Page 48 of The Thief
Chapter Twelve
The next day, Alastair received a reply from Scarlett’s parents letting him know that they would indeed be joining their party.
As he walked upstairs to see Scarlett, he thought about what would happen if she got worse.
They still had an almost full vial and a full vial of the antidote, but if the attempted killer took his time and then gave her a huge dose, the antidote would be gone.
The hospital told him that there had been two bottles of Tapoxon stolen from the hospital, and that was more than enough to continue poisoning Scarlett to the point that it would kill her.
He sighed in frustration.
When he reached the door, he knocked, opening the door when Melody called out for him to come in.
“Good morning, My Lord,” she said with a dreamy smile.
Alastair looked over at Scarlett, very relieved to see that she was not as pale as she was yesterday.
She sat up in the bed, propped up against a battalion of pillows, her hair braided simply but still in her nightgown.
Her eyes were still sunken in and she had dark circles under her eyes, but the sparkle in her eye was back. That alone made him happy.
She smiled back at him and he turned to Melody, a slightly mischievous look in his eye.
“How was your picnic yesterday with Ragan? I heard from him that it was a very lovely afternoon.”
A pink tinge appeared on Melody’s face, the happiness speaking volumes.
“It was, My Lord. Thank you for letting us go, especially given the circumstances.”
She looked over at Scarlett when she said that, receiving a look of reproach from her friend.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, “I was perfectly fine. Alastair is more than capable of taking care of me if you are not here. I am just selfish and want you here to appease any onset of frustration I feel at being confined to this bed. However, I am not so selfish as to keep you from finding happiness.”
Scarlett smiled at Melody, who chuckled.
“So feisty now that she is feeling better. She won’t even need me now that she is.”
Scarlett shook her head.
“I highly doubt that.”
Alastair watched the exchange between the two women and laughed.
Melody looked over at him and asked, “I’m sorry to have delayed you with our conversation. Did you have any news for us?”
He nodded and walked over to the bed, handing the letter he’d received to Scarlett.
She read it and her face lit up. “My parents are coming. They will be here the same day as yours.”
She looked up at him from the letter in her hands.
“That will be exciting will it not?” he asked.
She laughed and shook her head. “It will be interesting to be sure.”
“I have a feeling that it will be lovely; do not worry,” he affirmed, his eyes calm and reassuring.
She looked over to Melody and inquired, “Will you help me get ready? They won’t be here for about two more days, but I’d rather be prepared.”
