Page 4 of The Thief
Scarlett shook her head again and they were once again disrupted by the sound of a knock at the door.
“Come in!” Alastair called.
“My Lord,” Bard said, opening the door fully, “Lord Art Balfe is here to see Lady Scarlett.”
Alastair looked at Scarlett and she was as shocked as he.
They both stood and bowed when Art came into the room.
“My Lord, what a surprise to see you here in person,” Alastair said, stepping forward to shake Art’s hand.
The former king shook the offered hand and then waited for Alastair to step back.
“I decided to come and make sure my niece was all right. To send a note would have been bad form, do you not think? When a family member is in trouble, you come in person.”
Alastair nodded and stood back over next to the couch, waiting for Art to sit down. He crossed the few steps it took to get him to Scarlett and reached out and hugged her, the hug so awkward between them even Alastair had to look away.
“I know that Catriona meant a lot to you, but you are now queen in her absence,” he said, sitting on the couch next to Scarlett.
Scarlett looked at Art and then away, the tears in her eyes threatening to fall.
“My Lord, you don’t even know what has happened to your daughter. She is missing only, not gone forever.”
Art scowled at Alastair.
Alastair had to admit, he was afraid of Art.
Art Balfe was a big man. At over six foot six, he towered over most men, and almost all women. Even his wife Olivia Balfe was much shorter than he.
He was big and broad of shoulder and carried a lot of weight on him. He was very intimidating in physical ways but he was also a very shrewd and calculating man. That was what had made him a great king.
“Scarlett is queen now, regardless of what has happened to my daughter. She is not here to rule the kingdom. Scarlett will have her coronation at week’s end and that will be it. I will not have a kingdom without a ruler.”
Scarlett looked anywhere but at them while Art spoke. She could not stand her uncle and was very afraid of him. The last thing she wanted was to be the queen.
“My Lord, I am not ready to be queen yet. Perhaps you can rule in Catriona’s stead just as an interim ruler. I am sure no one would have a problem with that,” she said, watching the excitement Art couldn’t contain come into his cold blue eyes.
As soon as the excitement came, it went, Scarlett’s heart sinking with it.
“Scarlett, you know I cannot do that. It goes against the law,” he said, standing now.
At his full height, he towered over Scarlett’s five-foot seven frame, causing her hands to tremble.
Art had a way of making one do what he wanted, regardless of how one felt about it.
“Scarlett, you will be queen now that Catriona is gone.”
His tone brooked no argument but Scarlett was still so upset and terrified from what had happened to her that she snapped.
“Catriona is not gone! She was kidnapped and you are doing nothing to find her! I will not be queen until there is proof that Catriona no longer lives. You can take that to the Counsel of Electors. They will either name another interim ruler or wait until I have the proof I need.”
Alastair saw how distressed Scarlett was and reached out to her, catching her as she fainted dead away into his arms. He picked her up and couldn’t help but notice that even though she was pale, her beauty was still very evident.
“My Lord, I will have to ask that you give her time. Today was long and stressful for her and she has not yet recovered from her ordeal. I will take her upstairs to rest and then tomorrow you may speak with her.”
Art looked upset but consented.
“I will leave her alone for tonight, but tomorrow will resume our discussion.”
Alastair nodded and waited for him to leave the room, following behind and heading upstairs to the bedrooms. Art headed towards the door but turned and watched as Alastair carried Scarlett up the stairs.
“Bard, did you get one of the guest rooms ready?” he asked when the butler appeared at his side.
“Yes, My Lord, as you requested. Is the lady going to be staying here long?”
Alastair sighed. “That has yet to be determined, but I can assure you I think it would be safer for her here.”
Bard looked down at Art with curiosity in his eyes and watched the man leave but said no more as he followed Alastair up the stairs.
