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

“Maybe we should go back to the parlour?” she suggested hesitantly.

“We don’t mind helping, do we ladies?” Sissy looked cautiously around the kitchen. “How does one make hot chocolate?”

Clara rolled her eyes and fought a smile. “I know.”

“Seeing as Babette was on her own as well, we thought we would round up all of the ladies, so everyone heard your wonderful story together,” Sissy beamed.

“Only because she is too lazy to visit everyone and keep repeating her news,” Audrey teased ruefully.

Sissy wrinkled her nose up but didn’t correct her.

Babette rolled her eyes and took her shawl off with a rueful flick. “I had some sewing to do, but you know how it is. It would be impossible for me to sit at home and sew while you are all here chatting.”

Sissy beamed. “Besides, when we all heard that you had gotten yourself engaged, we just had to come and see your young man for ourselves, didn’t we?”

“I am afraid he isn’t here,” Clara gasped weakly.

“Are you expecting him?”

Clara jerked from her study of the back door and looked at her friends, who were all waiting for her to answer. She had no idea what they had just asked.

“Pardon?” she asked blankly.

“Is he here?”

Babette clapped her hands and beamed. “Where is he? When will he be here? Oh, what does he look like? I hear that he is ever so handsome, but Edith’s eyesight is a little questionable.”

“I beg your pardon?” Edith interjected with a scowl. “My eyesight is perfectly fine, thank you very much. I managed to see him quite clearly. His name is Niall something-or-other.”

Clara blushed. “His name is Niall Farley-Paget, and he hails from London.”

I can remember his features in fine detail as well.

But Clara didn’t dare describe him. She would make herself look like some smitten adolescent. Mentally wincing, she began to gather the things they would need and put them onto a tea tray.

“Anyway, we all thought that rather than have anybody run around to everyone’s house to break the news, we would all come here so that we can hear it from you. We want to know details, my dear,” Babette assured her. “You know, like how long have you known him? Where did you meet him?”

“How long have you been courting?” Edith demanded.

“Yes, and why didn’t you tell us about him?” Audrey added.

“Well, here we are, so you may as well give in and tell us what we want to know,” Sissy urged.

“You won’t be given a moment’s peace until you tell us everything,” Edith warned.

“She is nosy and doesn’t want to miss out on all the gossip,” Audrey snorted, pulling a face when Edith threw her a dirty look.

“I think you had better tell them all,” Flo suggested ruefully from the doorway. She stepped into the kitchen and looked about her with a curiosity which left Clara in no doubt her aunt rarely ventured into it.

“Yes, tell us all,” Sissy commanded.

“I just want to know what you are all saying about me,” Audrey declared in a voice that was laden with good humour.

“Why should anybody want to discuss what you have been up to? We all know what you have done today,” Edith reported. “However, we didn’t have any idea that Clara here was even courting let alone had a young man who is tall and wonderfully handsome.”

Clara rolled her eyes when Sissy’s delicate face turned dreamy, and she stared blankly off into the distance. Inwardly, Clara was mentally cringing that her lie had come back to haunt her. Now, she either had to dig herself deeper and keep lying or annoy them by telling them the truth.

I should have told Edith it was a lie as soon as she came to check on me earlier then this would never have happened.