Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

House.’
    ‘Yes, well … ah, the carriage is here, and here comes Mrs Hutton with your coat, Mr Simms. Let us see if we can find what has happened to the future Mrs Simms.’

A Meeting with the Chairmen
    ‘I am sorry that we are meeting under … maybe you are not comfortable … I should not have …’ I faltered, unsure what to say to Mr Wallace who looked out the window of the carriage. He and Mr Simms sat opposite us with Charlotte on my right. Mr Simms sat staring vacantly while Charlotte was busily engaged looking out the windows and humming her maddening tune.
    Mr Wallace gave me a weak smile. ‘I admit I did not anticipate this, Miss Woodsen.’
    Charlotte gave a little sniff that I ignored.
    ‘But I am happy to be of service,’ he said, perhaps prompted to counter Charlotte’s displeasure. His smile brightened.
    ‘We are here,’ Mr Simms observed.
    We had arrived at the chairmen’s station on Northgate Street and found it occupied by two chairs and a cluster of men who sought shelter from the rain in the lee of a building. Mr Simms sprang from our carriage and ran toward the men while Mr Wallace helped us down and then held an umbrella to shelter us.
    ‘It is not them!’ Mr Simms cried as he returned to us. ‘These are not the men.’
    ‘Calm yourself sir. Let us see if these men know the men you engaged,’ Charlotte told him. She walked toward the men who straightened as she approached.
    ‘Excuse me; we seek the men whom this man earlier engaged. Are they about?’
    ‘What, Old Joe and Tom? Aye, they are,’ a young man said, ‘but they have a fare. Perhaps we can be of service.’ The other waiting chairmen eagerly agreed and surged forward and I noticed that Mr Wallace unconsciously moved to Charlotte’s side.
    ‘No, it is Old Joe then I need speak with,’ Charlotte said decisively, and ignoring Mr Wallace’s gallant gesture, she stepped forward and away from his protection. ‘They are the only other men who work this spot?’
    The men retreated apart from the young man who continued to address Charlotte.
    ‘Yes, just them.’
    Charlotte thanked the young man and quickly pressed a small coin in his hand that just as quickly disappeared into his pocket.
    ‘Perhaps we should wait in the carriage. Mr Simms please, you’ll only grow wetter,’ she said to the man who walked the street looking for the return of Old Joe, but finally she convinced him to return to the carriage.
    ‘Tell us how you met Mrs Brown, sir,’ I asked Mr Simms, hoping to distract his attention.
    ‘Oh, I met her in Bournemouth. Her husband died … two years previous I think it was, at sea on his return from America where he had business.’
    ‘And how did you come to Bath?’ Charlotte asked.
    ‘She has … family here. I am sorry that I am not more coherent,’ he said with a sob.
    ‘Steady on,’ Mr Wallace said, clumsily patting Mr Simms’s shoulder. ‘I’m sure Miss House will see through this mystery,’ he added uncertainly.
    Charlotte gave him a grateful nod at these words that was interrupted by Mr Simms saying: ‘They have returned!’ He sprang out the carriage and again we followed. Mr Simms was already in heated conversation with the men, even as they lowered their empty chair to the ground.
    ‘We told you before, the lady what got out was the lady what got in!’ the man I presumed to be Old Joe said to Mr Simms.
    ‘Please forgive my friend’s excitement,’ Charlotte told Old Joe, a wizened fellow whom one would have thought incapable of his duties. She stepped close to the man, Mr Wallace sheltering her with an umbrella. ‘If you would be so kind as to answer my questions, you will be amply rewarded.’
    Charlotte’s remark riveted Old Joe’s attention, who politely tipped his hat. ‘Anything I might do for you ma’am, ask away.’
    ‘Good, you obviously remember this man and the woman he put in your chair.’
    ‘Yes I do. Nervous fella and in a hurry, but they all are in weather like this.’
    ‘And did you stop anywhere between here and the register office?’
    ‘No, we went there straight away.’
    ‘And yet you arrived there late?’
    ‘Who says we were late?’
    ‘Let me rephrase that: you arrived there at the same time as this man.’
    ‘Yes, I guess we did.’
    ‘Did nothing delay you? There was not a disturbance or commotion?’
    ‘How did you know that? But it was nothing, just the usual trouble with too many chairs on the street and we had to help some lads