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

How could it all go wrong so fast? Angus moaned to himself.

The interview with Charity had gone exceedingly well, especially given they had secured her agreement that they could have use of her house. Now, after only a few moments, the ladies had turned the entire household upside down, and had inadvertently put the entire Star Elite investigation in jeopardy. Angus suspected that if he and Aaron weren’t extremely careful, they were going to wrap themselves up in a web of lies these ladies would not miss.

“I am sorry,” Charity moaned as she hurried into the room. “Please take a seat,” she urged when she realised the men were still standing in the centre of the room.

“We have to go,” Angus growled.

“Oh, tosh. You needn’t think you are going to get away that easily,” Alice Brownlow declared with a somewhat affronted air. “What is wrong? Are we not good enough company for you?”

Angus opened his mouth but then closed it again when he received a warning look from Aaron.

“It is just that we have outstayed our welcome and need to get a move on if we are to meet with our next appointment,” Angus murmured soothingly.

“Well, you can stay for a piece of cake, can’t you?” Alice asked, a hint of challenge in her eye. She lifted her brow and waited.

The occupants of the room went still.

“I am sure the gentlemen have to be getting on,” Charity began.

She tried desperately to think of what excuse she could give them that the ladies would accept but failed miserably because nobody paid her the slightest bit of attention.

“Has that pot boiled yet?” Monika asked, her tone calculating.

“Not yet,” Charity replied pertly.

“Well, we have introduced ourselves. What do we call you?” Agatha asked of Angus. “Do we call you Charity’s gentlemen?”

“I am Charity’s cousin,” Angus declared. “By marriage.”

“Oh? What’s the name? I cannot remember Charity having ever mentioned you before,” Monika drawled. Again, her seductive gaze slid teasingly over Angus.

“Come on, come clean now,” Agatha prompted when Angus couldn’t think of a suitable defence.

“We are here on business, ma’am,” Aaron intoned.

“Why? Are we under arrest?” Monika mocked. Her smile immediately dimmed. When she realised what she had said she threw a shocked look at Charity. “What have you done?”

“Nothing,” Charity protested.

“Miss Kemble is not in any trouble,” Angus assured them.

“Well, that sounds rather formal, I must say,” Edwina declared with a knowing nod at her friends.

“The gentlemen are here on a private matter, that’s all,” Charity warned. “Can’t a person have a little privacy around here?”

She knew her voice vibrated with her growing annoyance but made no apology for it. Her cheeks were flushed with temper as she glared at the women.

“Don’t be annoyed with us. You must consider how this looks, my dear. This is a small village. You don’t usually get guests except for us. Suddenly, two handsome young men turn up in a wonderful carriage like that. If I were to gossip, I would be apt to consider you are about to be swept off your feet by your knight in shining armour. We are naturally going to be curious about who they are, and what they are doing here. We don’t mean to pry, we just want to make sure you are safe,” Gertrude hastened to reassure her.

“Miss Kemble is under no threat from us,” Aaron growled, doing his level best to appear nonchalant. In truth he was having to work extremely hard not to lose his temper. The women had a way of letting the silence stretch out until it became decidedly uncomfortable, and when asking their questions, pierced their targets with stares that were downright disconcerting.

With interrogative skills like they had

we should recruit them and send them to the Tower to question our captives, Angus thought with a heavy sigh.

He saw the distressed look on Charity’s face and suspected that if the ladies continued to push her as they were, she would break and end up telling them everything once he and Aaron left. Mentally cursing his stupidity for having told her so much without finding out who frequented the house, Angus sighed.

“We are here to discuss a private matter, that’s all. Like I said, Charity is in no trouble. Now that our business is concluded, we will be on our way,” Angus said firmly. He looked at Charity. “Remember our discussion. It shall, of course, remain private.”