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

“She has vanished,” Justin explained.

“What do you mean ‘was’?” Oliver asked carefully.

“Nothing. I didn’t mean anything,” the maid replied swiftly. “She is a nincompoop. What of it?”

Oliver looked at Justin who nodded. “It sounds like you know Jemima well.”

“I have lived near the village all of my life. Everyone knows everyone around here. You can’t do anything without someone gossiping about it,” the maid informed them in disgust.

“It sounds like you are annoyed about that. Do you often do something the gossips talk about?” Justin had no doubt that Vanessa’s assessment of the woman’s character was accurate. As he spoke, he was sized up by an assessing gaze that considered everything from his wealth to how good he would be between the sheets. He had the distinct urge to tug at his collar and step back but had no intention of being cowed by any woman, especially some milk maid.

The maid suddenly grinned unrepentantly. “They don’t understand people like me, dear,” she chortled.

“I am sure the magistrate will,” Oliver warned.

Immediately, the maid’s mirth died. She squinted at Oliver with such menace that even Justin had to blink at the swift change in her demeanour.

“I don’t know anything,” the maid warned.

“But you were about to dismiss Jemima as a nincompoop. She has disappeared, does that not mean anything to you?” Justin countered.

“It could so easily have been you who was taken,” Oliver added. “Would you expect people to decide not to look for you because you are a milk maid?”

“Of course not,” she replied around a half-laugh.

“What’s your name?” Niall asked, speaking for the first time.

The maid’s gaze slid over Niall in much the same way as it had Justin. Whatever Lisa saw in Niall she apparently liked because she sashayed suggestively across the room toward him with a sly smile upon her lips. Niall, unimpressed by the tawdry spectacle, shook his head and turne

d away. Apparently, defeat didn’t sit well with the maid, who threw him a glacial glare.

“Are you going to get out of my way so I can leave?” She demanded of Justin.

“No,” Justin replied without preamble.

“I shall scream,” Lisa threatened, her eyes narrow with spite.

“Well, you could scream but out here nobody will hear you.” Justin’s voice was nonchalant.

“The only place you are going is to the magistrate until we can find out from the owner of the house if you have permission to be here,” Oliver informed her.

“I do.” The maid removed a key from her pocket. “I have a key. See?”

“Doesn’t mean you have been given it to use yourself,” Justin said.

“It means you know where the owner hides a key and have decided to help yourself while she is away,” Oliver added.

“Curtis owns this house,” Lisa snapped.

“Really?” Justin’s brows lifted. “Are you certain about that?”

“Curtis is, and he won’t mind me being here,” Lisa replied. She looked craftily at them. “What are you doing in here anyway? Curtis doesn’t know you are here, does he?”

“We are looking for Geraldine,” Oliver informed her.

“And Jemima,” Justin added.

This made the maid’s gaze sharpen. “Well, Jemima is always a bit forgetful. That do goodie has probably wandered off to help someone and decided to stay there for a while. One can hardly blame her wanting to get away from that lot for a bit.”