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

“I have to stay away from him,” she murmured.

As she went about fetching her groceries, Charity began to wonder if Monika would mind having a guest for the night. At least if she was away from temptation, Charity suspected she wouldn’t be, well, tempted to venture anywhere near someone as dangerous to her as Angus.

Charity sighed as she studied the rain falling on her washing. She was bored, fed up and desperately wanted to go to Monika’s, if only to get out of the house for a while. It was so deathly quiet she wasn’t at all sure she could stand it any longer. To while away her time, and ease her boredom, she had spent the afternoon baking. The house now smelt divine and was blessedly warm given Angus’s friends had taken to bringing in coal and wood with them whenever they entered the house.

“Everything is fine. So, why can’t I settle?” Charity wasn’t at all sure what caused her problem, but was decidedly on edge, nervous, fretful, and annoyed.

She was annoyed because she was truly starting to suspect the main reason for her disquiet was the absence of Angus, but that was ridiculous. She was at home, the place where she always sought refuge. Why should she feel so uncomfortable in it just because one man, who was only visiting anyway, wasn’t there? It just didn’t make sense.

“Hopefully, seeing the ladies will help,” Charity whispered as she let herself out of the house and began to unpeg the washing.

“Are the ladies coming here again?” Angus asked as he wandered down the path.

Charity yanked a sheet off the line, folded it and dropped it into the basket at her feet.

“We are meeting at Monika’s tonight,” she replied honestly, and was thankful she didn’t have to lie about that at least.

For some odd reason Charity struggled to meet his gaze, even though she felt Angus studying her closely as she shuffled down the line gathering in her washing. Quietly, he began to help.

The line was nearly empty when Charity folded the last of her pillow cases and turned to drop it into the basket. At the same time, Angus was putting a freshly folded table cloth down. Their hands touched. Charity’s gaze flew to his. Her stomach coiled with nervous anticipation. Every ounce of self-protection she possessed was screaming at her to step away and ignore the moment, but it was impossible to tear her gaze away from his.

“Angus,” she whispered in a voice that was almost tortured.

Angus stepped toward her. His hand lifted to brush a tiny rivulet of water off her silken cheek. The coarse sweep of his thumb against her chilled flesh sent shivers down her spine. She was entranced, and helpless to do anything but watch him lean closer. Their lips touched. Charity’s breath hitched. Angus lifted his head. He had no idea what the Hell was going on, but wild horses couldn’t have stopped him doing that. He would have done it again, if it weren’t for the fact they were standing in the middle of her back garden, in full view of practically all of Charity’s neighbours.

“Mr Horvat,” she breathed when she saw a flicker of movement over Angus’s shoulder.

Angus turned around and had to work to keep his gaze impassive while he watched the swarthy man walk past the end of Charity’s garden.

“What is he doing on the lane?” Charity whispered. “The road just gives access to the coal stores and outbuildings at the back of the gardens. It isn’t a cut through to anywhere.”

Angus nodded but didn’t take his eyes off Horvat until he disappeared behind a neighbour’s outbuilding. The whole incident lasted no more than a few seconds, but it was enough for Angus to understand Charity’s suspicious. Mr Horvat was indeed more likely than Mr Lawrence to abduct young women. There was certainly something about Charity that had captured the dubious Mr Horvat’s attention.

“Just stay inside, eh? I don’t know what he is doing but we will find out. We are watching him now as well. He may have just been going for a walk,” Angus muttered, but didn’t believe it for a second.

“I doubt it,” Charity scoffed.

She shivered, but it had nothing to do with the chill wind that began to swirl around them. A deep sense of foreboding swept through her.

“I don’t like it, Angus,” she whispered, edging closer to his masculine strength. “I don’t like any of this.”

Angus nodded. “I don’t either. He has to have been looking at, or for, something.” His eyes met hers. “Or someone.”

“It can’t be me,” Charity protested. “I don’t know the man.”

“He might have been trying to see me; to find out if I am with you,” Angus whispered.

“Well, now he knows. Let’s hope he has seen everything he wanted to see.” Charity hefted her basket only for Angus to take it off her. She led the way back inside and sighed with relief when she was encased in blissful warmth the second she stepped into the house.

“It smells nice in here,” Angus smiled. He lifted his brows at the veritable banquet lying on the kitchen table. “You have been busy.”

“I have to take one of the cakes to the meeting tonight,” Charity explained. “The rest is for the men here, if any of you are hungry.”

Angus smiled ruefully when his stomach rumbled loudly.

“Help yourself,” Charity laughed.

Angus swiftly removed his cloak, locked the door, and set about poking some life back into the fire while Charity began to pile food onto three plates.