldn’t help but feel slightly upset by the thought of leaving Alastair and Elfyre Hollow but before she could process those feelings, Petunia introduced them to the kids, motioning for them to come in.
Alastair grabbed the handle and opened the door for her, letting her in.
“Hi, everyone,” she said, nervous now that she looked down at the adorable faces of all the children in the room.
“Hello,” they replied.
“Hi, everyone!” Alastair exclaimed, the kids all jumping from their seats and running over to crowd him.
“Hi, Lord Alastair!”
“Did you come to visit us today?”
“How long will you be here today?”
Scarlett smiled and giggled at Alastair, amazed that he was unfazed by all the questions.
“I am here all day today for your pleasure. I brought the Lady Scarlett here today to spend time with you too. She is a bit nervous, so can we make her feel really welcome and not nervous anymore?” he said, winking at her when all their faces turned towards her.
She blushed and Alastair smiled.
Two little girls walked over to her and took her hands, their smiles as big as their faces when they asked, “Are you a queen?”
She smiled and kneeled down, brushing a curl back from the little redhead’s face and said, “I am not the real queen. I am acting queen. I am helping the queen out until she gets back.”
Their faces fell and she looked quickly at Alastair.
“She is a princess though.”
Their faces immediately perked up at Alastair’s words.
“A princess!?!?”
Scarlett nodded. “I am. I have been a princess for as long as I can remember. I have been taught to be a princess since I was a little girl just like you two are.”
The little blonde next to the redhead reached out and touched Scarlett’s cheek.
“How come you don’t have a crown?” she asked.
