"This is what you become when Scarlet is busy with someone else? It’s pitiful. Sad. An eyesore."

"Don’t you have something better to do? You sure talk a lot when Scarlet isn’t around," Ian said, looking at Dawson who took a seat beside him. "This is my wine. Why don’t you go get your own?"

"How can a guard go into Scarlet’s storage to get wine? She said you should pass the time with me so I am allowed to have one glass. You’ve almost reached the bottom," Dawson said after swirling the bottle around.

"It was a bottle that was already open. I am not some drunk and didn’t you hear her warning? She would stay home and not go on the trip if I were to show up drunk. The princess might not like it if she were to see you drunk. Scarlet is curious," Ian revealed.

Dawson poured out all of the remaining wine since it was rare that he got to drink like this. "She is curious for nothing. There is nothing between me and the princess."

"Scarlet won’t believe that and I certainly don’t. Men, we can tell when each other is interested in someone. Some might get competitive and try to court her right from your side. You can lie to Scarlet but don’t waste my time with it," Ian said as it was too obvious.

None of the men who wanted to dance with Alana when Dawson was right behind her gave a look that warned the others to stay away. If Alana wanted to continue to find someone to court tonight, she would not have succeeded thanks to Dawson.

"Instead of trying to keep all those men away from her, why don’t you just tell her that you feel-"

"Who made you the relationship expert and why is it any of your concern?" Dawson asked.

"I don’t care about what happens between you and the princess but Scarlet cares. She placed herself as Alana’s protector and well, the longer you beat around the bush about your feelings, I have to deal with Scarlet getting distracted by the two of you so please, help me," Ian pleaded.

Dawson laughed as he should have known that Ian was looking out for his best interest. "Why did I think for a second you were being nosy? You were being greedy. Unfortunately for you, I have nothing to say to the princess. I am her guard."

Ian sighed, no longer in the mood to drink since Dawson was spoiling his already terrible night. "I wonder how many times in history someone has thought they weren’t good enough for someone else but they still got together. It only took them a few years to figure it out. Please save me from having to watch your sappy love story."

"Aren’t all the new stories children read about princesses falling in love with knights or something like that? Remind me to never buy any of those books if I ever have a child. They leave out the part where the knight is sulking alone because he’s just a knight. Have fun," Ian said, patting Dawson’s back as he stood up.

"I would have preferred if we just drank in silence," said Dawson.

"I would have preferred to have wine alone but you came and sat right next to me. You have to deal with the consequences. I should have drank enough to make tomorrow come sooner. I hope as soon as I shut my eyes, morning is here," Ian said, ready to get far out of Lockwood.

Dawson drowned the glass of wine he poured himself. They were all getting ahead of themselves about something so small. It was why he would never admit that he did like the princess. She had her eyes set on men with titles to go up against her brother and she was to work with Scarlet. He would not add the problem of a guard liking her to the long list of things she had to worry about.

"Let this night go fast," Dawson whispered.

Then he could forget about his talk with Ian or the fact it once crossed his mind tonight that he should ask Alana for a dance since no one was bold enough to approach her.

Dawson stood up, deciding to go to bed now so he could be up early to do his job of protecting her. He didn’t have time to think about feelings when he had to keep her crazy brother from getting her.

The next day, Scarlet stood beside Alana watching as her bags were packed into the carriage. Ian was convinced that he could handle it by himself without Harry’s help.

"You look nervous, Scarlet. Do you not want to go?" Alana asked.

"It is not that. I have to put my life in Ian’s hands since he doesn’t want to take Harry with us. He is lucky that I like him or I would stay home if Harry was not invited along. If you do not hear from me a little after the time I was to return, please send out my guards to search for me. I might be somewhere at the side of the road in a carriage turned upside down."

Alana laughed as she couldn’t understand why Scarlet would still be in the carriage at that time. Ian could not be so bad that he would harm the two of them in an accident. "You will return in one piece. Ian knows that he is travelling with expensive goods."

"He does," Scarlet replied, liking the way Alana put it. "Try not to get into trouble while I am away. I want to return and find my estate in one piece. You will make sure that I do, right?"

"I will! Florence is here to help me and your mother has already called to let me know she will be coming over for dinner. Don’t think about us while you are away. Don’t even think about Sunny. Everyone will be well so go," Alana said, going behind Scarlet to push her down to the carriage.

"W-Wait wait," Scarlet said, trying to grab onto something before Alana made her fall. "Now I am nervous about why you want me gone so fast."

"Got you," Ian said, lifting Scarlet before she could fall.

Scarlet didn’t enjoy the show they were giving to everyone standing outside. "Ian," she patted his back. "Put me down right now. I am still the lady of this estate."

Ian ignored Scarlet’s plea and lifted her to the carriage to put her down. Scarlet was the only one concerned about how she looked right now. Those outside were the people he always saw around her so they didn’t need to worry about gossip.

Ian carefully sat Scarlet down on her seat. "Maybe we should have a driver. Now I want to sit in the back with you. Would Harry-"

"No," Scarlet denied his proposal. She knew what was going through his mind and wanted to avoid being on this trip with pain in her back. "You are to go to your seat up front and get started on heading toward wherever you are taking me before I change my mind. I have already assigned Harry as Alana’s driver and second guard."

"A pity. I missed how good it would be for the two of us to be left alone at the back of this carriage. I will make a stop to get Owen. Sit tight," Ian said, letting go of Scarlet.

"No! You were the one who came up with the idea of this trip just being the two of us. You cannot go back on your word now and it is wrong of you to ask anyone to change their plans. Take your seat, driver," Scarlet teased Ian.

He had bugged her about it just being the two of them alone in a house together. Scarlet had never gone anywhere without at least one of her guards so she placed her trust in Ian.

Ian helped Scarlet to get more comfortable in her seat. "You will be the one who later comes to regret that we are alone. We’re leaving," he said, stepping back to close the door.

Victor should be well on his way to the border with Rue and Ryan. They should meet again near the time that Scarlet reunited with the rest of her family.

Ian took his seat at the front of the carriage, something he greatly regretted now that they were at this point.

He should have thought ahead to realise that he could have laid around in the back with Scarlet.

Alana waved goodbye to the couple. She hoped to hear good news from them when they returned. Either they would get married or they would bring bigger news to shock the town.

"He has not left yet but he is already frowning. Their trip is not off to a good start but I hope it will turn around. Dawson?" Alana called, surprised by him walking away.

They didn’t need to be mindful of speaking to each other so why was he being this way now?