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

“I just came to thank you, on behalf of the Star Elite, for the use of your home,” Aaron began.

Charity’s heart began to break. “You are moving on,” she choked in a voice no louder than a whisper.

Aaron nodded. “We have to follow the lead on Horvat and won’t need to use your house any longer.”

“Are you going to stay next door then? Have you found Mrs Vernon?” Charity asked, her aching heart racing along with her troubled thoughts.

Panic suffused her at the thought that the short time she had with Angus was already over. She immediately contemplated asking to see him again, if only so she could say goodbye, but knew she would only be making a fool of herself if she did.

“I am afraid not. We are in touch with the magistrate who have men looking for her. He is now working on that investigation. We aren’t going to be next door either. It is time for us to move on. It doesn’t look like Mr Lawrence is responsible for the kidnappings after all.” Aaron’s smile was wry. “I guess our contact was wrong.”

Charity nodded. “We told you so,” she whispered, and tried to force a laugh but failed miserably. Her chin wobbled instead.

“It appears you ladies know your village well. While we are moving on, please remember that the kidnapper is still at large. Don’t go and put yourself in any danger, eh?” He felt sorry for her, not least because he knew just how stubborn Angus could be.

Since Angus’s argument with the woman before him, both he and Jasper had tried to speak with their friend only to be briskly rebuffed by professional discussions about the investigation. The message was simple: Angus wasn’t prepared to discuss the way he felt with anybody.

Aaron just wished he knew what to say to Charity. It was clear, even to him, that she was upset, and still shaken by the force of her argument with Angus. It was difficult to know what assurances he could offer her, except that she was now free to go about her life. She now didn’t need to worry about having to accommodate strange men who came and went from her house at all times of the day and night.

“Just stay safe,” he urged gently.

Charity nodded. She offered him a half-hearted smile. “Shouldn’t I be the one to say that to you? You are, after all, going after a kidnapper.”

Aaron nodded. “There are plenty of us. We can manage to keep ourselves safe. We have done a perfectly good job so far. Meantime, if there is anything you discover that might help with the case, send word to the War Office. Someone will be in touch.”

With that, Aaron winked at her and quietly let himself out.

Charity stared at the closed door for a moment. It resembled the closing of an entirely different door; a doorway to a whole new future that was no longer available for someone like her. She had no way of opening it because she knew what lay on the other side didn’t belong with her. Angus would never be comfortable in her world, and she certainly wasn’t welcome in his.

“I refuse to cry anymore,” she whispered, swiping a hand against the wayward tear that trickled a solitary path down her cheek. “Time to move on, I think.”

Again, she contemplated not going to meet with the ladies, but then knew they would just come and find her anyway and demand to know why she wasn’t joining them. Determined to get the familiarity of her routine life back if only to steady her shaken world, Charity squared her shoulders, slid the bolt closed on her kitchen door, and made her way through the house.

Seconds later, she slammed out of the front door and headed toward Monika’s house. She knew her friend would insist on following their plan through and going to search Mr Horvat’s property just as soon as he left it. Now that she knew the Star Elite had gone, Charity could really see no reason not to do what she wanted, and if that involved being so brash and daring as to call upon a neighbour then she would.

“Angus can’t scold me for it. He isn’t here anymore,” she whispered miserably.

Ducking her head low, Charity tugged the hood of her cloak up, and kept her gaze trained on the ground beneath her boots as she hurried through the village.

She was so immersed in her journey that she didn’t notice the sol

itary shadow moving silently alongside her, keeping pace with her every step of the way.

“Do you know something, this village gets odder and odder with each day that passes,” Edwina announced once the ladies were furnished with cake and were busy munching.

“How so?”

Everyone turned their attention to the frown on the frail lady’s thin features.

“Well, I saw Mr Lawrence today. He was heading out of town for a few days. He says for another doctor’s appointment, but I distinctly got the impression that they weren’t telling the truth,” Edwina replied.

“They?” Gertrude asked.

“Mr Lawrence and that cousin of his,” Edwina furnished.

“I thought we all agreed that Mr Lawrence isn’t responsible for the kidnappings?” Monika cried in disgust.

“I am not saying he is. Nor am I suggesting that his cousin has anything to do with the disappearances. Oh, no. No. I think you are right to consider that Mr Horvat is responsible. Do you know, I saw him today with another armful of groceries? I swear, that man eats more than all of us put together,” Edwina gushed.