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

“I had heard that he has spent a lot of time going in and out of prison, but nobody seems to know what for,” Agatha Applebottom replied with such a matter-of-fact air that Angus didn’t doubt her sincerity.

“We can find that out,” Angus assured her.

“How about I take you over to Mr Lawrence? I can introduce you as Charity’s cousin, and explain that you are looking to move into the village?” Edwina suggested with a smile made brighter because of the brilliance of her suggestion.

“I don’t think that one is going to stick, do you? I mean, he doesn’t look very cousinly to me, not given the ardent way he was kissing her just now. We saw them. There is no reason to suspect the Lawrences didn’t either,” Monika snorted.

“I have to say that I do think Mr Horvat might be responsible,” Charity interrupted desperately, trying to keep the topic of discussion off the kiss she had shared with Angus.

“Until we can find out who is responsible you must keep this quiet, ladies. Do not discuss it amongst yourselves on the street, in public where anybody might overhear you, or question, however carefully, anybody about the history, details or whereabouts of any of the suspects. I don’t care what you think you see, or when you think you are witnessing anything unusual, do not approach any of the suspects,” Angus warned darkly. “We still don’t know what happens to the victims. They might all be dead for all we know. It is imperative that for all intents and purposes you know nothing about us, or our investigation. It is the only way to keep yourselves safe.”

Everyone murmured their agreement so readily that Angus breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He would have relaxed, if he hadn’t noticed Alice dabbing at the corner of her eye, and Edwina staring at him with a somewhat starry look in her eye.

“What in the Devil’s name is wrong?” Angus demanded. Instinctively, he edged closer to Charity, who looked up at him in astonishment when she heard him and had to smother a giggle when she saw Alice’s wonder.

“My, my, Charity, you have your very own hero,” Alice whispered in awe. She leaned forward and patted the back of Charity’s hand encouragingly.

“Isn’t it wonderful? And he is so protective of her as well,” Edwina whispered.

“I am just here to do a job.” Angus shifted uncomfortably.

“Oh, you do it so well,” Edwina gushed. “We had no idea, did we Alice?”

“No indeed, no idea at all,” Alice gushed. “Of course, you must keep our Charity safe, and you can rely on us to do whatever we can to help you.”

“Er, no, thank you,” Angus replied firmly. “But thank you for the suggested names. We will check them out, although we have good, reliable sources of information already. I don’t want you ladies going about the village asking questions.”

“Mrs Vernon might have noticed something unusual,” Gertrude declared confidently. “She never misses a thing.”

“She is right. You have men coming and going from here at all times of night,” Charity said quietly. “She will have seen something.”

“We haven’t been seen.” Angus insisted. He refused to believe it because he was someone who had been specifically trained to move about in the shadows, undetected by anybody, and was very good at it. After all, if he weren’t he would be dead by now.

“It might be that Horvat fellow,” Monika murmured thoughtfully. She slid a knowing look at Angus. “He is a shifty fellow as well. He has been here for several weeks now, but nobody can get a word out of him.”

Edwina nodded. “More importantly, nobody knows what happened to old Mrs Browning. Now she was a nice old dear but didn’t get about much.”

“Didn’t she die?” Angus asked bluntly.

“God, I hope not,” Monika retorted. “It looks as if she might have died because I never even knew her house was vacant. Nobody went to her funeral, though. At least, I don’t think so.”

All the ladies shook their heads.

“She can’t have died,” Augusta protested.

“Where did she go?” Agatha challenged.

Augusta shrugged.

“I cannot remember when I last saw her. It was only when Mr Horvat appeared that I realised she wasn’t around,” Edwina murmured looking acutely uncomfortable.

Charity began to worry. “Mrs Browning just disappeared one day. When Mr Moldwort went to find out if she was all right, Mr Horvat practically slammed the door in his face.”

“How long has he been here; Horvat, that is?” Angus asked quietly.

“About eight weeks,” Augusta replied confidently.

“I have to say that I have heard many rumblings around the village that the man refuses to speak. Nobody has been able to get anything out of him other than the fact that he is foreign, but then we all know that. It is difficult to miss given that swarthy complexion of his,” Alice added.