by Rebecca King
The lad nodded. ‘But only because everyone was talking about it. Some didn’t believe it, until Morton kept telling them about a fob watch he had left with you that had disappeared. He then kept saying that you looked worried whenever you left your shop, as if you had something to hide.’
‘God, the scoundrel,’ Thomas cried. ‘It’s a very dishonest scandal.’
‘What about other victims? You said it was different with everyone Morton targets,’ Roger said.
‘Morton ruins reputations and makes people believe they have to rely on his silence to stay in business and keep their homes. He either leaves things in his victims’ houses, which he later claims have been stolen, or makes a show of being short-changed in shops, or being sold damaged goods, or accuses the business owner conning customers out of something just to try to make money out of deception. The victims often give him whatever he wants just to make him go away. If they don’t then he spends several weeks spreading lies about the victim. There is no purpose behind it other than he wants the power of having people fearful of him, and the ability to control people’s lives, and of course have goods and money off the victims.’
‘And you quite clearly allowed him to control yours. What did you do?’
‘I was accused of stealing from a shop,’ the lad moaned. ‘I didn’t do anything. My mum told him that I wouldn’t do anything like that but with my dad being in gaol, and my mum not liking Morton, the shop keeper believed my uncle. My uncle paid for the goods and said he would turn a blind eye to what I had done even though I didn’t do anything.’
‘But he wanted a favour, and that was for you to light the fire on Thomas’s shop doorstep,’ Luke finished.
Davey nodded miserably.
‘How many people has he targeted in this way? Where are they?’
Davey sniffed. ‘If you can promise me that I can go to gaol miles away then I will tell you. You don’t know my uncle. He has people. You know, contacts. Nasty people, who can make you disappear.’
‘You will be protected if you tell us what we want to know,’ Debrette promised.
The lad studied him but didn’t doubt the magistrate. ‘They have targeted people in Lockley mostly, but there are a few victims in Brampton, and some in Oakley Bridge. I think Morton uses his friendliness to get people spreading lies about his new victims. The locals are more inclined to believe the rumours if they are being spread by people they know or are friendly.’
‘And each person has been accused of something that Morton is responsible for,’ Roger murmured.
Davey nodded.
‘Thomas was getting accused of having stolen a watch off Morton, but Morton tried to steal a watch off Thomas,’ Roger mused.
‘It’s very clever,’ Thomas muttered.
‘Can you give us some names of the victims?’ Roger asked.
Davey nodded.
‘We will make sure that he can’t get to you lad,’ Debrette assured him. ‘For now, let’s get you to gaol, eh? It’s the safest place for you.’
‘We need addresses of who Morton feels able to turn to in Lockler as well. I want to know who his contacts are, and where Morton’s relatives are. I will be at gaol later today to interrogate that daughter of his,’ Roger warned the magistrate. He turned to Peregrine and Hamish. ‘You two escort the lad.’
‘Samantha is as bad as her father,’ Davey warned. ‘She enjoys the gossiping.’
None of the Star Elite doubted it.
‘Daniel and Joshua are still after Morton,’ Luke warned his boss.
‘They will return when they are ready,’ Roger replied unconcernedly. He turned to Rosemary. ‘I apologise for our carelessness. I can assure you that it was a mistake we will most definitely not be making again.’
‘It’s all right,’ Rosemary assured him with a loving look at Luke.
‘Go and get some sleep, all of you,’ Roger growled, before looking pointedly at Luke. ‘Stay here for the next couple of days. We will come and find you if we need help. I’ll be in touch.’
Luke nodded but didn’t even look up when his boss escorted Thomas to the barn to discuss what they were going to do about the shop. Hamish and Peregrine left to discuss the route they were going to take to escort their prisoner to gaol. Debrette busied himself putting chains on the new convict’s wrists and ankles.
‘I am stunned,’ Rosemary whispered to Luke.
