Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

frankness, I should have not included you in the matter. But you arrived at such an opportune moment to act as my agent when I could not remain home, and I wanted to show you the happy outcome. However, with that caution, if you ask questions that I can in good faith answer, I will.’
    I sat quietly for a minute, arranging my thoughts before asking. ‘The parcel—the letters that you received—that was the impediment?’
    She also thought a moment before answering. ‘I confirm that to be a reasonable hypothesis.’
    ‘And the contents of the letters were such that …’
    She wagged her finger at me.
    ‘Very well,’ I said. ‘I think I can arrive at my own conclusion. But the means by which you obtained the letters?’
    ‘I cannot tell you the particulars, but you will in time meet some of those … er, means.’ She wrinkled her nose at the awkward construction and smiled. ‘I hope they will also place their faith in you as they have placed theirs in me.’
    ‘But why me?’ I asked, getting to the question that I had been too long in asking. ‘Why do you place your faith in me?’
    Miss House stood and smoothed her gown, turned away from me and walked about the room, stopping beside the miniatures of her brother and herself and lingering at the sketch I had noticed earlier.
    ‘I have no particular friend, Miss Woodsen. My position in society, my natural reticence and disinclination to favour the vain, stupid and petty have left me, apart from my brother, without a confidante.’
    ‘Mrs Fitzhugh …’ I supplied.
    ‘Is a dear friend and one in whom I have complete trust, but she is not a … she … she has never been desperate, except possibly from worry of me.’
    She put her hand on the mantelpiece, near the sketch. ‘But you have known sadness; I have felt it. You have thought your life and prospects were over. As have I.’
    I was startled that she should confide such to me, and that she should ever have been brought so low.
    She retook her seat. ‘In short, Miss Woodsen, I seek a friend with whom I can be honest and on whom I can depend and to whom I would provide the same benefit.’
    ‘I would be happy to be your friend, Miss House,’ I said.
    ‘Then perhaps you should call me Charlotte.’
    ‘And I should … would be happy were you … will be …’ I shrugged in frustration, and said finally, ‘Call me Jane.’
    We laughed and a bond of friendship was formed that although severely tested at times, has never faltered.
    I soon learnt my friend’s employment carried considerable burdens, although I know many women in society would find it odd to call them burdens. In the morning, we went out in the company of Mrs Fitzhugh and called at the homes of those who had announced a betrothal. But we also called at homes where Charlotte had anticipated an announcement and none had been published. We also called at homes that had suffered a bereavement or a good fortune to offer comfort or congratulations.
    And we did not restrict ourselves to homes of quality. As part of our good works, we visited many of meagre means and brought them such comfort as we could. It was obvious Charlotte was not unknown to these people and they welcomed her warmly, and she, to her credit, returned their warmth. But also in return, Charlotte would make clear, not through a base promise or threat but still undeniably, that she could expect those she helped to feel an obligation to her.
    Of course, we also received many callers. Most were merely the compliments of other members of society returning the favour of our calls. But some calls were prompted by the concerns of mothers who feared for their daughter’s prospects. In most of these situations, Charlotte merely reassured them, for in truth, most of these women fretted for no real reason. In some situations, Charlotte simply offered her advice. And in a very few situations, Charlotte offered to act on their behalf, but only after extracting assurances that her efforts would remain private.
    Our callers also included those who arrived by the servants’ entrance. Charlotte interviewed many cooks, maids and footmen under the fiction of employment—‘If I have one stain upon my character it is that I am accused of stealing good help’—but her actual goal was to learn the customs and tenor of their current or previous employers.
    In all her interactions, Charlotte’s attitude was always kind and friendly, but at times I noticed a certain detachment, as if