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

“There is a law against breaking and entering,” Charity sighed. “What do we do if he calls the magistrate?”

“Go to gaol and hope the Star Elite will return a favour and get us out in time for Christmas,” Monika replied dryly.

“I think given how angry Angus was with us for our walk there is absolutely no likelihood of that ever happening,” Charity retorted.

Monika wrinkled her nose up. “Was he frightfully angry with you?”

Charity nodded morosely. “At least he has gone so if we are lucky, Mr Horvat won’t know we have called upon him and I am not going to get into trouble for this.”

The ladies all made their way out of the house. As they walked toward Mr Horvat’s property, the ladies occasionally stopped. Two women took up their positions in discrete locations before the remainder of the group continued their journey.

“You have all put a lot of planning into this,” Charity murmured breathlessly.

A part of Charity couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. She wanted to tell the ladies that their carefully thought out plan was not going to work, if only so they would go home where it was safe but didn’t bother because she knew they would just ignore her. Besides, she felt safer knowing there was someone watching her back.

It was quarter past eleven when Monika and Charity reached Mr Horvat’s back door.

“He has already gone,” Monika whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “What do we do?”

Charity felt sick with fear. She physically shook with terror at the thought of what they were about to do.

“We can’t just pretend this is any ordinary house call,” Charity whispered. “There is no need to go through the pretence of knocking. We know he is not here.”

Monika turned the knob on the door, but it refused to budge.

“Did Mrs Browning leave a spare key anywhere, do you know?” Charity asked.

Monika shrugged but suspected Charity wouldn’t see her in the dark. Together they set about checking under the plant pots clustered to the right of the back door.

They were so busy with what they were doing that neither woman noticed the dark shadow that appeared silently in Mr Lawrence’

s garden.

Angus couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His temper surged but he refused to succumb to it. He had done that earlier and spent the rest of the day feeling utterly miserable for the way he had behaved when arguing with Charity. It galled him to acknowledge that he had been cruel when he had left Charity alone while deeply upset. While at the time, he had hoped that her distress would make her contemplate the foolishness of her actions, he now realised he would have probably done better to stay in the house and put her over his knee to paddle her backside. Angus now wished he had.

He was stunned that after everything, Charity would still insist on putting her life at risk in this way. Even standing in the neighbour’s garden, Angus could hear the women brazenly discussing the possibility of a key being hidden somewhere.

Could they be so foolish as to use it if they found one? His answer came quickly when Monika suddenly lifted a large object in her hand and hurried to the door.

Charity shivered as Monika set to work on the lock. She glanced warily around and struggled to stave off the distinct impression that she was being watched. It was difficult to see much in the darkness, but finally understood the wisdom of the ladies keeping watch. There was no possibility of anybody reaching her and Monika unawares, and that gave Charity the strength she needed to step into the house after her friend.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Good evening ladies,” a dark voice drawled.

Augusta Applebottom gasped and lifted the poker she held in her hand. To her dismay it was swiftly snatched off her. Her gaze slid instinctively toward Alice, who looked as if she was about to faint. Her eyes were so wide in the darkness of the night that she looked like an owl, blinking widely at the two men now standing before them.

“Are you going to arrest us?” Augusta asked boldly. The jocular tone of her voice felt out of place when one of the men, Aaron, slowly nodded.

“We thought you had gone,” Alice blustered bravely.

“We haven’t,” Angus replied.

“So I see,” Alice whispered, her bravado gone in an instant.

“You are interfering with an official investigation,” he warned.

“Care to tell us what you are doing out here at this time of night?” The man beside him asked casually. He glanced about at the small yard they were in. “It is hardly the time or place for a meeting of the tapestry group, is it?”