Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

leave. I was looking for Mr Worcester, for I wanted to wish him happiness.’ And I made to leave for the door.
    ‘Happiness for what?’
    I stopped and said, ‘Why, for his engagement to Miss Stilton. She has decided after all to hold him to his promise in light of your refusal … why, you look unwell. What have I said?’
    He had sat down and was holding his head in his hands and rocking back and forth.
    ‘I have lost her!’ he said with a groan. I ran to his side and knelt beside his chair.
    ‘But surely you have only yourself to blame? I do not believe Mr Worcester loves Miss Stilton. In fact he told me that he finds her … socially inferior … but that he will nevertheless stand by his promise of marriage.’
    ‘That fiend! And I worship the very ground she walks on, while he is not fit to touch the hem of her dress.’
    ‘Well, I’m sorry that I cannot comprehend your dilemma. My understanding from Miss Stilton is that she would readily accept your offer were you to simply ask Mrs Walthorpe for the living.’
    ‘But I am not yet finished offering her delicate compliments.’
    ‘The time for delicate compliments is over, sir.’
    He groaned again. I began to find my position and the retelling of his tale somewhat tedious, but I resisted the urge to hurry him along. Finally he said, ‘You do not know the fear she inspires in me. She reminds me of my own Aunt Agatha, a fearsome woman who … no, I cannot even repeat it.’
    I stood and asked him, ‘Did Daniel lose his courage in the lion’s den? Did Shadrach, Meshach or even Abednego quail in the fiery furnace? No they did not, for they had their faith to support them, as you have the image of Miss Stilton to support you.’ #
    ‘Yes, you’re right, Miss Woodsen.’
    ‘I saw Mrs Walthorpe in the drawing-room talking with my friend Charlotte. Mrs Walthorpe seemed in a most amiable and receptive mood to me. Why, I recollect that I heard her speaking quite highly of you. Were I you I would speak with her immediately.’
    ‘You really think I should?’
    ‘Yes, I do, although you might not want to mention your intentions toward Miss Stilton. And it might be as well if you ask Mrs Walthorpe for the living while Charlotte is there. As a matter of fact, she would make an excellent witness were you to commit an agreement to paper.’
    Next I searched for Mr Cuthbertson, whom I found in the arboretum. He had changed clothes and did not seem the worse for his accident, save that he wore a bandage about his head, concealed under a green turban that I thought an affectation. ‘Good day, Mr Cuthbertson.’
    ‘Oh, hullo. You are …’
    ‘I am Miss Woodsen. Pardon me, I know we have not been introduced, but I wanted to see if you were feeling better.’
    ‘That is kind of you, but do not fear for me. It was nothing. It takes more than a dratted Worcester to take me down.’
    ‘You are not fond of Mr Worcester? He seems a charming man.’
    ‘Ha! He is a snake.’
    ‘Really? He claims you are old friends.’
    ‘Friends! Would a friend steal the woman you love? Would he try to kill you?’
    ‘The woman you love? Who is that? I beg your pardon, it is an impertinence to ask.’
    ‘No, I don’t mind. In fact, I want … I need to tell someone and it might be easier with … no, it would not be proper.’
    I nodded my understanding and waited, hoping his need to speak would outweigh his reticence. I was quickly rewarded.
    ‘I love Evelyn,’ he said quickly and then looked about guiltily. ‘There, I have said it.’
    ‘Oh, I believed you indifferent to her.’
    ‘Indifferent!’ He leapt up. ‘I worship her. What makes you think I am indifferent to her?’
    ‘I am sorry, I had not noticed love in your eyes when you looked at her, unlike her expression … no, it is not my place to tell,’ I said with a coy glance out the drawing-room window, where Miss Blankenship stood, as I had ascertained before entering the room. He looked out the window as well and then back to me, and then to her again before returning to me.
    ‘She has said something to you?’
    I nodded. ‘I noticed her alarm when you were wounded. I could tell she cares about you deeply. After you left, I sought to comfort her and I asked her about you. She said that while friends, you had never given her reason to believe that you held a true affection for her.’
    ‘Oh, agony!’ he cried and threw back his head, making the points of his moustaches point downward. He paced about the