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

Before she could answer, the doctor arrived. Everyone reluctantly filed out of the room while he set to work on Angus.

“You can come back in now,” the doctor called after what felt to Charity like a lifetime.

Everyone was tired and on edge, but curious to find out how Angus was, and eagerly filed back into the back room of Charity’s house upon hearing the summons.

“How is he?” Charity asked tremulously as she took up position beside Angus, who was still sitting on the table.

“He will live,” the doctor assured her. “He will have some discomfort in his head for a day or two but will fully recover without too much trouble. The knife wound isn’t deep and should heal in time, just keep it dry and covered up for now.”

While Oliver saw the doctor home, Angus swung his legs over the edge of the table.

“Where do you think you are going?” Charity planted herself firmly in front of Angus and folded her arms defiantly.

“I have work to do,” Angus muttered.

He bit out a low curse despite being in the presence of ladies when movement made the world whirl around him. Suddenly, the entire room became tinged with darkening fog. He realised then that sitting up had been an extremely bad idea.

“How about you get upstairs to bed because right now, I think the only thing you need is a good night’s sleep?” Charity looked at his colleagues. “I am sure someone else can keep watch for one night. Besides, Mr Horvat has already been out tonight.”

Angus’s gaze hardened. “Please tell me you didn’t go after him?”

“We were going to but then we saw the men had found you,” Agatha replied honestly. She fell silent when Monika nudged her rudely in the ribs.

“Well, we had best be off then. It is getting late, and I am sure you gentlemen have things to, er, watch,” Monika declared in an overly loud voice. She turned to Charity. “Remember what we agreed?”

Charity nodded.

“Tomorrow?”

“If possible,” Charity murmured carefully.

She struggled to keep her face impassive and refused to look at Angus. He knew her sufficiently well to be able to read the guilt in her eyes. While she dreaded having to go anywhere near the Horvat house, she knew they still needed to, if only to see if there were any kidnapped ladies in there. If she and Monika were caught inside the property, they could claim they were there to see Mrs Browning, who had been one of the ladies’ church group. If Angus, or any of his colleagues were found in the house by Mr Horvat, their presence would be far harder to explain.

“You get a good night’s rest,” Agatha instructed Angus, who nodded but then winced again.

“Damn that hurts,” Angus growled.

“Can you make it upstairs? You can take the spare room. It is right next to mine,” Charity explained.

“Is the bed all made up?” Augusta asked.

Charity nodded. Even if it wasn’t she didn’t want to tell the ladies. Right now, all she wanted to do was get Angus tucked up into bed, so she could take a moment to herself and try to assimilate everything that had happened. Charity was being barraged with so many conflicting and confusing emotions that she wasn’t at all sure what she should feel anymore. What she did know for definite was that she was going to cry, a lot, and loudly sometime very soon, and would invariably embarrass herself if she didn’t get some time alone.

Before anybody could move, a huge bang rattled the house.

The men, including Angus, immediately sprang to their feet.

“What in Hades was that?” Gertrude cried, hefting her reticule before her as a soldier would use a shield.

Aaron raced through the house and bolted up the stairs. Seconds later, he re-appeared and was shaking his head.

“Nothing,” he muttered. “The street is quiet outside as well.”

“It must have come from next door,” Charity gasped, too scared to do anything more than cling to Angus.

“Mrs Vernon?” Edwina’s scowl was deep with worry and fear.

“I wonder if she has had a fall?” Monika cried. “We must go and check on her.”