Nolan didn't know who the man holding Scarlet's hand was and didn't understand why she allowed it.
"If you have something to say to her, say it now or you'll get in the way of my dance," said Ian, annoyed by the presence of the man standing too close to Scarlet.
Nolan was more confused to hear that Scarlet was sharing a dance with this man. Why this stranger when he had asked her to join him at the ball? "Scarlet, who is this person?"
"An acquaintance. Mother, I will be going to dance," Scarlet said, then led Ian away from her parents before he could be questioned.
"Another guard?" Ian questioned, sparing a glance at Nolan. He found the man staring at Scarlet like a sad puppy. Ian couldn't resist smirking for the man to see and enjoyed the anger directed at him. He chuckled, finding the ball to be better than he thought it would be.
"Nolan is my lawyer. Either you are pretending not to know or you didn't do a check on me," said Scarlet, not minding whichever one it was. Doing a bit of background check on someone was for safety sometimes.
"I said that I want to get to know you. That means learning about you from you. Did you wear comfortable shoes?" Ian asked as he was unable to tell because of the length of her dress.
"I did," Scarlet admitted. "You did your part so it was only fair that I did mine. I am a bit curious how you managed to do it."
"That would require more than a dance. Dinner," He added before Scarlet could get the wrong idea.
"I am not that curious," Scarlet replied, turning down the offer.
As Scarlet and Ian made their way to take a position for the dance, they gathered attention.
Beth tried to make out who was the man going to dance with Scarlet. "She found someone already. Jack," she paused as she noticed Jack's gaze toward Scarlet. Why did he look upset?
Beth once again felt like Jack was not over Scarlet as he claimed he was. How could he not love Scarlet but look so angry at the sight of Scarlet dancing with someone? Was he hoping that Scarlet would remain alone so there would be a place for him in the future should he change his mind?
"Jack," Beth said, holding onto his arm. "I want to dance."
Jack looked down at Beth. "Should you do that?"
"I can! I feel awful just standing here and need to move around. Please," she begged him. "We can stop if I don't feel well."
Jack couldn't say no when he wanted to keep Beth happy. "Very well," he agreed, leading her to dance.
Beth was excited, not for dancing, but for her plan to come into play. This was the only way she would be able to get close to Scarlet.
Beth was a wonderful dancer so should anyone try to compare her to Scarlet, she would have the upper hand. She only wished to know who the man with Scarlet was. He was handsome. Was it one of her business partners or was Scarlet so desperate that she rented a man?
Beth chuckled as she could see it being the latter. Beth eyed where Scarlet stood and then focused on Jack as the music started to play. The child she created would be gone by the end of the night and Scarlet would be helping her.
Beth could already imagine what the morning paper would say. Scarlet failed to have a child of her own and took another woman's child. Scarlet would never be able to show her face around the town again.
"Is dancing making you so happy?" Jack asked, surprised by how much Beth was smiling.
Beth snapped out of her thoughts, only now realising was smiling as she thought of her plans. "It is because I am dancing with you here. I no longer need to hide and wait for you to come home to me. I will treasure this moment forever. If only you weren't still married."
"That will be over soon. We've both been pouring a lot of money where needed to get this over with soon," Jack replied. His attention then went back to Scarlet who was engaged in a conversation with the man she danced with.
Jack was certain he had seen the man before but could not think of a name right away. How was it that Scarlet was dancing with someone already? He knew her well enough to know she would not want to dance with anyone. Was this the man she was going to move onto or was she trying to make him jealous?
It was so out of character for Scarlet that he could only think she was doing this to get his attention.
As he danced with Beth, Jack couldn't pry his eyes away from Scarlet. Scarlet stood out among her peers. A beautiful woman unlike any other and seeing how she was dressed now, he desired to take her to bed, but she would not allow it.
Unaware of the attention from two people she did not wish to see, Scarlet was focused on only Ian.
"Why are you smiling so much?" Scarlet questioned. "You are smiling as though you just stumbled upon a lot of money."
"Can't I just smile because I am dancing with a beautiful woman?" Ian responded.
"Is it only my beauty that fuels your interest in me? Aside from my name being in papers," Scarlet added as he made that part quite clear.
"Hardly. I adore your personality as well. How you always look as though you want to claw my eyes out. It is quite fun to poke at you and see that little glare. Your beauty is a nice bonus to it all," Ian replied.
Scarlet had nothing to add to his answer. He certainly was a charmer.
Ian smiled even more due to her silence. For a moment, he took his eyes off Scarlet to look at the couple who would not stop staring at her. They both eyed Scarlet as if they wanted her, but they could not.
Ian was too enthralled with Scarlet to share her with anyone, especially the likes of those two.
When the dance came to an end and the couples clapped before leaving to stand somewhere else for the other couples to have their turn, Beth innocently led Jack in Scarlet's direction.
"Oh, Scarlet is here. I should apologise for my actions the other day," Beth said, letting go of Jack's hand to go to Scarlet alone. Jack should not be near her to be blamed.
"No," Jack said, trying to grab ahold of her, but Beth was too fast.
Beth's piercing scream was soon heard by those nearby.