A Terrible Misunderstanding (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 6)

“Cooeee! It’s us, dear. Let us in, will you? It is freezing out here,” Audrey, a neighbour who lived down the street called from the back of the assembled group of visitors.

“What’s wrong?” Clara blinked when she stood back only to allow not just Audrey, but Edith, Sissy, and Babette into the hallway too. “Good Lord, is everyone all right?”

“Of course we are,” Sissy chided, brushing past her to drop the heavy parcel she carried onto the hall table. She then proceeded to snatch her shawl off her shoulders and bundle it up before shaking it back out again and hanging it on the coat stand.

At a loss to know what to say, all Clara could do was watch everyone remove their shawls and cloaks and make their way into the parlour. She briefly contemplated asking everyone if they had seen anyone suspicious lurking outside, but immediately dismissed actually doing so because she knew her friends would worry about their own safety during their journeys home.

“As you know, I was going to sit with Isadora for a while, but she isn’t feeling very well. I was just on my way home when I met Sissy and Babette who were trying to decide what to do with their evening. Well, Erasmus came by and so I told them what had happened earlier. I thought they ought to know what happened to you, my dear. You know, just so they can make sure they aren’t accosted by him, especially now that Erasmus knows that you are off the market.” Edith beamed proudly at Clara, who was doing her best not to roll her eyes and sigh in annoyance.

Clara studied the shadows outside through the still open doorway, partly in search of Niall and partly in case anybody was lurking at the front of the house.

“Are you waiting for someone?” Edith asked, peering outside to see what had captured Clara’s attention.

“Oh, no,” Clara replied, mentally cursing herself.

“Are we interrupting something?” Babette stood on tiptoe to crane her neck and see into the parlour a little better. “Do you have a guest already?”

“Is it true?” Audrey demanded without preamble before Clara could answer Babette.

Clara looked helplessly at Flo who now stood in the doorway of the parlour with a thoughtful smile on her face.

“I think that you need to tell them everything, don’t you?” Flo suggested. “I mean, their excitement is palpable. It is only right that you tell them all how you met your Niall, and all about the wedding.”

“So, it is true,” Sissy grinned. It wasn’t a question.

“Well, there is a story there,” Clara began awkwardly, glaring at her aunt.

“You must tell us, dear,” Babette commanded with a militant gleam in her eye.

“My, you dark horse,” Sissy teased. “I never suspected a thing.”

“You never breathed a word.” Babette’s frown was dark as she pouted at her friend.

“I never had any clue, but I told you that it wouldn’t be long. Didn’t I?” Edith looked askance at the group who all nodded their heads.

“Ratafia anybody?” Clara asked weakly.

“God, no. Can’t stand the stuff,” Babette snorted. “How about some nice hot chocolate?”

“Well, I could put the pot on to boil,” Clara suggested. It was only the chorus of agreement from all the ladies that convinced her that hot chocolate was to be served.

She followed everyone into the parlour and waited while the ladies settled themselves. As soon as she could, Clara then hurried into the kitchen whereupon she paused to rest her hands briefly on the kitchen table and prayed fo

r the strength to get through the evening. At best, she could only hope that her friends would forgive her for the lies she had told. At worst, they wouldn’t consider her a friend anymore, or believe anything else she said. She lowered her head and tried to think of the best way of telling them the truth, but nothing seemed right. Whenever she tried to think of a way to break the news all she could think about was the excitement the ladies hadn’t been able to contain, and just how upset they were going to be when they heard the truth.

“God, it’s awful,” she whispered miserably.

Usually, she would be delighted to have her friends call upon her at any hour and would have eagerly sat with them exchanging stories about their lives and experiences. Tonight, Clara’s thoughts were occupied with trying to find a way to extricate herself from the mess she had gotten herself into.

“I say, Clara, are you quite all right? Is Rita not here to make your hot chocolate for you?”

“Rita goes home in the evening,” Clara informed Edith, who appeared in the doorway. “As soon as dinner is served she tidies up and goes home. She will be back at dawn. It is not how others run their houses, but it works for us.”

“Is your aunt going to be upset that we have descended on you like this? We don’t want to upset her,” Audrey asked. “I know it is very rude to call upon you unannounced, but I didn’t think she would be all that bothered by our indiscretion given your delightful news.”

“Aunt Flo doesn’t mind who calls upon her. She is pleased to have company because it keeps her up-to-date with village gossip,” Clara assured them.

Somewhat appeased, the ladies edged deeper into the kitchen. Clara, well aware that she didn’t normally entertain guests in the kitchen, looked worriedly at the door leading to the main body of the house.