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

“Well, you aren’t going alone. I can escort you home. If there is one of the men still in your house they can walk me back here,” Monika suggested.

Not to be left out of any excitement that might unfold, the ladies all objected to going home.

“Let’s all go,” Edwina suggested.

“Yes. We can drop Monika on our way around like we did last night,” Gertrude nodded. She clutched her reticule in readiness.

“I really just want to get home,” Charity murmured.

She was starting to resent any delay and hurriedly began to gather her tapestry things together, even though she hadn’t even picked up a needle throughout the entire evening. “I really don’t see why I should be lumbering this frame around.”

“Leave it here,” Monika suggested. “It will give you a reason to get out of the house if you need some breathing space. You can come and fetch it and hide out here.”

Charity nodded, too touched for words. Somehow, Monika, who had also lived alone

for the last several years, seemed to understand the problem Charity was experiencing having her life, and home, invaded by a group of strange men who were all determined to turn her life upside down.

“Let’s go then,” Agatha cried and led the march out of Monika’s house.

“Why don’t you stay here?” Charity asked of Monika.

“What, and miss out on all the excitement? I should not settle for a second, I am sure of it,” Monika protested.

With that, the ladies, en masse, followed Charity toward home.

Charity’s stomach dropped to her toes when she turned into her road and noticed Aaron stalking toward them. Even in the darkness she could see the deep frown on his face.

“Where is Angus,” she whispered.

“I don’t know,” Aaron replied, his voice thick with concern. “Is he not with you?”

Charity shook her head. “He left about seven. He was going to come back to the house.”

“I know. He missed the meeting,” Aaron growled. He turned his attention to the small group of women. “Go home, ladies. You have to get off the streets.”

“We aren’t going to leave Charity to fret all alone. Where could he have gone?” Augusta blustered.

“Is he apt to wander off alone?” Edwina demanded.

“Maybe he has been accosted,” Gertrude cried. She gasped when she realised how upsetting this was to Charity and began to utter soothing noises by way of apology. “I am sure he is fine, my dear. Why, a strong man like that isn’t likely to be overwhelmed by anything.”

“You are not helping, Gertrude,” Monika sighed. She stepped toward Aaron and scowled. “So, what you are saying is nobody has seen him since he left us at seven o’clock this evening, over three and a half hours ago now.”

While they talked, Oliver and Jasper walked past them, their gazes glued to the ground. The rain had thankfully stopped but that was no comfort. They both knew it was going to be difficult to find any tracks given the amount of rain they had had. It still didn’t stop them trying.

“Where are they going?” Edwina whispered as she eyed the men warily.

“To try to find him. Ladies, it is essential you go home,” Aaron growled, his face stern.

“We can stay with Charity. Do you not understand she is worried sick? She cannot be alone in that house. Not now,” Monika protested. “We can stay with her and keep a watch on the houses.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. He wanted to argue with them, and escort them all home, but his own growing concern for Angus was rife. He knew that if Angus had been injured, every second he wasted arguing futilely with the women could leave Angus a step closer to death.

“I will walk with you to Charity’s house,” he snapped, and ignored any further attempts at conversation.

“Is that really necessary?” Monika murmured when she saw Aaron remove his gun and check it for shot.

“Given we have a kidnapper on the loose and more people running around this village at night than animals at the local farm, I think so, don’t you?” Aaron bit out.