Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

yourself too comfortable. Mr Wallace, if you would accompany me?’
    Mr Simms also made to leave but Charlotte stopped him.
    ‘Please sir, remain with my friend and give her your address and that of Mrs Brown and also a detailed description of Mrs Brown … kindly omitting any subjective impressions.’
    I was surprised to be left behind but also grateful to remain sheltered. I obtained the information Charlotte had asked and entered it my journal, although it was clear Mr Simms would have preferred to accompany Charlotte. He watched intently as Charlotte inspected the buildings with Mr Wallace attending her by holding the umbrella over her head. I also saw them walk to the door of a house and knock and ask questions of the person who answered. After five minutes they returned, Charlotte giving instructions to our driver to return us home.
    ‘What did you discover?’
    But Charlotte shook her head and said, ‘Nothing I’m afraid. We will return home. You look chilled to the bone, Jane.’
    ‘Then you have found nothing that will help me?’ Mr Simms asked her.
    ‘At the moment, no, but I have high hopes that this mystery will be solved.’
    We returned to Number 1 a downcast lot. Mr Wallace said nothing; Mr Simms occasionally asked Charlotte if there were any hope; and Charlotte reassured Mr Simms, although in fact she did not offer much hope. I grew colder, disheartened that for once Charlotte seemed to be at a loss.
    At the house, Charlotte sent Mr Simms on his way with assurances that she would work tirelessly on his behalf. He left even more dejected than when he arrived, crushed no doubt by my friend being unable to help him.
    ‘How very sad that we were not able to help,’ I said after he had left. ‘But we can still entertain you, Mr Wallace.’
    ‘I’m afraid Mr Wallace must go,’ Charlotte said with sudden decisiveness at odds with her previous pessimism. ‘Remember, remain close but do not be spotted,’ she said to that gentleman.
    ‘I will do my best.’
    ‘With any luck you will be relieved by my agents and you may report back to me.’
    ‘What? Where are you going?’
    ‘I’m sorry Miss Woodsen, he may already be out of sight.’ He took my hand, squeezed it awkwardly for he must use his left hand, and was out the door before I could say anything to prevent his leaving.
    ‘A very useful man,’ Charlotte said.
    ‘You! What have you done?’
    ‘Oh you’re back. What did you … what’s going on here?’ Mrs Fitzhugh asked as she came down the stairs.
    ‘Charlotte made Mr Wallace leave!’
    ‘I did nothing of the sort! Well, no I guess in all fairness I did. He is in my employ, Jane. He is following Mr Simms.’
    ‘What!’
    ‘Jane, don’t shout!’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘You’re both soaked. Alice! Get more towels and then you two tell me what is going on.’ She commanded us into the drawing-room and we sat.
    Charlotte bore a superior smile and said, ‘I’m sorry Jane, but I needed your Mr Wallace to follow Mr Simms. All is not as it seems.’
    ‘I don’t understand. What is not as it seems?’
    ‘This whole outrageous story. It seems designed to draw attention to itself. If the purpose is to abduct Mrs Brown, why not take her in a more quiet manner? And you will notice how readily Mr Simms adopted any of my embellishments such as the theft of his purse and also his desire to avoid the information that he and the chairmen arrived at the Guildhall at the same time.’
    ‘Then you doubt she was … abducted.’
    ‘Yes, I think it unlikely.’
    ‘What do you think happened Charlotte?’ Mrs Fitzhugh asked, but Alice returning with more towels prevented Charlotte’s reply, followed afterward with Robert bringing a tray.
    ‘At first I was confused,’ she finally said after we were wrapped in towels and drinking coffee. ‘But once the chairmen said that they were delayed at Trim Street and left the chair it made sense. I had already considered two possibilities: that Mrs Brown and Mrs Mulberry switched chairs, or that the chairmen had switched chairs. After our conversation with Old Joe and Tom, I knew it was the latter.’
    ‘You mean they are accomplices?’
    ‘Those two worthies? No, they are at best unwitting accomplices. As confirmed by young Tom, their chair is of a type that’s rather common. They are numbered by the Bath Corporation and it may be some time … or until I inform them … before they are aware their chair now bears the number sixteen.’