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

“Both Lawrence men have been killed in the gunfight that happened at the house. When the gunfire had stopped, Aaron and Oliver and the others got into the house and found both men dead from gunshot wounds. Horvat, unfortunately, escaped. We have men trying to track him down.” Angus gathered Charity tighter into his arms and pressed a kiss against her temple. “Thankfully, he is heading down to London, well away from here or St Magdaline. We suspect he is going to meet with his contacts down there.”

“So, you are off to London next.” It wasn’t a question.

Charity dreaded the day she had to say goodbye to Angus again but was now able to understand why he felt the need to go. Someone had to do the work the Star Elite did. By nature of the people they dealt with, it was dark and dangerous work, but Charity knew that if anybody could find Horvat and bring him to justice it would be the Star Elite.

“I made such a mess of things, didn’t I?” she muttered. “I am sorry.”

“You weren’t to know. It was quite an innocent move on your part, mostly driven out of curiosity. You had no way, indeed even we had no way, of knowing that they would start shooting at us, or you. We expected to storm the house and be able to slap the men in irons. The fact that they were so defensive without any provocation proves they all have a lot to hide,” Angus informed her.

“Yes, their guilt.” Charity pressed a gentle kiss to his chin. “You saved my life.”

“I was saving both of our lives,” Angus informed her wryly. He turned over carefully until they were facing each other.

“I have to confess that I cannot remember much about that morning,” she said quietly.

“That can only be a good thing,” Angus assured her. “I know I will never forget it.”

His voice grew thick with the force of emotion that surged through him. Carefully, so he didn’t jostle her shoulder, he lifted onto one elbow and looked deeply into her eyes.

“God, I love you,” he whispered fervently. “I have been in many a battle and seen a lot of horrific sights in my time but nothing, absolutely nothing, could have ever prepared me for the sight of the woman I love being shot like that. It was the most horrific thing I have ever witnessed. I realised in that moment that you mean more to me than anything or anybody in the entire world. Without you, I have no world. If I didn’t have a future with you there would be no reason to keep on working for the Star Elite. There would be no purpose to my life. In the short space of time we have known each other you have become so essential to my future, my life, my heart, my very existence, that I cannot bear the thought of being parted from you. The last two and a half weeks have been the longest of my entire life. Being without you is like living only half a life. I can’t stand it any longer. I have to have you in my life, for always, my love.”

“Life is so short, Angus, that I don’t want to waste a single second of it,” Charity whispered. “I will do whatever it takes and go wherever you want me to go with you, as long as we can be together. I have been given a second chance at life, and I don’t intend to waste a single moment of it. I love you, with all my heart. Forever and always. Promise me that wherever your work with the Star Elite takes you, you will always come back to me?”

“I promise. I have already spoken with Sir Hugo, my boss, about making certain changes in my life. While I cannot give up the work I do; it is all I know; I can relocate to the local group, some of whom were in a meeting with the magistrate when they heard the gunfire and came to investigate. I am not sure if you remember them, but this is their base, Angus said quietly.

“I can vaguely recall being moved,” she said with a thoughtful frown. “Why can’t I remember anything else?”

“The doctor gave you a lot of medication both before, during and after he removed the bullet from your shoulder. He then gave you some medication for the pain, so I think it might have left you a little fuddled,” Angus murmured gently.

The several hours it had taken for the doctor to remove the bullet, and stitch Charity up, were the longest of Angus’s life. He had paced, ranted, then prayed with every fibre of his being for her survival while he had waited. Thankfully, the doctor had finally emerged from the bed chamber to inform the waiting men that Charity would make a full recovery but couldn’t be moved for a few days. That was fine by Angus, who had no intention of allowing her to go anywhere.

“When do you have to leave?” Charity whispered tearfully.

“For the time being, I am staying with you, it is as simple as that. Sir Hugo has sanctioned me taking some time off, even though we are in the middle of an investigation. I can catch up with the men in London just as soon as my leave is over if they need me down there. As soon as you are strong enough, we can return to St Magdaline, so you can recover fully in the comfort of your own home. For now, we are going to stay in the safe house where you will be protected morning, noon and night. The men won’t bother us, but you can rest easy knowing you are in probably the safest place in Leicestershire and Derbyshire right now.” Angus smiled encouragingly at her because she invariably smiled back, and he wanted to see that wonderful twinkle she got in her eye whenever she smiled at him.

His smile dimmed when he saw the tears on her lashes. “What is it? You can tell me anything, you know.”

“I am just very glad that I am here,” she whispered. “With you.”

“So am I,” he assured her fervently. “I am grateful that I was in town when you decided to follow Lawrence. To think that I might not have been there when you needed me the most leaves me horrified. I must be here, Charity. I need to be with you, or nearby, just in case you ever need me. I won’t let you down, I promise.”

“I know you won’t,” Charity said, her voice quivering. “I don’t think I have ever lov

ed anybody this much in my entire life.”

“Given how close we have come to losing each other for good, don’t you think we should do everything in our power to ensure our futures lie together?” Angus whispered.

He began to pepper a trail of tiny kisses along her brow and down the smooth skin of her cheek. Once at the corner of her lips he pressed a gentle kiss into the groove at the corner of her mouth and began to gently tug at her lips with his.

“Marry me?” He knew there was a plea in his voice but made no apology for it.

Time froze as he waited for Charity to answer. When her reply came, he too was struggling to contain the emotion he felt. The force of the relief that surged through him when he saw her nod was enough to make him huff a laugh and suck in a deep, fortifying breath. He had just made the most colossal change in his life, and didn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t regret it for a single moment.

“I would be so honoured to be your wife, I don’t think I have any choice in the matter. I love you and promise here and now to keep my nose out of your investigations as long as you promise me that you will always return home,” she murmured.

He rested his forehead against hers. “To love, life and happiness together?”

Charity smiled. “To love, life and happiness together forever,” she promised and, before he could say anything else, tugged his head down to seal their promise with a very loving kiss.