Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

travelled?’
    ‘He said that he would be returning to Mr Worcester’s room to pack for his master.’
    ‘Did he? Well, I must detain you no longer. Good night.’
    We would have bid her good night in return but she left abruptly with the maid in tow. I closed the door.
    ‘Pardon me,’ Cheevers said as he went to the window, opened it and looked outside. He brought his head back inside, closed the window and turned to us with a smile so faint it might be a trick of the light.
    ‘Mr Worcester is unharmed?’ I asked.
    ‘That I cannot say, but I see no sign of him below, miss. Thank you for your concern and may I thank you also for the assistance you have leant Mr Worcester.’ He bowed to each of us.
    ‘You’re very welcome,’ Charlotte said, ‘although you may now find it difficult to pack your master’s things.’
    ‘I had already taken the liberty of packing and dropping Mr Worcester’s belongings out the window. Now with your permission I shall withdraw and …’
    But Charlotte stayed him by placing her hand upon his shoulder, an intimacy people of their stations would not normally share.
    ‘Before you leave, I must ask if “Dunny-on-the-Wold” is the secret with which you commanded Sir Walter and Mr Stilton to agree to their daughter’s unions?’
    She took her hand from his shoulder. The shadow of a smile again ran across his face—‘It would not be wise for me to say, ma’am’—and was gone.
    Charlotte also displayed her quick, tight smile. ‘Ah, perhaps I should have asked whether you are aware that Dunny-on-the-Wold is a notoriously “rotten borough?”* My brother Michael has had occasion to mention it to me. It has but one occupant, a very elderly man if I recall.’ #
    ‘Perhaps I do recall your brother mentioning the borough, on the occasion of his dining at Mr Worcester’s home. Although I might correct you in saying that it contained but one
constituent,
the man you mentioned who at 92 may be considered elderly,
and
his comparatively younger wife, aged 81.’
    ‘Well it is a small world. Yes, I recall asking my brother what should happen to the borough should that very elderly man die. And do you know what he told me?’
    ‘No, ma’am.’
    ‘He said it would be abolished and it would lose its representation.’
    ‘On that I might reassure you, for I have heard that the population of the borough in question has increased, despite rumours as to the passing of the gentleman to whom you refer.’
    ‘That is good news indeed then for Mr Stilton, for I believe that is the constituency for which he stands. So the population has increased, you say?’
    ‘Yes, I believe the town now boasts five and twenty, owing no doubt to the fecundity of its residents. And by a rare coincidence, the new residents are employed by the company owned by Sir Walter.’
    At this a slow, full smile spread over Charlotte’s face.
    ‘No doubt. Thank you, Cheevers. You now have my permission to leave, although I might add before you go that our interests will not always run parallel. Mr Worcester is after all, a young gentleman in possession of a large fortune and if there were
ever
a young man in want of a sensible wife …’
    ‘Quite so, Miss House. I look forward to our next meeting.’ With that, Cheevers left, the door behind him closing with nary a sound.
    —&—
    We announced our intention to leave Deerfield Park the next day. To her credit, our hostess pleaded that we should remain despite the ruination of her plans to see her nephew married.
    ‘My dear Mrs Walthorpe, we really should be going home. I am terribly sorry that your hopes for your nephew have gone awry.’
    ‘Thank you, Miss House, but I suspect Miss Stilton would not have made a suitable match for Albert. She is a trifle … high spirited. And I am actually more hopeful than ever that Albert might find a suitable wife.’
    ‘Really, why is that?’ Mrs Fitzhugh asked.
    ‘Upon questioning my guests, I have ascertained that Albert was engaged to both Miss Blankenship and Miss Stilton. Surely being engaged to two women shows he is not averse to the prospect of marriage. Perhaps next time … if only I could separate him from that man of his.’
    ‘Cheevers?’
    ‘Yes, Miss House. That man has kept Albert a bachelor for far too long. It is in his own best interest after all that Albert remains unmarried. Oh well, it is too much to hope for. Thank you again for remaining here. And my best wishes to your brother.’
    I