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

The man cursed. “When?”

“This morning, about three hours ago. It isn’t like her to vanish. But she has gone. We can’t find her.”

The man swiftly turned around and disappeared leaving Babette and Audrey to look askance at each other.

“Should we take that as a sign that he has gone to look for her, or should we be worried that we have made a bad situation worse?”

“I am not sure,” Babette sighed. “One thing I do know is that Niall of hers will find her.”

They both didn’t dare mention that they wondered if Clara could be found. She had been surrounded by trouble for the last several weeks, of that there could be no doubt.

“Do you think Erasmus might have her?”

“I think it is darned odd that he has disappeared and then she has, don’t you?”

“Let’s hope Niall can find her,” Babette whispered.

They both returned to the house to report to Flo what they had managed to achieve.

Now all they could do was wait.

Niall swore viciously when he heard Harry’s news. He slammed his booted feet onto the floor and launched out of his seat.

“What?”

“She’s been snatched. She was on her way to Sissy’s house this morning but didn’t arrive. Smidgley has her.”

It wasn’t a rash statement. They all looked at Erasmus, who glared balefully at them from his bound position on the bed. He mumbled something, but the gag in his mouth prevented anyone

from understanding what it was.

“What do we do with him?” Harry asked disinterestedly.

“Leave him,” Will grunted.

Niall snorted, but was too busy shoving his belongings into his saddle bag to notice. “We are going to hand him over to the local lads to look after until we can get back. He can’t go home right now.”

In that moment, Richard slammed into the house. “Smidgley is on the move. Peregrine has sent word that he is at Smidgley House. You are to go there at once.”

“Look after him,” Will ordered. “We will be back.”

Richard grinned at their captive. “It will be a pleasure.”

Erasmus Boyle glared at the men in the room but didn’t utter a squeak of protest. He knew when he was outmanned, and outmanoeuvred, and if there was one thing that he wasn’t it was brave enough to take any of them on single handedly, even if he hadn’t been bound and tied to a bed.

Clara was also tied to a bed, and gagged, and completely terrified. She couldn’t ever remember a time in her life when she had been so scared. She dreaded her immediate future, and what might happen to her. What Niall had told her about the victims hovered menacingly over her. All she could do was hope and pray that her relationship to the Secretary of State was enough to stop her captors from forcing her into prostitution.

She lay staring blankly at the ceiling, too afraid to move or try to look around the room. It wasn’t until she heard the rustle of clothing that she realised she was not alone.

“Ah, you are awake at last.”

Clara felt sick. She struggled to think because her mind was sluggish. Her head pounded and the room swirled alarmingly. It took several blinks before she could get her eyes to focus on the man who leaned over her, so close she could feel his breath brush her cheek. She flinched when he lifted a finger and teased an errant curl away from her cheek. Rather than release it, he wound it around his finger and tugged.

Clara felt tears sting her eyes but she daren’t let them fall. She daren’t allow anything to blur her vision anymore than it already was. She stared helplessly up at him. Eventually, he removed the gag and threw her a smirk before he turned away.

“You are the daughter of Atticus Potter.” It wasn’t a question.

“You are going to be arrested for kidnapping me,” she whispered.