|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 12:43:31 GMT -5
"Oh, Susie, what are you doing?" Suzette looked up at the large, impressive home that was looming over her. She felt like it might grow fangs and eat her.
Zachary Scotts ws a hard man to track down. No address, no history... wherever he went, he had literally disappeared. Unbeknownst to her, this was half her fiance's doing.
The best she had been able to find was this address, and she didn't even know if he lived here. She could hope.
FInally, taking a breath to give her courage, she knocked on the door.
Tibby answered, giving her a quick once over.
"I'm looking for Mr. Scotts-"
"Right this way," Tibby replied, opening the door wider and ushering the woman in. "Please sit, I will get him."
Suzette wanted to argue, but the little elf was gone in a flash, and she was left in the foyer.
Tibby had gone to Justin's room: he was the only Mr. Scotts in the house today. The children had gone back to school, Thatcher was busy, and Zachary had gone out as well.
"Master Justin," she squeaked. "There is a woman waiting for you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 12:59:13 GMT -5
Justin was sitting casually in an armchair at the desk in his room going over some papers from his trip and looked up when Tibby announced that he had a female guest waiting on him. Who would come looking for me here? he wondered to himself thinking of the women he'd been with since his return but couldn't think of any who would call on him. He was dressed in his normal casual attire which made him look dark and handsome, though for him casual was not exactly casual, like his aunt he always dressed well. "Thanks Tibby, I'll be right down."
He made his way down to the parlor and saw a very attractive and slender woman with her back to him. Well now.. if women stopping by were always this beautiful he didn't mind being disturbed one bit, he thought as his eyes traveled down the graceful curves of her backside.
"Hello, madam. To what do I owe the pleasure of your beautiful presence in my home?" He was all dark charm and grace, every word like a silky caress. He watched as she turned towards him. She was indeed very beautiful.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 13:21:22 GMT -5
A male voice pulled her out of her inspection of the room she was... well, admiration was more the word.
It was not, however, the male voice she was hoping to hear. She turned quickly, but gracefully, and dropped her hands to her side.
"Oh. I must have the address..." she trailed off, really looking at the man in front of her. He looked a little like Zachary, she thought, and there was a similar quality in his voice.
Steeling herself again, she moved towards him and held out her hand. "My name is Suzette. I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for a man... Zachary Scotts?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 13:28:37 GMT -5
Justin took her hand and bowed low to kiss her hand, lingering only a moment longer than necessary. Then he looked up at her as she said who she was looking for. One of his eyebrows quirked up but his smile didn't waver. "I'm afraid Zachary is indisposed at the moment, though I would be happy to indulge anything you might need of him myself if I'm able," he almost murmered in his charming voice.
So his uncle had women following him home? How quaint. He wondered what this obviously well dressed woman might want with his uncle. She didn't seem his normal type that he'd seen him associating with before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 13:40:31 GMT -5
"I appreciate your hospitality," she said politely, her eyes ever watchful. She wasn't upset that Zachary wasn't in... in fact, she was quite happy that she at least had come to the right place. This was her last option. She would have hit a dead end had he not been here.
"But I'm afraid I need him." She was going to murder him, that was why. The bastard had just left her... She took one more breath to calm down. "Do you know when he might be available?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 13:50:09 GMT -5
"Perhaps if I knew why you needed him, I might be persuaded to find him for you."
She seemed fairly eager to find him and with the needing to find him being so seemingly urgent he was sure he could find out more. After all, he wouldn't want to lead the woman to him only to have brought his uncle some kind of crazy he was trying to avoid. Otherwise he'd just have to make the woman wait with no idea of when his uncle would return. And of course he'd lead her astray instead if he thought his uncle needed him to ditch this pretty parcel of a woman. Looks could be deceiving he knew, and he wouldn't take chances unless there was good reason. He smiled at her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 13:53:31 GMT -5
Suzette frowned. It was a fair question, she knew. This man obviously had no idea who she was, which hurt a little, and further proved the affection she thought Zachary had for her had been a lie to get her into his bed.
She found a couch directly behind her, another sign of another rich family... seats in the receiving room, and she sank to sit on it, though her back was still straight and her chin still held high. She wanted to cry.
