Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

direction taken by Mr Worcester and Mr Potterthwaite, adding that she believed Mr Worcester was headed to the stables. Our visitor nodded, said his thanks and ran off.
    ‘… laid the groundwork that will ensure their parents agree to the unions. Luckily I was able to make Mr Potterthwaite understand that applying immediately to Mr Stilton would not be prudent.’
    ‘I am afraid I did not find opportunity to make the same entreaty to my charge,’ I said.
    ‘Excuse me, Mrs Fitzhugh, have you seen Mr Worcester? I have some news for him,’ Miss Blankenship asked, whom I now saw standing at the drawing-room door.
    ‘I believe he said he planned to … uh … he was going to …’
    ‘Walk the maze,’ I supplied.
    ‘Really? The last time he went in a maze he was lost for days.’
    ‘Charlotte gave him a clue to navigate it,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said with a forced smile.
    ‘Uh … yes,’ Charlotte said, ‘always take the … second opening on the left, but not your left, the maze’s left relative to the entrance. That will lead you to the centre of the maze. And to find the entrance from the centre, always take the second right. You should have no difficulty in finding him.’
    ‘You’re sure? I shouldn’t want to be lost looking for him.’
    ‘Quite sure. I have made a study of mazes—the Deerfield Park maze is quite famous—and have even written a monograph on the subject.’ #
    ‘Oh, how clever. And you’re sure he’s in the maze?’
    ‘Positive,’ I said.
    ‘Thank you, sorry to disturb you. Miss House, Miss Woodsen.’
    After she left us Charlotte gave us both a nod. ‘That was very cunning of you. I may have to rescue her before dinner, however.’
    ‘It should keep her from speaking prematurely to her parents,’ I said. ‘And I think that leaves us with only one player unaware of our strategy.’
    ‘Yes, and unless Miss Stilton happens along in the next few seconds, I think you might undertake finding her and informing her of the continuing need for discretion.’
    —&—
    Miss Stilton did not appear and so I went in search of her. Directed by a maid, I found her at the lake feeding the ducks, or rather making large balls of moistened compressed bread and hurling them at unsuspecting fowl.
    ‘Oh, hullo,’ she said with a scowl as she aimed at a sleeping duck that had escaped her efforts so far. Fortunately for the duck in question, the bread ball crumbled in flight and spread crumbs over a large area, attracting the ducks that had earlier fled.
    ‘Stupid ducks,’ she said.
    ‘Miss Stilton, are you all right?’ I asked, concerned about her mood.
    ‘Oh yes, everything’s fine, apparently Potty’s talked to Bertie’s aunt and she has granted him the living. He just told me and dashed off.’
    ‘Oh, that is good news,’ I said brightly.
    ‘No it isn’t. I was being sarcastic. Inspired by this, I fear Potty will go to my father and ask for my hand and that is the last thing that I want.’
    I was nonplussed. I had been prepared to persuade Miss Stilton of the very course of action she was now advocating.
    ‘You mean you don’t want to marry Mr Potterthwaite?’
    ‘Of course I do, you ninny. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. But even with the living … I fear it won’t be enough. My parents may still object to Clarence.’
    ‘You could defy them.’
    ‘I could, but Clarence wouldn’t. He has too much honour about him.’
    She threw another ball of bread at the ducks but her heart wasn’t in it.
    ‘I do not wish to be rude, Miss Woodsen, but what are you doing here?’
    ‘Oddly enough, I wanted to ask that you keep Mr Potterthwaite from asking your father for his permission to marry. My friend Miss House hopes she might find some way to improve his chances of success, but it would be best not to act prematurely.’
    ‘Well, it’s too late. He’s probably gone and done it.’
    ‘No, when last I saw him, or rather heard him, he was still hoping to smite Mr Worcester, whom he had again chased up a tree. And if you will help me rescue Mr Worcester, perhaps I can help ensure that Mr Potterthwaite not speak to your father.’
    ‘H’m, you interest me strangely. Very well, I suppose I owe it anyway to Bertie to rescue him.’
    We left the pond and made our way back to the north lawn where as expected we found the two gentlemen in question, but I was also surprised to find Miss Blankenship, who apparently had not made it to the maze, and Mr Cuthbertson. The three of them were