‘I am never surprised to hear how conniving some people can be,’ Luke replied sadly. ‘It is why I do what I do. You have done nothing to deserve what you have been through and shouldn’t lose your entire livelihood because some insecure idiot needs to feel powerful. It is wrong and annoys all of the men from the Star Elite.’
‘This is going to be your new investigation, isn’t it?’ Rosemary asked.
Luke nodded. ‘It means that I will at least get to work from home for the next few weeks.’
‘Good,’ Rosemary whispered fervently, turning a loving smile on him.
Luke grinned but was relieved that he could. ‘Good?’
‘Wonderful.’
‘You haven’t answered me,’ he breathed.
Rosemary squinted at him. Her heart skipped a beat. Warmth and hope blossomed within her chest and put a smile on her lips despite her exhaustion.
‘I adore you,’ she whispered, her voice shaking with the strength of her emotion.
‘Marry me,’ he pleaded. ‘Let’s turn this house into a home, our home. I love you so much that my life will never be complete without you in it. I need you by my side, with me, in my home, in my life. You are my life. You are what I have been searching for all my life. I knew what I wanted when I bought the place. I knew the second I first saw you that you were who I have been searching for all my life. Stay. Be with me. Forever.’
‘I should be honoured to be your wife. Together. Forever.’
Delighted, Luke swept Rosemary high into his arms for a very loving kiss. He didn’t release her even when his colleagues and her father smiled at them. He didn’t release her even when he kicked his way through the back door and carried her into the house. Luke didn’t release her for a long time after that; not until a future had been planned and it involved the house, their wedding, and how many children they were going to have. What they both knew was that their future was going to be full of love, laughter, and hope. It was their very own happy every after.
The End.
THE LOCAL HEROES SERIES (STAR ELITE)
LEICESTERSHIRE
RELEASED 2020
The regional branches of the Star Elite have never been busier. But when their adventures bring trouble to their homes, they face a whole new set of problems.
Join Joshua, Hamish, Luke, Daniel, Ronan, Peregrine, Dean and Grant as they battle fraud, murder, theft, and several rather inquisitive ladies whose penchant for trouble mean more headaches for the local heroes in this brand-new series.
The Honest and the Brave (Joshua – Annalisa) Available now
Damsel in Distress (Roger – Leonora) Available now
Once Before (Daniel – Tabitha) Available now
Righteous Rumours (Ronan – Geranium) Available now
A Very Dishonest Scandal (Luke – Rosemary) Coming September 2020
Midnight Capers (Dean – Peony)
Shameful Desires (Hamish – Leonora)
Consequences (Peregrine – Matilda)
TUPPENCE
Tipton Hollow Series – Book Three
RELEASED – SUMMER 2020
When Tuppence is arrested for a crime that she most definitely did not commit she knows her life is ruined. Facing trial for murder means she can never return to the life she once knew and loved, not in the small village of Tipton Hollow in any case. All right, so life there was a little boring, and left her yearning for something more in life, a little adventure maybe. But the kind of adventure Tuppence found herself in was something she wouldn’t ever dream possible in her worst nightmares.
Lost in a world of gaol, false
accusations, lies and broken trust, Tuppence is forced to turn to the last man she should ask for help. Her humiliation is complete when Isaac Chester, Lord Aldridge arrives to speak to her in prison before he tries to secure her release. She should be pleased he would help her try to gain her freedom but is embarrassed that this handsome, debonair man should see her in her darkest hour. Little does she know of his ulterior motive, or the personal reasons behind his decision to help her.
Can they find out who the real murderer is before Tuppence appears in court? While Isaac does find enough evidence that casts doubt on her presence at the scene of the crime and secures her release, keeping her out of gaol is a different matter entirely. The finger of the blame still points at her, and not even he can protect her. Life in Tipton Hollow swiftly becomes impossible for Tuppence, especially when another body turns up and all eyes turn to her once more.