"I'm afraid I can't share that with you."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 14:14:50 GMT -5
"Well then I'll just have to stay and keep you company until my uncle becomes avialable." Justin simply smiled. He didn't mind wasting an afternoon with a beautiful woman until his uncle came back from the pub. Who knew how long he'd be gone, maybe hours yet. "Are you a close aquantance of him?" Though he was really wondering if she was available to be seduced, or if his uncle would have his hide for hitting on her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 14:21:35 GMT -5
"I can come back," Suzie told him. "I really don't want to be a bother and I'm sure you have other things you could be doing."
She fell silent when he asked if she was a close aquaintance. Obviously, she wasn't as close as she once thought.
"You could say that," she said. She was suddenly very aware of her very American accent next to his very British one. "He spent some time working for my father," she said, figuring this was the best way to put it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 14:31:40 GMT -5
"Coming back may not help you, dear. This is my father's home, not my uncle's. And he doesn't stay in one place too long. I may be your only way to find him I'm afraid, and lucky for you I have nothing better to do today than help a beautiful woman." He knew that his uncle had been staying here for the past week but he also knew that he was supposed to be moving in with his Aunt Tayna soon, so in reality he wasn't lying it all just was an interpretation of time. After all, he was offering the help the woman.
"Then you must be from America, he told me a little about his time there. Where are you from exactly?" His uncle had told him very little but she didn't need to know that. He did however know enough about his uncle and what little he did say to put a few things together on his own though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 14:38:50 GMT -5
So he was a nephew. There couldn't have been a huge difference in age, though, and he didn't look much, if any younger than her.
And she was well aware now that Zachary didn't stay in one place for long.
"I'm American," she confirmed, disregarding the rest of what he said. "I'm from California... near Hollywood?" She sighed.
"What exactly do I need to do to have you help me find your uncle? I must admit, I am at a loss, and I don't know where to go from here."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 15:02:44 GMT -5
"I would take you to him now if I knew there was no harm in it, but I'm afraid you'll find that the Scotts are rather protective of their own and you're not likely to find him unless he wants to be found or if I have a good enough reason to find him for you." He stated it rather flatly and truthfully. He was not going to put his uncle in any danger, especially if had a reason to run from America. He wasn't about to lead this woman to him without knowing just what he was getting his uncle into.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 15:12:56 GMT -5
Suzette considered her next words very carefully. He didn't know it... in fact, no one did, yet, but the Scotts may have another on the way to be very protective of.
"I only wish to speak with him regarding something that is quite private," though she was getting to the point where if he kept denying her, she would just come out and say it, hoping this wasn't a family of gossipers. Zachary was certainly good enough about keeping his secrets. "I need ten minutes, and then I'll be gone... probably forever."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 15:39:02 GMT -5
"A private matter. I see. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't catch your full name..." In fact, Justin didn't see at all. What was private to this woman could be anything.
His family was filled with death eaters and potential threats. Even his uncle who was not, wasn't safe from those threats by association if the wrong person found out about any of them. There were too many risks in just letting some strange, although beautiful woman, come in claiming private matters that could easily have reason to murder or otherwise trap his uncle into something. There was also the less malovent thought that this woman could just be some crazy ex-girlfriend of his uncle who was out for some kind of revenge. His mind could come up with a dozen more senarious of a 'private matter' this woman might have that his uncle would not be happy if Justin lead her to him. The idea that this woman might be pregnant with his child, however never even came into his mind as a possible thought.
"I'm afraid I can't help you, madam if you are not willing to explain yourself sufficiently. I assure you that what is said in this home of private affairs stay private affairs. But perhaps you can try again another time, although I cannot guarantee you he will still be here in the morning. Please allow me to escort you to the door." He was all business suddenly, his lazy charm gone and the true seriousness that Justin often hid was in full force. He was not a man to be trifled with and his family he would protect with his life. If she wished to see his uncle she'd have to find another way than through him if she wasn't going to cooperate. When his father passed on, he would be the one to inherit the family home and when his father was out he took that role very seriously.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 15:48:16 GMT -5
She wouldn't have said anything if she knew of any other way to find Zachary. But she knew this was her last hope, and if Zachary moved on before she came back, she'd be at a dead end... nowhere to go, pregnant with a child that might not belong to her fiance... and he was a man she did not trust to test his temper.
