Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

by the arm and pulled him to the door, which he immediately resisted, but remembering my first meeting with Charlotte, I looked him steadily in the eye and instead of pulling him I led him to the right of the door like a mother would her child and he obediently followed.
    I heard his small gasp as I flung open the door, which as it opened to the right concealed him.
    ‘A burglar!’ I said in alarm.
    ‘Yes, miss,’ the maid said in reply, somewhat startled by my cry and the rapid opening of the door. She looked over my shoulder and could easily see that my spare room contained no one. Fortunately the opened door almost met the wardrobe, hiding Mr Worcester from view.
    Inspired by my success with Mr Worcester, I reached out to grab the shoulder of the maid and draw her into the room, but she instinctively drew back.
    ‘Are you sure?’ I asked, releasing her shoulder and stepping out into the hallway, looking left and right with alarm.
    ‘It’s … I’m not sure. One of the guests heard a noise and Mrs Walthorpe wanted us to …’
    ‘Do you wish to check my room?’ I asked, adding more panic to my voice, and placing my hand behind her back, pushing her toward the open door. As before she resisted.
    ‘No, miss. I’m sure it’s nothing. I am sorry to have bothered you.’
    I thanked her and retreated to my room after first giving the hallway another theatrical inspection for her benefit. Upon re-entering my bedroom and closing the door, Mr Worcester began to pour out his thanks.
    ‘That was very quick thinking. I cannot thank you enough. My plan was to escape down the drainpipe outside my room but there wasn’t time before all these blasted servants began pouring out of the woodwork. Again, I thank you again and again.’
    ‘You are very kind, Mr Worcester. But would it not be best to adopt a firm policy with your aunt? Tell her that you have achieved man’s estate and that your choices are your own?’ #
    He looked at me with a wild surprise upon his face and said, ‘Why ever would I do that?’
    He was about to say further when he was again interrupted by a knock at the door and ran immediately to his place of concealment. However this time I heard Charlotte’s voice ask, ‘Jane, are you there?’
    I opened the door and saw my friend and behind her Mr Worcester’s valet.
    ‘Come inside quick,’ I said, bidding them enter and quickly closed the door.
    ‘Cheevers!’ Mr Worcester exclaimed once they had entered.
    His manservant replied with a nod and said, ‘It would be best to remain quiet, sir.’
    ‘Of course, of course, of course. Have you thought of a way out of all this? Is that why you are here?’
    The valet appeared somewhat downcast as he replied, ‘Alas sir, we are unable to restore you to your aunt’s good graces, however Miss House has found another means by which you might exit the house.’
    Mr Worcester looked at my friend, who said, ‘It is why we came here and chance has united us. I recalled there is a drainpipe immediately outside your window, Jane.’
    ‘A stout drainpipe?’ Mr Worcester enquired.
    ‘Serviceable.’
    Mr Worcester leapt to the window and lifted the sash.
    ‘That?’ he asked, his voice somewhat muffled as his head was outside the window. ‘Doesn’t seem very stout.’
    ‘I am afraid sir, that under the circumstances …’
    And yet again there came a knock at the door, but this time I heard the forceful voice of Mrs Walthorpe ask, ‘Miss Woodsen, may I come in?’
    In a flash Mr Worcester was out the window. Charlotte quickly lowered the sash and Cheevers was already in the corner vacated by his employer.
    Charlotte indicated I should open the door just as I heard a distant cry and the sound of a body falling to the ground.
    I opened the door and saw Mrs Walthorpe in the company of the maid from earlier.
    ‘Oh, Miss Woodsen, Miss House.’ She looked into the small room and seemed disappointed.
    ‘Please come in,’ I said. ‘Are you still looking for that burglar?’
    Mrs Walthorpe, however, remained outside in the hallway, and said, ‘What? Oh, no. The burglar was all in the imagination of this silly girl,’ she said, indicating the maid, who looked down at the floor. ‘I was actually looking for Cheevers, Albert’s manservant. This girl said she thought she saw him in this hallway.’
    ‘I passed him myself,’ Charlotte volunteered. ‘He seemed to be searching for Mr Worcester.’
    ‘Oh, and did you notice in which direction he