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

As nonchalantly as she could, Charity resumed her steady journey into the village.

“Are you actively trying to get yourself noticed?” she murmured out of the corner of her mouth when she noticed a couple of the villagers openly staring at Angus walking beside her. “People will talk about us walking out together, you know.”

“Because of your shenanigans last night, the boss seems to think it is a good idea that people begin to suspect you are not alone,” Angus warned.

“Shenanigans?” Charity frowned at him. “I only did what you couldn’t.”

“I do my job perfectly well, thank you,” Angus retorted crisply.

Charity had no proof otherwise. “I am not saying you don’t, but you didn’t make much effort to go after Mr Horvat.”

“That is because I already have men outside the house who followed him.”

Charity frowned. “Was it them who chased me?”

Angus hesitated but saw no reason to lie to her. “They will do whatever it takes to make sure people in this village are protected, especially you.”

“Even if that means frightening people?” Charity demanded.

“If it stops you tearing off into the night like a fool then yes,” Angus snapped.

“I am not a fool,” Charity retorted coldly. Her scowl was deep when she looked at him.

“Look, I am not going to get into an argument with you. I must go and get some sleep. I just came to ask if you would speak with your friends to get them to stay at home for the time being, that’s all.”

“They won’t be kept under house arrest either,” Charity informed him.

Charity felt somewhat deflated. All the enjoyment she had experienced only moments ago suddenly vanished. In its wake was yet another cold wave of disappointment that was truly starting to hurt. She wondered why she continued to let herself in for the pain by expecting more from him than he was quite clearly prepared to give.

She knew then that she was going to meet with her friends tonight at Monika’s house, and would not feel guilty in any way for the secrecy of the topics they discussed. Her loyalty had to lie with her friends, the people who had always been a part of her life, not to the man who was going to leave it one day soon. That put a distance between her and Angus that went far beyond the physical gap between them on the pavement. As a result, it was difficult to know what to say.

“Do you not consider that they know the village, and the villagers, a little better than you?”

“I am not arguing that,” Angus sighed. “Look, we have been through all of this. Just make sure that they aren’t going to get themselves in any danger. I know they are willing but look what happened to you last night. You were chased. How do you think Edwina would cope with being chased through the streets like that? Just stop them. Please?”

Angus read the hesitation in Charity’s eye and had to bite back on his impatience. He wanted to shake her, if only to try to knock some common sense into her but he daren’t touch her in public. He was already painfully aware of eyes b

oring into his back and had little doubt he had been weighed up, categorised, assessed, and would continue to be monitored every time he showed his face in the village from now on.

It is going to make my job damned near impossible, he thought in disgust.

When an old farmer’s cart rumbled past, and the elderly man sitting high atop the bench seat openly stared at him as he passed without saying a word of greeting, Angus began to feel decidedly uneasy.

“Maybe your foreigner suspect has a right to feel unwelcome in a place like this,” he growled. “It might not be his fault he is reticent. Have you thought about that? It doesn’t make him guilty. One thing I have learnt in my job is never to judge a person’s character on first impressions. Until you get to know a person, understand the workings of their mind, you never truly know what they are capable of. First impressions last, but they aren’t always accurate. Remember that.”

“Well, I thought you were dependable. Was I wrong about that?” Charity murmured.

“I am here to do a job, Charity, that’s all,” Angus whispered.

He knew he was putting an end to any further intimacies between them. It was damned difficult to convince himself that it was for the best for them both, especially when he felt as though he had just made a serious mistake he was going to regret later.

“Are you going straight home?” He pointed to the grocery beside them.

“I might,” Charity replied. She worked hard to keep her face devoid of emotion.

“I am going to get some sleep and food but will be back on watch later,” Angus informed her. “Until then stay in plain sight of people, and don’t wander off.”

Charity nodded, but Angus had already turned away and was making his way down the street but away from her house. She felt bereft as she watched him leave and wondered if this was what it would be like when she had to watch him walk out of her life for good.