Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

woman out.’
    I stared helplessly at her. The footman’s approach broke my inaction.
    ‘Please, Mrs Danvers, I do not understand. How could the position be filled?’
    ‘James, please show her out.’
    ‘Please miss,’ the footman said, not unkindly. He led me to the door and I stood without and felt my hopes crumble. It took me a full hour to return to Charlotte’s home.
    ‘Whatever is the matter?’ Mrs Fitzhugh asked me after I entered.
    I gave a weak smile and explained my trip to her and I confess I cried a little and she put her arms around me and let me put my head on her shoulder.
    ‘There, there. It was not meant to be this time, that’s all. Obviously the position was filled by another before you arrived.’
    ‘She gave me a look like I was some … some objectionable thing.’
    Charlotte entered the hallway.
    ‘What is all this?’
    ‘She did not get the position,’ Mrs Fitzhugh explained.
    ‘My dear Jane, I am so sorry. But all this means is that I should not lose your company. And remember, to-morrow night we meet Mr Hickham.’

We Meet Mr Hickham
    I started my preparations for the ball with a gloomy outlook, but Mary would have none of it.
    ‘Shouldn’t you be helping Miss House, Mary?’
    ‘No miss, Alice is helping her to-night.’ She said this with a tone that implied Alice’s help might be more of a hindrance. ‘Miss House said that I should help you to-night, that you might need some cheering up.’
    ‘Ah, so you have heard of my misfortune.’ I had long suspected that Charlotte’s relationship with Mary was unusually close for mistress and maid.
    ‘Yes, but in confidence of course, miss. And if you want to hear my thoughts, you’re better off here than as a governess.’
    I turned my head to look at her and Mary jumped back with the curling iron in her hand.
    ‘Careful, miss, this thing is hot.’
    I ignored her caution and asked, ‘And why am I better off here?’
    ‘You’re a lady of quality. I could tell that the first day we met. But a governess, she’s not fish or fowl. No one in a household ever likes the governess; and you’d be miserable, teaching some brat.’ She said all this quickly and then lowered her eyes and added: ‘miss.’
    I looked at her in amazement of her effrontery, but after a pause laughed a quick bark, not unlike Charlotte’s. Mary kept her eyes downcast but I could see a smile creep onto her face. I turned back toward the mirror and said, ‘Well, get a move on girl. I mustn’t be late for the ball.’
    —&—
    Inside the carriage on the way to the assembly rooms, Charlotte and Mrs Fitzhugh sat opposite me, both looking concerned.
    ‘You look so pretty, my dear,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said, for probably the third time that night. Charlotte nodded in agreement.
    ‘Thank you, both, and I am in much improved spirits. Mary worked her wonders on me,’ I said, looking steadily at Charlotte, who quickly assumed an attitude of nonchalance.
    ‘I certainly hope we meet Mr Hickham to-night,’ I said, wanting to move past my disappointment. ‘What do you know of him, Mrs Fitzhugh?’
    ‘As I said before, very little. I have met him and he is quite handsome and polite, paying me such little compliments as befits a more … mature lady like myself.’ At this, Charlotte gave an impolite laugh—a snort really—which we ignored.
    ‘Surely you have more details than that.’
    She sighed, and said, ‘He is in his late thirties but appears younger, about Charlotte’s height, dark colouring, when no one is watching he looks languid, almost torporous, but when he is noticed becomes very affable. He looks very intently at the person to whom he is speaking, like … like …’
    ‘Like Charlotte?’ I supplied.
    ‘Yes, that’s it, just like Charlotte.’
    And again we ignored a snort.
    —&—
    I shall not belabour the spectacle of yet another ball, except to say that the dancing was spirited, the gowns beautiful and the men charming, but in truth I did not notice any of this because I was too engaged trying to spot Mr Hickham. Perhaps my failure at securing a position had made me even more determined to apply myself as Charlotte’s assistant.
    But for most of the evening, my efforts were in vain. We soon found Mrs Ashby and her daughter, however, and I must admit her daughter’s character left something to be desired, as did her diaphanous muslin.
    ‘Miss House, I’m so happy you’re here. Mama has told me all about you and I’m sure you