"Wait," she said, standing up with him but not moving to the door. "I need to find him. It's important..." she could go on and on and she already knew that he wouldn't help her unless he knew why.
The hormones from pregnancy could not be stopped, and she felt tears stinging at her eyes, powerless to stop them. "I'm carrying a child that could be his. Please, I don't want anything from him. I just think he should know."
And if he knew that she was pregnant, maybe he would love his own child enough to save her from her fate.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 16:09:04 GMT -5
Justin stopped instantly and turned back to the woman. Carrying Zachary's child? Well that was not something he had expected. He looked at her then, his eyes going to her stomach as if by instinct. But if she was pregnant it wasn't visible yet. He stood looking at her, watching her and thinking. What if this woman's unborn child was a future Scotts? Did she know that they wouldn't let her run off with that baby if it was of their blood? She obviously had no idea what a close family the Scotts were despite Zach's wanderlust. He knew Thatcher certainly wouldn't let his uncle get away with not having that child raised within the family. Justin frowned. Was this why Zach had run from California? Obviously if she was here to tell him then he didn't already know. And she was right. He needed to know.
"I see. There is something you should know about the Scotts, Suzette." He still hadn't gotten her last name out of her. "If that child is a Scotts, then it will be part of this family one way or another. I hope you understand. But follow me, I will take you to him. I don't think this can wait either."
Not to mention the fact that what Tanya would do if she found out Zach was about to be a father she'd have him at the alter before he could blink. If nothing else but to see him take responsiblility but to make sure that child carried the Scotts name and without any blemish on the reputation of the family. Justin found this mildly amusing though and couldn't wait to see his uncle's expression when he realized what this meant. The other option that Tanya would do was even worse and involved him and he was certainly not about to pay for his brother's indescressions if he could help it. And he knew Tanya had the ability to make anyone do anything if she put her mind to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 16:17:07 GMT -5
Well, that had done the trick, she noted, and moved forward to catch up to him.
"I want what's best for the child," she said, almost dangerously. If that meant that the baby did not grow up with their name, then so be it. She would judge based on Zachary's reactions. "Whatever that might be." She would not let a man that would hurt a woman raise her child... and Zachary had almost destroyed her.
He was taking her to Zachary, though, and she should have been elated. Instead, she feared what he would say. Would he even acknowledge that he knew her?
((I'm stalling so Zach and Joanne can flirt some...))
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 16:25:38 GMT -5
"Of course you do. So do I. So our interests are mutual." He wasn't sure if he meant to sooth her or warn her but either way that much seemed to be true. Though he wasn't sure if they would agree on what was best. "Can I ask you on why you said that it 'may' be his?" He didn't expect her to answer, but he had to ask anyways. "And what is your full name madam?" He decided he wasn't letting her go anywhere until he got at least that answer from her. He knew Tanya would want to know so she could look into the woman's family bloodlines.
|
|
|
|
Post by Suzette Rousseau on Oct 14, 2008 16:30:23 GMT -5
She sighed at that question... that was a story she would tell Zachary... not Justin. Granted, it wasn't her choice to sleep with him, and tried to tell him that they should wait until they were married, but that got her nowhere.
"My name is Suzette Marie Rousseau. And it may be his... and may not be his... because I have a fiance that may be able to claim the child." She watched him for a reaction to this. It was the truth, and they would find that out soon enough anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Oct 14, 2008 18:44:57 GMT -5
Justin didn't let any reaction surface, his face was a mask of thought. He was sure Tanya would know how to find out who the father was, but that was all in good time. Justin was still quite enjoying the thought of his uncles reaction to the news, that he might have to finally settle down, that he'd finally gotten himself into a little mess with some girl who had a fiance. This was getting better by the moment as far as he was concerned. But he did feel a sense of protectiveness for the woman's child if it was indeed a Scotts.
"Ms Rousseau, I assure you no one outside of the family will learn of this from me, however I appreciate your candor. If you are ready I can take you to him." He held his cloak already and waited for her to respond. She seemed a bit emotional but that was Zach's problem right?
|
|
