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

“No. He has just vanished. I am glad of it, but I don’t trust his sudden lack of interest.”

“Maybe Niall has spoken to him and told him to leave you alone. He was rather possessive the other night,” Sissy suggested.

“He isn’t my Niall,” Clara sighed, not for the first time over the last week.

“Well, whoever he is, Niall was possessive and was trying to help you.”

Clara worriedly told Sissy about Niall being in the tavern yard. “Don’t you think it a little odd that he always happens to be around when I am attacked?”

“You don’t think it is him outside watching you, do you? No, I don’t believe that for a second,” Sissy protested. She shook her head vehemently but when she stopped Sissy then looked worriedly at Clara. “Do you?”

“I just find it odd that he won’t tell me anything about why he is here. He just turned up unannounced, three times now, when I have been accosted.”

“Well, he is trying to look after you,” Sissy tried to assure her, but her support fell a little flat because of the worry in her eyes. “He is keeping an eye out for you. Can that be a bad thing?”

“Yes, if he is following me everywhere.”

“Are you sure it isn’t Erasmus out there?”

“No, I suppose I cannot be sure it isn’t Erasmus out there. I want to believe it is Erasmus because it is something that he would do but I just cannot be sure,” Clara sighed.

“Well, then, let me walk you home.”

“But then you will be all alone when you walk home,” Clara challenged.

“Well, come and stay with me then,” Sissy countered. “You are more than welcome.”

“No. I think you are right. There is nobody following me. I am just worrying too much because of what happened with Erasmus. I am not going to let that man stop me from doing what I want to do. I am only walking home from church. What harm am I doing?”

“None. So, let’s go,” Sissy suggested.

They weren’t quite so brave when they left the sanctuary of the church and found themselves embraced by almost absolute darkness. There was not even any moonlight to show them the narrow path leading through the gravestones.

“Wait for me.”

Clara squealed when she heard that voice. She was just in the process of closing the church door and froze when she saw movement inside the darkened interior.

“Audrey? What are you doing in there?”

“I was gathering my things,” Audrey sighed.

“How long have you been in there?”

Audrey looked a little shifty. “A few minutes,” she edged.

“You heard everything, didn’t you?”

“Yes dear, and I wouldn’t put it past that Erasmus to try to accost you. That thug in your garden the other night has to be connected to him, don’t you think? Don’t you worry, dear. We will escort you home, won’t we, Sissy?”

Sissy dutifully nodded.

Clara almost wept with relief.

“There is something you should know,” Clara whispered miserably. “It was all a terrible misunderstanding.”

“What was, dear?” Audrey murmured absently as she scoured the churchyard.

“My engagement to Niall,” Clara replied.