Page 7 of The Thief
“May I ask you a question?” he said, halting her pacing.
She stared at him, waiting.
“Do you think your uncle had anything to do with your cousin’s abduction?”
Scarlett stood still for a moment, thinking about what she would say.
Did she truly think her uncle had anything to do with it?
Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t think that Uncle Art had anything to do with it.”
Alastair looked at her curiously.
“Are you sure of that?” he asked.
“If he had anything to do with it, he would have fought harder to prevent me from even looking. When he doesn’t want you to know something, he will do anything he can to keep you from figuring it out.”
Alastair shook his head. “Such manipulation,” he said, making Scarlett crack a smile.
“Well, that is my uncle. He has never been subtle about such things. It is how he has always been. Even with Aunt Olivia and Catriona.”
She sighed and sat down.
“I have always been afraid of becoming queen unless Art had passed away first. There have always been lingering fears that should I become queen before that, Art would try and control me. It seems to me that it is the situation.”
She plopped back against the pillows.
Alastair watched her and couldn’t help but be enchanted by her.
She exuded an innocence that he found irresistible, but she had knowledge of the world rarely found in people younger than thirty.
He smiled at her and said, “Well, I for one am sure that it will not end up that way. We will find her. I have sent out many messages to people I know I can trust asking about it. It is going to take some time though, so we will have to be patient.”
“Have patience,” she said, resting her hands on her stomach.
Alastair chuckled and went to leave.
“Please excuse me, I have some paperwork for a new hospital to fill out. I’ll see you at lunch.”
She smiled and waved goodbye to him, watching as he walked out.
