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

Elspeth lifted her brows at him. “You do?”

“Absolutely,” Aaron warned.

Elspeth began to smile, but it dimmed again.

“What?” Aaron prompted. He was prepared to vanquish all her ghosts if that is what it took for him to be able to have a future with her. “You can tell me.”

“I feel guilty,” Elspeth admitted gently.

“Why?” Aaron already knew but wanted her to voice her reasons why she felt it wrong to live her life. “Thomas would not object to this.”

“Why do you say that?” she asked curiously.

“Because he always said to me that you needed a husband just like me,” Aaron said.

Elspeth huffed a laugh. “That’s strange because he always said to me that I needed a husband just like you.”

They both smiled ruefully.

“Do you think he might have been doing a little matchmaking? You know, putting the thought there for us both to contemplate?” Aaron murmured.

“I think he was. He wasn’t the kind of person to actively get involved, but he was quite heavy handed with his hints,” Elspeth said.

Aaron had to admit she was right.

“I think we owe it to him then to see where this is going to take us,” Aaron suggested.

He knew exactly how they were going to end up – married. But now was not the time or place to talk about marriage and happy ever afters. Elspeth had, after all, buried her brother just over a month ago. She needed time, and a little space to grieve and come to terms with her loss.

At the same time, though, Aaron could see no reason why she should not come to terms with the fact that she was not alone, and never would be.

“What now?” Elspeth asked. “What do we do about the investigation? Do you think there is any merit in the thought of Frederick and Voss working together to try to get their hands on this house?”

“I do. We have to find out what is so important about the house, though.” Aaron frowned at her. “Do you know of any village gossip about new people coming into the area?”

Elspeth shook her head. “I confess I have neither had the means nor the will to venture into the village much at all.”

Aaron winced. He knew it was because she had no money to purchase anything from any of the shops, most of whom wouldn’t sell her anything anyway because of the unpaid bills.

“Well, I think we have to go and have a word with your cousin. He will have to tell us what is so damned important about this house,” Aaron sighed.

“I am sorry,” Elspeth said suddenly when she heard his heavy expulsion of breath.

“You didn’t ask for any of this. I am hardly going to leave you to deal with it. I have nothing else to do. This kind of investigating is what I have done for the last several years. It is a damned rum deal if I am prepared to spend so much of my life investigating criminals to protect the innocent lives of others, but don’t do anything to protect the woman I l-” Aaron broke off and mentally winced at just how close he had come to declaring his love for her. “Care about.”

Elspeth’s gaze sharpened. Her heart did a funny little flip upon hearing his swift change of wording. She wanted to believe he had intended to say the word ‘love’ only for something to change his mind. The last thing she was going to do was ask him about it, though. She couldn’t face the humiliation if he denied it.

“Thank you,” she murmured gently.

“Thomas was my friend, Elspeth. I have to find out why he died so suddenly,” Aaron replied.

“You don’t think it was an accident?” Elspeth asked. She felt sick at the thought that someone might have intentionally hurt him.

“I think the timing is odd. Thomas dies unexpectedly, then Frederick and Voss start making their lecherous intentions toward you known, and their desire to get into this property swiftly becomes evident,” Aaron murmured and slowly shook his head.

“It’s murder then,” she whispered in horror. It wasn’t a question.

“It looks like it,” Aaron said sadly. “It is important you do not do anything that will put you in any kind of danger. I know what I am doing and have the men at my back. What you did tonight was probably wander into a killer’s house. What would you have done if he had stepped out of the shadows with a gun, or a knife? Screaming inside his house isn’t going to bargain for your life. If Voss is a killer, he would have no hesitation in murdering you.” Aaron felt a white-hot rage build deep inside. The very thought of that scenario being played out was enough to make him want to tear his hair out. He shook his head at her. “From now on, let me and the men go out on the nightly forays. Please?”