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

“It goes no further, but you know how difficult it can be if you mix your personal life with your professional one. Just take a few days to yourself to stop and think about what you are doing. She is grieving, Aaron. Don’t allow her to turn to you for comfort because when that grief is lifted she might turn against you.”

Aaron stared into the fire. He knew Oliver was right because he had thought the same thing several times. However, he hated the thought of having to leave her behind, if only for a short while.

Out in the hallway, Elspeth crept slowly back toward the kitchen. She knew neither man had known she was there, and gladly so. When she was sure she couldn’t be heard, she expelled a huge breath and made her way into the conservatory on shaking knees. She slumped into a chair and stared blankly out of the door while she willed her mind to settle.

She was still reeling from the kiss she had shared with Aaron only this afternoon. It had felt so right, but also incredibly wrong. The timing was awful, but it had truly opened a different world to her that she wanted to explore, with Aaron. It was humiliating that someone had seen them, and that Aaron’s friends now knew how brazen she had been. More importantly, it was shocking that she didn’t feel quite as horrified by it as she knew she should.

Maybe I am destined to be a scarlet woman? Elspeth mused wryly.

Given what she had learned about her brother since his death, she wasn’t at all certain now that she should grieve for him. Thomas had, after all, left her in such dire circumstance she faced the workhouse if she couldn’t find a way to pay off the outstanding bills. She would certainly have to sell the house, if it did turn out to be hers. Where would that leave her? Elspeth had absolutely no idea.

Elspeth was also aware that while Aaron had left his job in London, he would be expected to go back to it at some point. The more she contemplated Aaron leaving her life for good, the more Elspeth realised she didn’t want him to leave her behind. She wanted to remain with him, but because of him, not what he could do for her. How did she tell him that, though, without humiliating herself?

She wanted to be a part of their ‘investigation’ into what Thomas had done in the days leading up to his death. She wanted to help them find the missing money and discover what Thomas had spent it on. More importantly, she wanted to spend some more time with Aaron, so she could make certain of the feelings he made her feel. They were so strong and had come out of nowhere that she was a little flummoxed by them. Still, she couldn’t deny their existence. But was it really love? Could she love? Elspeth wasn’t sure. Deep inside, she suspected it was but was so confused by her situation even she was doubting her strong affection for Aaron.

Wearily, Elspeth closed her eyes and willed her thoughts to settle because she was starting to get a headache. Her life was so confusing she wasn’t at all sure what she should think of anything. The more problems life threw at her, the more she desperately wished she could return to the past, to the life she had become accustomed to and had arrogantly assumed would be hers forever. She now knew how uncertain life could be; how fragile, and hated feeling so vulnerable.

While she didn’t want to, Oliver’s words rang in her head. Even she questioned if she wanted Aaron in her life for financial security and a home she knew she might not be able to provide herself.

“But I have the house to sell even if Thomas’s money has gone,” she murmured aloud. “This house is going to earn me a fortune. I can purchase somewhere smaller with the proceeds from the sale and pay off the debts. There would still be enough to live off for the foreseeable future, so long as I am careful.”

The more she contemplated it, the more certain she was that she could accomplish something with her life for herself after all. She didn’t have to rely on anybody, even Aaron, not if the house was hers as Jasper had said. That made her connection, the growing closeness, with Aaron move in a completely different direction. One which took her toward a proper relationship with a highly eligible, extremely attractive man, who was steady and strong. Someone her brother had held in high regard and would certainly approve of.

“Aaron,” she whispered.

When she sensed she was no longer alone, Elspeth opened her eyes. Those eyes widened in alarm when she saw a dark figure, cloaked completely in black, standing on the other side of the rain-soaked glass. A scream left her before Elspeth even realised she had opened her mouth.

Immediately, the figure spun around and raced off across the garden.

“Aaron,” she screamed only to hear the thundering of footsteps cross the kitchen seconds before the back door was yanked open and Aaron and Jasper raced out of the house.

Together, the men chased the cloaked figure, who was still trying to climb over the low stone wall at the end of the garden. Whatever the intruder’s cloak was caught on hindered his escape for a few precious seconds. Unfortunately, the intruder managed to wrench free again, but left a large strip of his cloak behind.

Minutes later, all three of the men had vanished completely.

Elspeth felt sick with fear. She shook from head to toe, and in that moment was so very glad that Aaron and his men had chosen to stay that she almost wept with relief. It was difficult to know what to do. The endless minutes she had to wait for them to return were the longest of her life, especially when she heard what sounded like several large bangs and the muted shouts of the men.

“What in the world is going on out there?” she cried.

“You are not going to go and find out,” Oliver warned.

Elspeth nodded because she had no intention of doing anything of the sort.

“Why don’t you go and help Aaron sort through those papers? He will be back when he has caught the bounder. Give yourself something to do to keep your mind busy, and off the endless pacing. It will help, I assure you.” Oliver offered her an encouraging smile.

Elspeth nodded and hurried into the study. Once there, she sat at the desk and lifted the first of many handfuls of papers and began to read.

Many hours later, Aaron returned.

Elspeth launched out of her seat and raced across the room. She was so overjoyed to see him that she didn’t stop to think about what it meant. She ran straight into his arms and enveloped him in a warm hug.

“What took you so long? Are you all right? You are soaking wet,” she exclaimed, fussing about him like a mother hen.

/> Aaron grinned at her. “I am fine, just cold and wet.”

“What happened?” Elspeth demanded.

“We lost him in the side streets of the town. The man knows this place well and found his way around easier than us. He hid and escaped while we were looking for him. We lost him on the outskirts of town,” Aaron reported.