Betrayal of Innocence (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 1)

Vanessa’s cheeks flamed. There was a teasing light in his eye that made her lips twitch in return.

“A rather less than reputable person, shall we say?” she replied. “Her morals are questionable. She has a yen for married men. It caused discord between Curtis and Geraldine when he gave Lisa the job here after the other milk maid left, I can tell you.”

“Is there any truth in the rumours about her, or is it just villagers not liking a particular person who has upset someone at some point?” Justin asked curiously.

“She was caught in a compromising position with the Vicar’s son two summers ago, and was then seen cavorting scandalously with two, and I repeat two, married men whose wives were less than pleased. Her family are hard off and have been known to help themselves to things they cannot otherwise afford. She is brash, rude, and flaunts herself in ways that no reputable person would.”

Justin nodded and decided to let the matter drop for now. He could go to the tavern to see the doxy herself if he needed to. At the moment, he didn’t think prodding Vanessa’s dislike of the woman was a good idea.

Deciding to try to keep the women apart, he studied the yard and tried to plot a route over to the barn that avoided the milk-maid altogether. Before either of them could move, though, the maid appeared in the doorway of the milking barn and began to stalk toward them. Her brows slammed down when she saw Vanessa.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded without preamble.

Vanessa sidled around Justin to face the maid.

“I don’t see that has anything to do with you,” she snapped dismissively. “Why are you not at work like you are paid to do?”

“Curtis told you to stay away from here,” Lisa replied.

“That has nothing to do with you. This property isn’t Curtis’s. He is in no position to order me out,” Vanessa said.

To her disgust, she watched Lisa, a small, buxom young woman slide a somewhat lecherous gaze over Justin. It wasn’t just the wanton look she threw him, or the teasing moue that curved her lips, it was the brash way she leaned toward him as she stepped closer that gave him a full view of her ample cleavage and left him in no doubt she wouldn’t object should he decide to take up what was on offer.

Justin wouldn’t, of course, not least because he suspected the young woman was trouble he would be best to avoid.

“Don’t let us keep you,” he murmured, stepping closer to Vanessa. He watched the somewhat spoilt young woman glance acidly at Vanessa when he slid a proprietorial arm around her.

“I am sure you have work to do,” Vanessa snapped.

“Shall we?” he asked Vanessa tenderly.

Vanessa looked at him, a little shocked that he was so unaffected by Lisa’s behaviour. The milk maid was pretty, and knew it, and invariably wasted no time taking advantage of it at every opportunity.

It was clear she didn’t like being rebuffed by someone like Justin. She threw a thinly veiled look of menace at Vanessa, then whirled around and stomped away. Before she disappeared completely, she turned back to face them.

“I shall tell him you were here,” she snapped.

“Good. Do that,” Vanessa called after her. “I want to know what he has done with my sister.”

Lisa stopped in the doorway of the milking barn. She looked over her shoulder, but this time, with secrets in her eyes. Vanessa opened her mouth to ask her what she knew only for Justin to stop her.

“Leave it for now,” he said quietly. “We can get Weeks to question her should we need to.”

“But she knows something,” Vanessa protested. “She is just not saying anything because she is spiteful.”

“Are you sure?” Justin challenged suddenly.

“You don’t know her,” Vanessa replied.

“Have you spent any time with her?” He demanded.

“No,” Vanessa snorted. “She prefers to spend her time with men, preferably married ones, or don’t you believe me about that either? If you don’t, feel free to speak with Mr Frenchay, or Mr Williams. They were both caught with her. I am sure they won’t want to discuss their shenanigans with you, but it will at least prove I know what I am talking about.”

Justin didn’t doubt it. “It won’t help you get to the truth if you antagonise people like her. People like that are more inclined to withhold information just to get at certain people. It won’t matter to her that your sister’s safety depends on her telling the truth. It is someone else’s problem. For now, just leave her alone, that’s all I ask.”

Vanessa smarted from the warning. It sounded to her that he felt she was the one causing trouble, and that was hardly the case.

“Are you actually protecting her?” she demanded, more hurt than she wanted to be.