Page 50 of The Thief
“Make sure there are at least two guards at Scarlett’s door and Melody, you, or Ragan are in there with her.”
Bard nodded and stepped back as the vehicle carried the lord off in a hurry, the vehicle taking off so quickly it kicked up dust.
Hours later, Alastair walked through the door, his jacket in his hand. He was exhausted from the surgery, trying to help save the man’s life. Unfortunately, they had not been able to save him, and he had passed away on the operating table.
Alastair sighed in frustration, leaning back against the door and squeezing the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
Bard walked into the hallway and looked at Alastair, knowing this face he made signaled something had happened
“Welcome home, My Lord. Did it not go well as you had hoped?” Even though he already knew the answer.
Alastair looked at Bard, his eyes red.
“I’m sorry, My Lord. I know how hard it is for you to lose a patient.”
“It’s all right, Bard. I just pray for Mr. McIntyre’s family.”
“As shall I,” Bard replied.
“How’s Scarlett?” Alastair asked, walking over to Bard and handing him his jacket.
Bard put it over his forearm and replied, “She is well. She was even able to make it downstairs for dinner this evening. Sally was so giddy that she made an apple pie for dessert.”
Their cook Sally liked Scarlett very much, and had struck up a relationship with her during the time that Scarlett had been here. The thought of Scarlett being his princess and being here permanently and running his home made him suddenly excited.
He tamped it down and sighed, looking at Bard.
“Is there any pie left?”
Bard nodded, a smile coming to his face.
“I made sure Sally saved you a piece. I know that apple pie is your favorite.”
Alastair clapped his hand on Bard’s shoulder.
“I’ll be in the study.”
“My Lord, Lady Scarlett asked to speak with you when you arrived home.”
“I will speak to her tomorrow. It is late and I’d rather not wake her.”
“As you wish. I’ll get that pie for you.”
“Thank you, Bard.”
Bard bowed at the waist and walked down the hall, freeing Alastair to go into the study.
A few minutes later, a knock came on the door and he called out for them to enter, thinking it was Bard. When he looked up, he was surprised to see Scarlett standing there, holding his pie.
“Scarlett? What are you doing here?” he asked, realizing how informal they had become since she became sick.
He immediately stood and walked over to her, taking the dessert from her, and leading her to the couch near the bookshelves that lined the wall. She let him lead her to sit down and when she was settled he looked at her, noticing she was in her nightgown and robe. His heart skipped a beat when he realized that he could see the top of her breasts through the nightgown, the rounded fullness teasing him.
“I came to speak with you since I was sure you would think I was asleep.”
“All right. What is it?” he asked, slightly frustrated now.
With everything that had happened this evening, he didn’t really want to be this close to her, her breasts tempting him with all the comfort her body could bring.
