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

“I think I might have to become an official member of the tapestry group, just to keep the ladies in one place,” Angus reported ruefully, only half-joking.

Jasper grinned at him. “How are you at needlepoint?”

“Piss off,” Angus snorted. “I could tell them you want to join as well.”

Jasper sniggered. “I can’t sew, sorry.”

“It doesn’t seem to matter to them.”

“At least it will mean you will know if they are up to something,” Jasper murmured after several moments of companionable silence. Eventually, he broached the subject he really wanted to discuss. “Miss Kemble seems a bit of a firebrand.”

“She is stubborn, pig-headed, obstinate, strong-willed, and the most annoying creature I have ever met in my life. I want to slap her behind bars just to teach her a bloody lesson about getting involved with our investigation. The stupidity of her naivety is going to get her killed. Why can’t she understand that?”

“Have you told her about us yet? How is she to know how bad our job gets sometimes? Does she know what we really do? How ruthless we can be? I mean, she has nothing to fear of the magistrate’s men. They are just like her and live in or around the same village. Why should she see you as anything more?” Jasper reasoned.

“Do you really think it is a good idea to tell them all who we are?” Angus challenged.

“I don’t mean to tell them all. Just tell Miss Kemble,” Jasper replied.

“If I tell her something she will tell the others,” Angus growled.

“Really? Will she tell her friends that you kissed her?” Jasper asked in such a conversational tone that it took Angus a moment or two to realise what his friend had just said.

“How in the Hell do you know that?” Angus demanded.

Jasper snorted. “We are in the area to keep watch, don’t forget. We cannot help it if we see things. Besides, the next time you decide to kiss her, it might be a good idea to stay away from the windows.”

“Damn it,” Angus spat. “It isn’t going to happen again.”

Angus scowled when Jasper coughed but he didn’t even bother to look at his friend or reproach him for his disbelief. They both knew Charity was gorgeous, and strong enough to cope with life with a man like Angus if a relationship did blossom to life between them. It wasn’t all that surprising that Angus was attracted to her. He was, after everything, a man in the presence of a beautiful young, and very single woman. It stood to reason that Angus and Charity would gravitate toward each other, especially in a darkened house where they were unlikely to be interrupted.

“I have only known her for less than a day,” Angus protested.

“Doesn’t matter,” Jasper replied. “Just remember that we have to leave here when our quarry does. Best not to leave a broken heart behind, eh?”

“I don’t intend to,” Angus sighed.

“I don’t mean hers,” Jasper replied quietly.

When Angus continued to stare thoughtfully down at his boots, Jasper stood and silently melted back into the shadows, leaving his good friend to contemplate his warning.

Angus suspected it was already too late; he was already seriously attracted to Miss Charity Kemble, and not purely on a sexual level. It was ridiculous because they had only just met. Was love at first sight possible? Was he imagining this instant connection he felt with her?

“I don’t understand why it has to be her?” Angus whispered aloud. “Why Charity?”

Angus tipped his head back and looked up at the stars. While common sense warned him that he had to keep his distance now, he also knew he couldn’t.

“I cannot allow her to get to me,” he added in a voice that was far from convincing.

But she has got to me, he realised almost instantly. I cannot ignore her.

What now? He had absolutely no idea. He suspected that already, even having only known her for a day, it would be impossible to leave the village, not look back, and forget all about Charity Kemble. He suspected that when he did have to leave, he would either end up leaving a very large part of himself behind or would happily take Charity with him.

Unfortunately, he had no idea what he was going to do if Charity did leave the village with him. His job didn’t afford any luxuries and wasn’t suitable for a woman, or a happy relationship. It wouldn’t be fair on her to expect her to leave her family and friends and set up home in a new location only to then abandon her to her own devices while he sailed off to fight in the shadows, especially when fighting in the shadows might mean he might not ever be able to retu

rn to her.

“This isn’t the place for me,” he whispered. “I can’t stop here. I can’t live in a place like this.”