Fallen Hero (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 3)

As he spoke he studied their clasped hands. Elspeth’s fingers felt so delicate in his that it reminded him of the fragility of life. He could now fully understand Angus’s disgust with Sir Hugo, and the Star Elite as a whole. While there was no animosity between the men who worked together every day and relied on each other to stay alive, Aaron knew they had reached an impasse with their boss that they were not prepared to break until Sir Hugo started to consider that there might be more to the Star Elite than just the next criminal.

“The men behind the organisation are just as important as the criminals,” Elspeth murmured gently. “Without men like you to stand up for innocent people, thugs like Frederick Miniver would run riot. They are thieves. I think that now you have left, your boss will realise that he has nothing to supervise. He will have to offer you more time off, and more of a personal life, or he has no organisation to run.”

“I hope so,” Aaron sighed.

“What will you do if he doesn’t?” Elspeth asked.

“Find something else to do with my time,” Aaron smiled. “I have to confess that I had started to question whether I should stay in the Star Elite before this. To be quite honest with you, if it wasn’t for the connection I have with my friends in the group, I would have left a long time ago. We are close. I hate to say it, but I am closer to the men who came here with me than I was to Thomas.”

“That’s understandable given the work you do,” Elspeth soothed.

A companionable silence settled between them for several moments.

Aaron quietly picked up his goblet.

“He was still my friend, though. To Thomas,” he whispered, lifting his goblet toward her.

“To Thomas,” Elspeth repeated. “Wherever he is, let’s hope he has a plan u

p his sleeve to thwart Frederick, and persuade Sir Hugo to treat you like a person.”

They clinked their goblets together and each took a steady sip.

Elspeth positioned her goblet carefully on the table before her and felt the warmth the liquid left behind settle deep in the pit of her stomach. For the first time in a long time, she felt as though she was starting to warm from within. It was an odd sensation, but not unpleasant.

Maybe it has something to do with Aaron? She thought.

Even though she told herself it was foolish to nurse any yearning that he should consider her something more than Thomas’s younger sister, and now someone who needed his help, a small part of her still wanted him to notice her – the woman. It was foolish. It was ridiculous. It was completely unexpected that this need appeared out of nowhere and should make its presence felt right now. That said, it wasn’t entirely unwelcome because it made her think of something other than the grief she had been living with morning, noon, and night. Unfortunately, it made situations like this difficult to sit through and behave normally in.

As a result, Elspeth felt awkward, gauche and uncertain of herself. Confidence failed her. For the first time ever, Elspeth felt uncertain of Aaron. She had no idea what she could say to him without making herself look an utter fool. She was wary of what she could say that didn’t sound needy in, well, her hour of need.

But I am needy, she mused. I need his protection. I need him.

That thought troubled her more than anything because she knew it was only a matter of time before he returned to London, if only to see if he had a job. When he did, she would be all alone again.

CHAPTER FOUR

The following morning, Elspeth was woken by the sound of heavy pounding on the front door. She rolled over in bed and forced her eyes open only to stare blankly at her bed chamber door for a moment. After a few minutes, the knocking ended, but only to begin on the back door.

“Now what?” Elspeth whispered.

Disgruntled, she flicked the covers back and dressed before she made her way downstairs. It was strange to find the men going about their business as though nothing untoward was happening.

“Do you not intend to answer the door?” she asked, a little put out that none of them hadn’t.

Callum and Jasper were seated at the table. Callum was polishing his boots. Jasper was busy repairing a horse’s bridle. Neither of them even appeared to hear the knocking.

At the dresser, Oliver was busy stacking freshly washed pots.

Elspeth was a little worried that Aaron was not there. She wanted to ask what he was doing, but the heavy thumps on the door beside them shattered her concentration to the point she struggled to think beyond the noise.

“It isn’t our house,” Callum murmured without even bothering to look up.

When Oliver merely offered her a smile, Elspeth stomped over to the back door.

“Before you do answer it, don’t let them in, please?” Oliver warned from his position on the other side of the room. “As far as the visitor is concerned, you are all alone.”

Elspeth flicked a look at the closed shutters then nodded. She wondered if they thought it was Frederick who had called upon them so early but doubted he would be that brave. Frederick was a bully, but a cowardly one. After what she had seen last night she suspected – hoped – she had seen the last of her cousin for the time being.