A Spinster's Awakening (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 2)

Keep your mind on the job at hand, a dark voice warned Angus when he found her studying him far too closely than was polite. He struggled to contain the urge to squirm such was the intensity of her regard and the affect it had on him.

“Who are you really?” she murmured eventually. “I know your card says you work for the War Office, but what could you possibly want with me?”

Angus sighed and glanced at Aaron, who was looking out of the window with a thoughtful frown on his face. All that was visible was the large carriage they had used to journey here. It now blocked them from seeing anything of the houses lining the opposite side of the road, but more importantly, prevented anybody from seeing them.

“Look, I am not sure if you read the broadsheets, or are aware of what has been going on around the county of late,” Aaron began.

“What kind of things?” Charity asked with a frown.

She rubbed her hands together only partly to try to encourage some warmth back into them. Mostly, it was to give herself something to do with them. She had no qualms admitting that she found the presence of these powerful men in her home most disconcerting.

Angus shared a look with Aaron before he leaned toward the young woman.

Charity leaned warily away from him.

Angus froze and willed himself to relax.

“We are friendly, I can assure you,” he offered gently.

Charity nodded but didn’t relax because it rather felt as though he was trying to avoid answering her question.

“You were saying?” she prompted.

Angus gave himself a mental shake. “Yes. I was saying that over the last few weeks there has been a spate of kidnappings in the area.”

“Oh, but I thought the kidnapper had been found,” Charity protested.

“We did apprehend someone,” Aaron warned.

“But then someone else has gone missing,” Angus added. “I am sorry to say that the latest kidnap victim has also vanished off the street without anybody noticing anything untoward. Unfortunately, the man we thought was responsible couldn’t have committed this kidnap because he was already behind bars.”

“It is someone else?” Charity shivered. “But it cannot be somebody from here. Everybody is very friendly, I can assure you.”

“Not as friendly as you think.” Angus sighed when her eyes widened in alarm.

“Look, we cannot tell you too much about our ongoing investigation, but we have reason to believe that the man who lives in the house directly opposite here is involved. I warn you now not to approach him or engage him in conversation,” Aaron informed her.

“The man across the street?” For some reason, Charity found herself pointing out of the window.

Aaron leaned toward her and gently lowered her arm, just in case anybody did pass the house and happened to look inside Charity’s sitting room.

“Yes, but you are not to behave any differently toward him,” Aaron warned. While he spoke he carefully released his hold on the young woman. It was alarming to feel just how cold she was.

“We think he is dangerous,” Angus warned.

“Are you certain it is him? What does this have to do with me?” Charity gulped when she heard the plaintive wail in her voice. “I can assure you that I have nothing to do with the kidnaps.”

“We know,” Aaron reassured her. “We are not here because we suspect you of anything. We are here because we need your help.”

“My help?” Charity murmured, not sure if she liked the sound of that or not.

“His name is Mr Lawrence, isn’t it?” Aaron asked suddenly.

Charity’s brows lifted. “Yes, it is. But he cannot be the kidnapper. I don’t believe it.”

“I can assure you that we hardly ever make mistakes.” Angus pursed his lips as if daring her to argue.

“Well, you must have made a mistake. Mr Lawrence would never hurt a fly. He is so old he can barely stand up let alone drag someone with him. Have you ever met him, or even seen him?” Charity blustered. She shook her head and straightened her skirts. “No, I can assure you that you must have the wrong man. Mr Lawrence is not capable of hurting anybody. It is preposterous to even suggest it.”