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

“He is angry that I have agreed to help them with the investigation,” she murmured for want of the truth.

“He wants to protect you,” Graham replied.

“I can protect myself. I don’t need another father,” she snapped. She looked up and suddenly wished she hadn’t spoken. “I am sorry. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”

Graham pursed his lips. “He is not short of saying what he thinks is he?”

Vanessa shook her head. “He is worried that something will go wrong, but his colleagues have assured me they can protect me. Besides, Justin will be in the carriage. I can drive a carriage, can’t I? I mean, it can’t be that difficult, can it?”

“If they say they can protect you then they can protect you. I don’t doubt it. I know men like that. I saw men like them when I was in the army. They are hard with those who cross them but fight to protect the innocent and each other. There isn’t one of them I wouldn’t trust with my life. If you are safe anywhere, it is with them, I don’t doubt it. Justin is solid gold, I don’t doubt. You only have to look at his military bearing, his self-control, the way he speaks with respectful but firm authority to know that he is a man who knows what he wants, where he is going, and gets things done.”

“I don’t doubt it,” she whispered sadly.

“But he doesn’t want you,” Graham challenged.

Vanessa shook her head. “He doesn’t belong here, father. He isn’t injured and needs to keep working for the Star Elite.”

“I don’t want you think you have to stay here to look after me. I have my friends in the village and can get about. You should feel free to live your life as you see fit, and if that means going with Justin, well, I cannot think of anybody I would trust more to look after you than him. I know you. He suits you. You are both strong, yet fair minded. He needs a reason to go home occasionally and you need someone to look after,” Graham reasoned.

“I belong in the countryside, though. Do you remember our disastrous journey to London? It was awful,” Vanessa whispered with a shudder.

“It is London, I am afraid, but that isn’t the only city in the country. There are plenty of smaller towns around that area. There is no reason why you couldn’t move to one of those, and he could travel into London to work, is there?” Graham asked gently.

“But I like it here,” Vanessa wailed. “I can’t go to London. This is my home.”

“There are villages and towns all over the country that are better than here,” Graham reasoned.

Graham patted his daughter’s hand when she began to cry. He couldn’t understand why women cried when they were confused or upset. He had learned from life with his wife that it was best to let the tears flow and emotions die down before discussing problems any further. With that, he waited for the worst to pass.

Once it had, he was surprised by the change in Vanessa, and considered her with renewed respect when she sucked in a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and lifted her head to look at him.

“I am not going to let him upset me anymore. Some things are meant to happen, and some things aren’t. He has brought temptation to this door and reminded me of all the things I am not likely to have in my life, but I am not prepared to turn my life upside down for him. He won’t compromise, and so neither will I,” she declared with a firm nod. “He is adamant his life is London, and mine is here. Neither of us will budge, so there can never be anything more between us than friendship.”

Graham blinked at her when she pursed her lips and tipped her chin up defiantly. There wasn’t much he could say.

“I am going to help them with the investigation because I want to know what happened to Geraldine. If this is the way to do it, then so be it. He isn’t going to stop me. If he tries then I shall do this on my own,” she informed him pertly.

“That’s my girl,” Graham replied proudly.

He watched as Vanessa stood and made her way to the door.

“Just one thing before you go,” he called after her.

Vanessa paused and turned to look back at him.

“Just make sure you don’t try to drive a carriage on your own.”

“I don’t have a carriage,” she challenged.

“We do. It is out the back,” Graham replied. “We just don’t have the horse to go with it, but we could borrow Mr Able’s horse; Maisie. He won’t mind, I am sure.”

“Maisie?” Vanessa thought about the little brown mare who was about the most docile animal she had ever met in her life. Her heart melted a little and she smiled. “Do you think he would?”

“Let’s go and look at the carriage. With a little spit and polish, I am sure it would be good enough to use. I mean, you w

on’t go far in it, and it isn’t that hard to drive. I can show you what to do going down the road and back a bit. If anybody asks, we are doing it so you don’t have to walk anywhere,” Graham replied.

If he knew Justin the way he thought he did, Justin would have a conniption when he saw Vanessa learning to drive the carriage and would make every effort to ensure she didn’t drive it again without him being present. The man would then have to make his intentions known toward Vanessa, or risk ruining her reputation. Leaving behind a scandal was something a man like Justin would never allow to happen, therefore he would have to take Vanessa with him, as his wife, or stay, and find a compromise somehow.