Page 56 of The Thief
Chapter Thirteen
“Mother? Father? When did you arrive?” Alastair asked, standing and coming over to join the group.
Antoinette smiled and hugged her son, kissing him on the cheek as Beauregard shook his hand.
“We arrived at the same time as the Kensingtons. Both of our carriages pulled up at the same time. I know we arrived a day early, but we wanted to get here as soon as we were able to get away. Bard let us know that you and Scarlett were in the courtyard.”
Scarlett pinked a little at the look on her mother’s face.
“We know that you and Scarlett have been working closely to find Catriona,” Beauregard said, looking from Alastair to Scarlett.
“Have you found anything?” Graham Kensington asked, bringing everyone’s attention to him.
“Right now, we have little information, just bits and pieces of what we have ascertained so far. Let’s go to the parlor and we can get some tea and discuss it further,” Alastair suggested, holding out his hand for Graham to lead the way.
Graham held his hand out for Babette and she took it, Beauregard doing the same for Antoinette as Alastair held out his arm to Scarlett.
She took it and they headed into the house, walking as a group.
Beauregard asked about the crops and how the castle was doing, wanting to know how everything was going.
Graham joined in as they talked, adding his own knowledge to the discussion.
Scarlett watched how animated Alastair was when he talked about the castle’s care, his love for his home evident from the excitement he displayed.
They arrived at the parlor a few minutes later and their discussion waned, Alastair calling for tea. He waited until everyone was seated to begin.
Scarlett looked around as they waited, unable to help but feel happily uneasy; a very odd feeling for her to be. She was happy to see her parents, but very uneasy about his parents being there as well. She had never met them and so she really was worried that they wouldn’t like her.
If she was going to marry their son, she did want them to like her so that they could have a relationship. She looked over at Antoinette and could see where Alastair got his coloring from, his black hair and green eyes an exact replica of his mother.
He looked more like his father Beauregard in facial feature and body type, both men tall and broad with a strong chin, high cheekbones, and broad, wide shoulders. Scarlett had not yet seen Beauregard without his shirt but she was certain that he looked the same, only older. Scarlett had to fight off her blush as she remembered the day that she saw Alastair without a shirt.
They were at the hospital and Alastair volunteered to help with some of the landscaping, and after a few hours of work in the heat, most of the men had stripped off their shirts to keep cool.
Scarlett was asked to bring some extra water out to them and had obliged because the little boy she was spending time with had to rest. She walked out of the hospital and into the construction area, many of the men saying hello to her and waving.
Even though many of them had their chests bared, she only had eyes for Alastair. He had a muscular chest, the definition of his torso almost unbelievable. His chest was tanned and had a light sprinkling of dark hair on it. She halted so suddenly that she almost dropped the water, causing the other men to look at her.
She cleared her throat and walked over to him, smiling through her blush. He smiled at her and she bowed her head, acknowledging the greeting.
“I’ve brought some water for you and the men. I know it is quite warm out.”
He took the large bucket from her and replied, “It looks as if you have been out too long as well. Go back inside and cool down.”
“I will, do not fret, My Lord. I wanted to ensure that you did not get overheated.”
“Worry not, fair lady, for me. I will take good care of myself and the other men,” he proclaimed with a wink.
She giggled. “I am going back inside now. Do you need anything else, My Lord?”
He shook his head. “Thank you, but no.”
She bowed slightly and then headed back inside.
Her attention was drawn back to the present when Alastair cleared his throat.
“Would you like some tea?”
