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“But those deaths haven’t got anything to do with the fair,” Elaine protested. “It is all just superstition and gossip.”
Clementine, who was aware of Moss’s towering presence, slid a look in his direction only to find him encased in shadows as tall and dark as he. Still, she could feel him watching. While it was reassuring it also left her with the strong urge to fidget because she suspected she was the object of his scrutiny, although what he might be looking for in her was beyond her.
He is probably trying to make his mind up if I am guilty or not.
Moss wasn’t. He was studying the tellingly empty seats on either side of Clementine which, from her position at the table, left isolated her from the rest of the committee members, all of whom sat on the other side of the rectangular table. He knew that the empty seats had once been occupied by the now deceased committee members. It was a stark warning that someone was killing the group but was starting with people who sat around Clementine and that she was being socially isolated for some reason.
Did that mean she was next?
The thought of it was enough to send shivers of alarm down Moss’s back. He studied each person at the table but, given their tension, knew it would be impossible to read anything into their fidgety behaviour. Everyone was on edge, and that was because of the deaths that had occurred already, not necessarily because of guilt. Feeling a little sorry for her, and deciding it was long past time he rattled a few cages, Moss sauntered across the room with a casual air of propriety that immediately made the woman seated at the head of the table sit bolt upright and glare indignantly at him.
“Hello? I didn’t know we had a visitor. How did you get in? Can I help you?” she demanded. Her cheeks turned even ruddier, and she glared almost hatefully at Moss when he ignored her and slid into a seat beside Clementine.
“This is a private meeting.”
Rather than answer, Moss smiled tenderly at Clementine and chided gently: “You could have waited for me.”
“I was running late,” Clementine whispered. She slid an apologetic look at Elaine, who was now looking thunderous.
“Oh, let’s get on with it, shall we?” Mr Aldwych snapped. “I don’t have the time to sit around here all day.”
Clementine only faintly heard him. The sole focus of her attention was Moss, whose presence beside her was so reassuring Clementine knew she was blushing furiously with the pleasure of it. She made no apology to him for the speed in which she had left because she wanted him to know that she had a life to live. Clementine refused to sit around and be the kind of person to ask for his permission to leave the house. She wanted and needed more freedom than that. But it felt wonderful to have him beside her now, looking at her in such a wonderfully warm and loving way.
“This is Moss. Mr. Moses Banfield-Moss,” Clementine announced to the group.
“Is he your suitor, dear?” Mrs Kinnerton asked, tittering nervously behind he
r handkerchief.
Clementine opened her mouth to speak but before she could utter a word found Moss’s hand covering hers where it lay on the table.
“Yes, you could say that,” he murmured with another loving look at Clementine. “My intentions are purely honourable.”
He smiled when Clementine coughed uncomfortably and shifted in her seat while she blushed with pleasure. She smiled when Mrs Kinnerton giggled girlishly and began to fan herself.
“Oh my, he is handsome,” the elderly lady gushed.
Moss smiled at her, but his teasing good humour swiftly died when he saw the dark look the Chairwoman was still giving him.
“You never told me you had a suitor, Clementine,” Elaine murmured, clearly hurt by Clementine’s lack of information.
“We were going to make it clear at the Autumn Fair, weren’t we?” Moss murmured softly while giving Clementine another loving look.
“Well, we know now. Don’t expect it to be kept a secret in this damned place,” Mr Smorsley snorted. “Nobody does much without someone noticing around here.”
“Except die,” Moss countered.
“Please don’t start that again,” Mr Aldwych pleaded with a dour look at Mrs Kinnerton, who began to fan herself faster.
“Can we start this meeting?” Elaine threw an askance look at Mrs Kinnerton. “Preferably before some of our committee members become too overset?”
“Please do,” Clementine replied with a casual air she really didn’t feel.
Preferably before I become too overset. Those loving looks of his are far too convincing.
With that, everybody began to discuss the arrangements for the Autumn Fair. Because they were less than a month away, there wasn’t much to discuss. A few problems were raised but other than that everything was progressing smoothly. But that still didn’t deter Elaine from trying to stall everyone for a little while longer. It was clear to Clementine that her friend was relishing overseeing the group and wanted to make her moment last, even though it was becoming uncomfortable having to sit there while everyone went over everything once again.
“I suggest we have another meeting at the end of the week,” Elaine offered at the last.
