"How long have the two of you been engaged?" Alana asked, joining the celebration now that she had gotten over her shock. "I should have known this is why the two of you have been acting so strange. I thought it was something else."

Alana owed Dawson money now as she had believed Scarlet was pregnant. She was relieved to not have made the mistake of asking Scarlet if she was having a child. Her guess would have been wrong and maybe insensitive.

"From the time we went on the trip," Scarlet replied.

"That long? You two knew that you were going to get married and waited so long to tell us? We could have had a big party back then with everyone. What is the reason?" Rue questioned, looking to Ian for an answer.

"It was not him. I asked Ian not to share the news back then. I wanted to enjoy it with him alone at first and then watch all of you accept him first. If there’s anyone to get upset with for waiting so long, it would be me. Oh-" Scarlet whined, touching her arm where Rue hit her.

"Why would any of us be angry with you? We’re just a little surprised. Are you happy?" Rue asked.

"I am," Scarlet answered.

"Then that is all that matters. Do everything in your own time. We’ve all taken turns controlling something in our relationships. We will only be upset if you get married in secret and do not tell us. I don’t care that it is your second time. I want to be there when you get married. Promise me," Rue said, holding out her hand for Scarlet to make a pinky promise.

Scarlet laughed at the childish way of sealing the promise but still did it. "I was raised better than not inviting you all to my wedding. Everyone present now will be the first ones to receive an invite. I have already thought of doing it on the estate. No one could enter to disturb us. I hope you don’t mind that it isn’t in a church."

Samara was too happy to focus on where it would be held. As long as the marriage would last, where the wedding would happen did not matter. "You would have to tell the priests early that you will need one of them to come here. Are we allowed to plan the wedding with you?"

"You can. All of you," Scarlet said, turning to Ivy. "You are welcome to join us when you are not busy with Victor. I hope the new lord can make time to attend our wedding. I heard you would like to go back to the border."

"I will be here. I won’t miss the wedding,’ Victor declared. Ian needed to have someone sit on his side so Victor would be there front and centre. "What am I to do at the wedding? Do I have a role to do?"

"Yes. It’s called sitting with all the other guests and don’t speak when the priest is talking. You have the job like every other guest not to ruin my wedding. Can you do that?" Ian asked, placing his arm around Victor’s neck to pull him down.

"Y-Yes. Why do you feel like you want to choke me? What have I done wrong? Ivy," Victor turned to her for help.

"I heard you turned tough after going to the border but I heard wrong," Ian said, letting go of Victor.

"Ryan has been teaching me how to use a sword and you’ve both heard wrong. I am not going back to the border. I have just become the lord so I must stay here. Too many are relying on me. You two should come for dinner when you have time. I can hold a party for you," Victor offered.

"Or we can just visit for a normal dinner," Scarlet replied.

"If anyone is holding parties for my little girl it would be me. Well done," Leonard said, giving Ian a pat on his back.

Ian saw it as more of a beating with how hard Leonard hit him. It was like Leonard was truly congratulating them but at the same time, he wanted to hurt Ian for taking away his daughter

Ian groaned after another pat on his back from Elijah. If anyone hit him again, he might not be able to stand at his wedding. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"We should have a drink once," Elijah decided. "Not to question him anymore," he added as Scarlet looked suspicious. "We’ve done enough of that at the reunion. He will be part of our family soon so he should join when Leonard and I have a drink. So, you’ll be Kingsley soon."

"Not quite. Ian has decided to take the Collins name-"

"Well, why didn’t the two of you say so earlier? Come here, Ian. Let’s go have a drink," Leonard said, happy to know he wouldn’t have to hear of Scarlet being a Kingsley.

Elijah shared the excitement as the estate was still in the hands of Collins by name.

"You can do that now? I would have had Elijah take the Callahan name," Rue said, considering doing it now.

"Why is it this news that makes them so happy to be around him? Dinner is going to start soon so why are they going off to drink? Shouldn’t we stop them, mother?" Scarlet asked.

Normally Samara would convince Leonard not to drink before dinner but it was a night to celebrate. "Let them go off to do what they want while we talk. It’s the first time they have invited Ian for a drink so don’t disturb it. Dinner can always be warmed up. As the new lord, Victor will wed soon. I wonder who will be next after Scarlet."

Alana smiled as she felt Samara’s curiosity was directed to her. She didn’t have any news to share of a wedding. Thanks to not wanting the town to know of her relationship all Alana could do with Dawson was walk around the estate together. At this rate, she wouldn’t be getting married soon and didn’t mind it.

Scarlet kept her sight of Ian standing with her father and grandfather then Victor who was pulled into having a drink. It wouldn’t take long before Ian got upset with Victor drinking too much.

"So, wedding plans. Winter is starting so it would have to be indoors unless you want coats made for all your guests. When can we come over to plan?" Samara asked.

"Mother, the wedding won’t be happening soon but you can come tomorrow to share your ideas. Ian thinks I should have a big wedding-"

"Of course you should. We have a big family," Rue interjected. "Everyone who didn’t get to attend the first would love to come to this one. We can have it be our second family gathering."

"My only concern with having a big wedding is that it will mostly be my family filling the seats. I would prefer a small wedding to hide that there will be few on Ian’s side. It is only Victor, Ivy, and Owen," Scarlet said, thinking of how Ian would feel.

"That man knows how little family he has yet he wants you to have a big wedding. You’re worrying for nothing. Now, let’s go eat all of the good food while those four are drinking," Rue said, walking off to the dining room first.

"You can come tomorrow around noon as well," Scarlet extended an invite to Ivy.

"Thank you," Ivy replied.

Alana held Scaelet’s hand, admiring the ring on her finger. "The estate will be busy preparing for a wedding. You look to be plotting something."

"I am. I will have a small wedding," Scarlet said, certain of it. All she needed to do was persuade Ian.