Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

shocked.
    ‘“Experience is the best teacher and I benefit from what she has already learned,” he told me.’
    ‘I cannot believe it,’ I said. ‘Mrs Ashby seemed so adamant in her daughter’s defence. You were quite correct, Charlotte. Everybody lies.’
    ‘Yes, Jane, everyone does.’
    I sighed and said, ‘Unfortunately we have learnt little to help Miss Ashby.’
    Charlotte smiled and looked at me curiously. ‘You still wish to help her, with what you now think of her?’
    ‘You told Mrs Ashby that we would help regardless. Besides, from what you say, they are suited for one another, and yet you know that Mr Hickham would never consent to marriage were it publicly known.’
    ‘Lord and Lady M_ would never countenance that,’ Mrs Fitzhugh agreed.
    ‘Quite,’ Charlotte said. ‘However, Jane, you are incorrect to say that I have learned little. I learnt quite a deal of the young lord’s character. You will remember a moment of clumsiness during the dance?’
    I had hoped no one had noticed Mr Wallace’s clumsiness, but of course Charlotte would.
    ‘Do not blame your young man. Mr Hickham tripped Mr Henshaw who bumped into Mr Wallace.’
    ‘What?’ I said. ‘How uncouth!’
    ‘On the contrary, it was brilliantly done. I am sure Mr Wallace and Mr Henshaw are both blaming their own clumsiness when it is Mr Hickham to blame. In fact, I don’t know how he did it, for I did not see it, but the look of satisfaction on his face made his guilt clear.
    ‘I fear Mr Hickham is a contradiction. He appears on the surface affable and charming but underneath I suspect he can be petty and vindictive over such a little slight. I fear he uses people for his own ends without consideration of their … why are you both looking at me in that way?’
    ‘I really must get some refreshment,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘Will you accompany me, Jane?’
    ‘I should be happy to, Margaret,’ I said, and allowed her to lead me away from the puzzled Charlotte. In fact the rest of the night we tried to avoid looking directly at Charlotte and from that point Mrs Fitzhugh and I were fast friends.

The Winslowes Are Found
    ‘Get up, Jane. We have found them.’ I awoke to my friend violently shaking me and I cried out.
    ‘Oh for heaven’s sake, Jane, it’s me. Wake up. We have found the Winslowes and if we act, we may find the author of these letters.’
    I got out of bed to find Charlotte and Mrs Fitzhugh already dressed and awaiting me. Mary gave me coffee, which I greedily drank.
    ‘What time is it?’ I asked after a reviving sip.
    ‘It’s a little gone four,’ Charlotte said. I had been asleep merely an hour. ‘Get her into these clothes, quickly Mary.’
    ‘And why am I awake now? Oh my head, I think I had too much negus.’
    ‘Yes you did, now into this sleeve, Jane.’
    I shrugged them off and said, ‘I demand to know what is going on!’
    ‘I already told you, Jane. My little urchins have located the Winslowes and if we act, we may find out who is sending these letters and if possible, catch them in the act.’
    ‘Oh,’ I said, finally awakening. ‘That is another matter entirely. You may dress me, Mary, if I might have another sip of coffee first.’
    I was dressed while Charlotte related the events of the past hours. Shortly after our return from the ball, Donna and Charlie, the captains of our street Arabs, arrived at the servant’s entrance loudly demanding to be taken to Charlotte.
    ‘Luckily Mrs Hutton heeded my admonitions and they were brought to me. They had located the Winslowes here in Bath, living a stone’s throw from us in the Circus, but under the mother’s maiden name Hazelton.’ #
    ‘Extraordinary,’ I said. ‘Living under an assumed name. There is desperation there.’ I could not help but think of the times I wished I could live under another name to escape my father’s shame.
    ‘Not quite as it seems,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘Mrs Winslowe and daughter stay with the family of her brother, Mr Hazelton, his wife and their daughter.’
    ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘that explains it.’ I was a little disappointed that the explanation was so pedestrian.
    We were now walking downstairs. ‘Very well, I understand all this, but why must we go in the middle of the night? Can we not visit them in the morning as civilised people?’
    ‘We do not go to visit. We go to catch our prey. Hurry Jane!’
    —&—
    A few minutes walk brought us to the Circus where it intersects with Bennett Street