What Tuppence doesn’t expect is to not only have to fight for her freedom but the burgeoning desire she has for the one man who has given her hope for the future.
Aware they can never have that future together, Tuppence must make a very brave decision, and it is one that leaves her heartbroken.
Tipton Hollow should be a normal, sleepy village hidden in rural England. However, sinister events begin to unfold which changes the lives of several of its residents and takes them on epic adventures of love, murder, lies and mystery. Join Harriett, Beatrice, Constance, Tuppence and Eloisa as they battle murderers, parsimonious gossips, and the men in their lives as they work to solve the mysteries that Fate hands them. Will they ever find the happiness they deserve?
Five dashing heroes meet five rather daring young ladies: a perfect combination for romance – or disaster.
OTHER BOOKS BY REBECCA KING
Further details of all of Rebecca’s books can be found on her website:
Rebeccaking-author.co.uk
THE STAR ELITE’S HIGHWAYMEN INVESTIGATION
Cloak and Dagger (Book One) Available Now
Sins of the Past (Book Two) Available Now
The Lover Switch (Book Three) Coming Soon
Loving the Enemy (Book Four) Coming Soon
Hopeless Romantic (Book Five) Coming Soon
Never the Twain (Book Six) Coming Soon
A Petty Problem (Book Seven) Coming Soon
Heartless (Book Eight) Coming Soon
THE HERO NEXT DOOR SERIES
The Honest and the Brave (Book One)
Damsel in Distress (Book Two)
Once Before (Book Three)
Righteous Rumours (Book Four)
A Very Dishonest Scandal (Book Five)
STAR ELITE – A NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS
Betrayal of Innocence (Book One)
A Spinster’s Awakening (Book Two)
Fallen Hero (Book Three)
The Runaway (Book Four)
Cold Comfort (Book Five)
A Terrible Misunderstanding (Book Six)
To Have A Heart (Book Seven)
For Love Alone (Book Eight)
DIVINE CLUB SERIES
Double Entendre (Book One)
Duplicity (Book Two)
SAVED BY DESIRE SERIES
One Penny Surprise (Book One)
To Catch A Thief (Book Two)
Mistaken Identity (Book Three)
A Scandal Most Daring (Book Four)
Hiding Rose (Book Five)
Reckless Desire (Book Six)
The Arrangement (Book Seven)
Hope’s Secret (Book Eight)
Runaway Groom (Book Nine)
OTHER BOOKS
Shattered Dreams
Lies and Misdemeanours
Eloisa’s Adventure
Wishing for Rainbows
Redemption
Devoted to You
Hopeless Heart
Catch A Falling Star
The Christmas Ball Affair
Marley’s Second Chance
Ghostly Endeavours
To Love and Love Again
Ghost of a Chance
Heart of an Angel
Shadows and Lies
Heart’s Desire
Adoration
Miss Florentine’s School for Investigators
TO HONOUR A WAGER SERIES
The Bet
To Honour A Rogue
The Enchantress – Coming Autumn 2020
TIPTON HOLLOW SERIES
Harriett (Book One)
Beatrice (Book Two)
Tuppence (Book Three) – Coming Soon
Constance (Book Four) – Released 2020
Eloisa (Book Five) – Released in 2020
STAR ELITE SERIES
Capturing Sir Dunnicliffe (Book One)
Smuggler’s Glory (Book Two)
His Lady Spy (Book Three)
Lord Melvedere’s Ghost (Book Four)
The Lady Is Innocent (Book Five)
My Lord Deceived (Book Six)
Captive Surrender (Book Seven)
Ghost of Christmas Past (Book Eight)
THE CAVENDISH MYSTERIES
If You Were Mine (Book One)
Cinders and Ashes (Book Two)
Chasing Eliza (Book Three)
The Gallows Bride (Book Four)
Lord Cavendish Returns (Book Five)
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Archie and the Battleflat Adventures: The Harriman Mystery
