Page 65 of The Thief
“Rest assured he will not tell anyone until the time is right. Not even my mother.”
She looked over at her parents standing together and her father smiled and winked at her, and then turned a warning glance on Alastair.
Alastair felt like he should run and hide but instead stood still and nodded at Graham, letting him know he understood.
With one last look, he turned back to Scarlett.
“Your father is just a bit frightening sometimes,” he choked out.
Scarlett couldn’t contain her laughter at his pained expression.
“Don’t worry, he likes you. If he didn’t, he would have let the whole market know that he did not approve.”
He only looked slightly less pained.
Scarlett tried so hard not to continue laughing at him, but it was difficult. She had never seen him look so honestly scared of something before.
He pressed his lips together in a tight line and his eyes crinkled at the edges, letting loose a sigh as he looked around.
“I am glad that he did not make a scene in the market. It would have embarrassed everyone and given away our secret. Of course, it could not be considered a complete secret since now the three of us know.”
“You do mean four of us, right?” she asked.
“Do not forget about dear Bard, who was there when you proposed marriage to me.”
He nodded.
“Of course, the four of us. Please excuse my wording. I would never purposely leave Bard out.”
He looked up and noticed that it was starting to get dark, letting him know it was time for them to go.
“It is time to go. We need to get back to the castle before nightfall.”
“I am sure Mama and Papa are ready to go. At least Papa is. He has never been one for shopping and frivolous things like that.”
He chuckled.
“Indeed not. He seems as if he would rather be inside reading.”
It was her turn to chuckle.
“Not as much as he would like to be inside figuring out numbers. He has a head for those things. Unfortunately, it did not get passed down to me. I have more of an artistic sensibility as opposed to a mathematical one.”
He nodded as she spoke.
“I am more of the mathematical man myself, being a doctor. I feel like the odds are better when you actually can calculate them.”
He was flagged down by the coachman, letting them know that their parents were already at the coaches waiting for them. Alastair let him know they would be along in a minute.
He had walked her down to a small stand that he had intended on coming to for a while now, hoping they still had a certain piece of jewelry he had had his eye on for some time.
Checking the table, he grew concerned when he did not see it.
“Excuse me.” He flagged down the owner.
Leaning over, he whispered in his ear. Scarlett just watched curiously as he did.
The owner looked pleased and shook Alastair’s hand, promising he would bring something to the castle for him.
When they had worked out the details for payment and their business was concluded, Alastair walked Scarlett back to her carriage; kissing her hand softly before climbing in and accompanying his parents back to the castle.
