Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

enough,’ Mr Wallace agreed, although his words were difficult to understand as he said them while eating another biscuit. ‘You know most people are at church and thus the duel avoids attention.’
    ‘You certainly are very hungry, Mr Wallace. Did no one offer you any refreshment?’ Charlotte enquired.
    Mr Wallace answered this with a sour look. ‘No, they didn’t. All I was offered was some very poor port by Mr Sunderland.’
    ‘Then we must find you something to eat before you faint from hunger. It can be your payment for a job well done, which praise I hope satisfies your two admirers.’

Miss Chivington’s Complaint
    The next day found us calling on Miss Chivington at an hour far too early to be considered social, but Charlotte wanted to meet with her before Miss Chivington began her own round of calls. And the information I had provided Charlotte from Mrs La Fontaine convinced her of the importance of meeting with Miss Chivington. Charlotte and I left on this task while Mrs Fitzhugh ran her own errands.
    Fortunately we found Miss Chivington at home and the card Charlotte handed the footman resulted in an audience.
    ‘Thank you for seeing me, Miss Chivington.’
    ‘You are very welcome, Miss House. It has been sometime since we last met and I am happy to renew our acquaintance.’
    ‘You were just out when we last met, I think,’ Charlotte said, which caused me to wonder again how old she might be. ‘I am happy to see how pretty you’ve become.’
    Miss Chivington blushed prettily at Charlotte’s praise. ‘You are too kind, Miss House. Now, your card said I might help you?’
    Charlotte nodded at this and said, ‘Yes, I think you are acquainted with a Mr Sunderland?’
    ‘I … I am well acquainted with Mr Sunderland.’
    ‘Are you aware that he is to fight a duel?’
    ‘Oh, when is he not involved in some such stupidity?’ She said this with sudden emotion and stood and turned away from us, and for a second it seemed she would leave us, only to slowly return to her seat. ‘You will forgive me. Mr Sunderland vexes me greatly.’
    After a pause, Charlotte said softly, ‘Some would not consider two duels excessive. Some would only think he is a man of honour.’
    ‘Only two fought, but how many times has he narrowly escaped it only by the intervention of wiser heads? And all to defend imagined slights upon his honour.’
    Charlotte used the opportunity to join her on the sopha and take her hand.
    ‘No, Miss Chivington, his honour, while an excuse for his umbrage, was not the original cause of this duel. He refused to acknowledge the claims of another man that a certain Miss Bassett is the most beautiful woman there ever was. And I believe he was unable to acknowledge it because he believes another deserves that description.’
    Miss Chivington gasped at this. ‘This is intolerable! That I should in any way be the cause of this!’
    ‘Your feelings do you credit. But what of your feelings for Mr Sunderland?’
    ‘Why, I have known him all my life. He is a good friend to my family. He is a …’
    ‘You fail to describe the most salient feelings. What do you feel for him?’
    ‘I … this is improper, is it not?’
    ‘Please Miss Chivington, do not hold your tongue. Time is of the essence. What are your feelings for him?’
    ‘I would love him, Miss House, were it not for his obstinacy and pride that makes him do unwise things.’ She said this with her head held high and with the full force of an earnest declaration, her face betraying her conflicting emotions of love and disapproval. I could have no doubt as to her feelings.
    ‘Have you told him this?’
    ‘Yes, on the several occasions on which he has asked me to marry. And he very recently asked me again, to which I said no for the same reasons.’
    ‘What day was this?’
    ‘Only two days before.’
    ‘What? He proposes to you on Thursday and on Friday he becomes embroiled in a duel?’ I asked.
    ‘Oh, do you think he was so upset over my refusal?’
    An approving look from Charlotte informed me my question was not inopportune.
    ‘It might seem that way, Miss Chivington,’ Charlotte said. ‘But you cannot blame yourself.’
    ‘Perhaps if I had …’
    ‘Stop! You must not think that! His decisions are his own.’
    ‘Oh, I wish he had never returned to Bath!’ she cried.
    I saw that information surprised Charlotte. ‘I was unaware he had been absent. When did he return?’
    She replied, ‘This Tuesday he arrived