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

“Edith has him now. Let’s go,” Sissy hissed.

“Where were you going?” Audrey demanded.

“Home.” Clara suddenly felt the need to be inside her house where she was safe and could have a little time to herself to contemplate how Niall made her feel. She had thought she had been successful in putting him out of her mind. Last night, for the first time since she had set eyes on him, she had slept soundly without thinking about him once. But now she knew it had probably been exhaustion that had made her sleep so heavily.

“He is cross,” Sissy murmured.

Clara threw one last look at Niall. The dark look he threw her was followed by an impatient sigh as he was forced to stop and talk to Edith.

“Do you think I should rescue him?” Clara asked. The urge to go to him was strong, not least because she felt as if she owed him. “He did save me from Erasmus after all.”

“Yes, but Edith isn’t anything like Erasmus,” Audrey growled. “Don’t compare them. He doesn’t need saving.”

“He looks terribly angry,” Sissy sighed. “If I was you, I would let Edith calm him down a little and go home while you can. Once you get there, close all your shutters and don’t let anybody in, especially him.”

“What if he gets even more annoyed and accosts me the next time I come out?” Clara asked somewhat absently.

As she spoke, her gaze scoured the length of him. He looked handsome even from a distance; and so out of place it was a little worrying that he was in Serpentine. He was dressed as any urbane gentleman who would have fitted into the streets of London. However, in a small rural village like Serpentine, he looked a little over-dressed.

“Do you think he might be from the War Office?”

“Yes, I do,” Clara whispered.

“He might work with your father?” Audrey lifted her brows when Clara nodded and continued.

“Having said that, part of his job is to remain hidden. He shouldn’t be seen. Niall is hardly doing much to remain hidden, is he?”

“What if he is trying to lure someone out?” Sissy gasped in a theatrical whisper.

“Who?” Audrey demanded.

“I don’t know. I doubt we will ever know. For now, all we need to do is wait because he will move on eventually, of that I am positive. For now, I just need to forget about him,” Clara whispered. “As handsome as he is, Niall cannot be a part of my life, I know that much.”

“Then he shall stay away from you,” Sissy confirmed.

Together, Clara’s friends nodded and resumed their escort of Clara. Clara, after one last lingering look at Niall, purposely turned her back and walked away. It was difficult to see where she was going because she struggled to contain the urge to look over her shoulder at him one last time. Clara wanted to, more than she cared to admit, but daren’t. Sissy was studying her intently and kept constantly glancing over her shoulder at him as if trying to work out if she was lying again.

“Have you notified the magistrate that Erasmus is pestering you again?” Audrey asked as they walked.

Clara sighed. The look she gave her friend could only be described as dour. “I went over there but was told that he had gone to London. He had some sort of professional meeting apparently, with the Lord Chief Justice.”

“Do you think that might be why your father has sent the men here to watch over you?”

“I cannot see why he would. I mean, having them lingering around the house would draw people’s attention, not thwart it,” Clara replied honestly.

Before long, Clara found herself closing her front door having waved goodbye to her friends. She was now cold, and desperately wanted some time alone to think. It wasn’t going to happen, though, because she had just removed her shawl when a loud banging on the front door began. She knew immediately who it was but hesitated to answer the door not least because she wasn’t at all sure she wanted to see Niall again.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Good morning,” Clara began when she answered the door. She still wasn’t at all sure it was the right thing to do. It was only the incessant pounding that stopped her from ignoring him. It was driving her out of her mind with worry. Secretly, she was also curious to know why he wanted to see her, especially after everything he had done to keep away from her.

“Is it?” Niall growled.

“Is it not?” Clara blinked at him and waited.

“No. It is not, but I am sure you are already aware of that,” Niall announced.

“Should I be?”