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

Everyone far too readily murmured their agreement, leaving the men from the Star Elite to look at each other warily. It was Alice’s next words that confirmed the ladies of the tapestry group had no intention of doing what they were told, and that gave the men from the Star Elite one Hell of a headache.

CHAPTER NINE

Charity clutched her basket in her hand as she hurried down the street later that day. It was wonderful to be out in the fresh air for a while. So much so, she took several deep breaths and willed herself to cool down and relax. Today was the first day in a very long time that she truly felt frustrated, annoyed, distinctly out of sorts and fretful. She couldn’t settle. Not only because the ladies – her friends – had caught her in a passionate embrace with Angus, but because they had made it clear they were going to get involved in the investigation regardless of what Angus and his colleagues wanted.

It had just taken her two hours to get the ladies to go home, having secured a somewhat vague promise from them that they would keep quiet about what was going on. Charity had promptly left not long after and had simply abandoned the men in her sitting room, laden with empty cake plates, to discuss what they were going to do now.

“Psst.”

Charity immediately stopped walking. She frowned and looked at the street behind her.

“Psst.”

She looked about but still couldn’t see anybody.

“Over here.”

Charity looked at the hedge beside her.

“Hello?”

“Well, don’t stand talking to the hedge. People will think you are odd.”

Charity huffed. “Don’t you think a talking hedge is odd?” she countered. Having identified the owner of that voice she relaxed enough to be able to glance behind her and make sure Angus wasn’t following. Cautiously, she stepped closer.

“Just what are you doing?” she whispered to Gertrude, who was on her knees in Mrs Taylor’s garden.

“Talking to you,” Gertrude replied.

Charity sighed and rolled her eyes.

“I can’t get up dearie, someone will see me,” Gertrude grunted.

“Do you need some help?” Charity offered, trying her hardest not to smile.

“No. I can shuffle back a bit if I can just get unstuck from this silly rose bush. Just meet us at Monika’s house tonight at seven,” Gertrude whispered. “Oh, damn, I have torn my dress now.”

“Are you all right?” Charity asked. “Why all the secrecy?”

“Well, we thought this had to be kept a secret,” Gertrude replied in a muffled voice.

“Er,” Charity was a little lost for words.

“Monika’s tonight at seven. Bring cake,” Gertrude replied.

Charity waited. All she could hear for a moment or two was the rustling of leaves. To her amazement, when she ventured toward the Taylor’s garden gate, there was no sign of Gertrude.

“What are you up to?” she murmured.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Angus muttered from behind her.

Charity whirled around. She tried to hide the guilty expression on her face, but it was hopeless.

“I am going to go to the shop,” she declared suddenly.

Angus looked at the hedge. “Something wrong with it?” he murmured.

“No,” Charity replied.