Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

relatively easy task. But now they prepared to move Mr Wallace from the study to the chair. They helped him to stand although it was now evident that his leg could not bear weight without considerable pain.
    ‘Please pardon my outbursts. I … Ow! … I am most dreadfully … Damme that hurts!’ He said this last comment on the occasion of his foot hitting the doorway.
    ‘Please mind the gentleman,’ Robert advised.
    ‘Not their fault Robert,’ Mr Wallace said charitably, as they eased him into the chair. ‘Thank you,’ he said after he sat.
    ‘Up with him now, lads,’ Robert ordered.
    They took either ends of the poles supporting the chair and walked with their burden to the stairs. What seemed easy coming down with an empty chair, however, now looked more daunting going up. Fortunately they were very strong young men and under Robert’s guidance successfully negotiated the stairs. They brought Mr Wallace to the third floor and with a great deal of puffing and heaving and not a few more oaths, we watched him helped into his room.
    ‘Goodnight, Miss House, Mrs Fitzhugh, Miss Woodsen,’ he said, while still upright.
    ‘Goodnight, Mr Wallace,’ we three said almost in unison.
    The two men deposited Mr Wallace on his bed after which Robert rewarded them and obtained their promise to help on the morrow.
    Robert informed us that he would help prepare Mr Wallace for bed and ordered Alice to see our helpers out the house. Looking around, I realized that our journey had also attracted the attention of both Alice, Mary and Mrs Hutton, although once my glance caught the attention of our housekeeper she promptly chased Mary and Alice downstairs before herself descending.
    ‘My opinion of your Mr Wallace has completely changed, Jane,’ Charlotte said to me. ‘I find him vastly entertaining.’

Mr Simms’s Confession
    The next morning as I walked downstairs for breakfast I heard Charlotte speaking in the library. As the door was open, I looked inside and saw Charlotte talking to a small boy I recognized as one of the urchins in her employ.
    ‘You are quite sure, Charlie?’
    ‘Yes, miss. The milliner and his wife, two servants, Mr Simms and another woman.’
    ‘And this other woman?’
    ‘Donna didn’t see much, just a woman looking out a window. She had brown hair and … well, Donna said she looked sad.’
    ‘Thank you Charlie. Mrs Hutton has some Sandwiches you may take to the others. Standing watch is hungry work. Now off with you, and alert the others as I asked.’
    Charlie left hurriedly after giving me a tip of an imaginary hat like a proper gentleman.
    ‘You have news?’
    ‘H’m? Yes, Jane. I think we know the location of the missing Mrs Brown. Perhaps after you have breakfasted, we can pay her a visit.’
    ‘I will be ready in a few minutes,’ I assured her, and hurried to find something quick to eat. I found Mrs Fitzhugh and Mr Wallace already finished. At this I was surprised, for I had anticipated that I should be made aware of Mr Wallace’s descent down our stairs, and how he had effected this without the hullabaloo of the previous night was a wonder.
    ‘Good morning, sir. I am very surprised to find you here before me. I had thought I might attend to your … expedition down the stairs.’
    ‘I am sorry to have robbed you of the entertainment, but my ankle is much improved and with Robert’s help and this stick I was able to descend without the aid of a chair and two stout lads,’ he said with a smile and a bow.
    ‘Well, how disappointing, but I suppose I must take some solace that you are well. As I suspect are you Margaret,’ I said, turning to my friend.
    ‘I am feeling well. I think I am recovered from my cold.’
    ‘Do I understand there are developments regarding Mr Simms?’ Mr Wallace asked.
    ‘Yes, Charlotte thinks Mrs Brown has been found in the house where you followed Mr Simms. We shall go there directly after I have had something to eat.’
    ‘Oh ho! The plot thickens. Perhaps she is being held against her will?’ #
    ‘No, that cannot be. I subscribe to Charlotte’s opinion—outlandish as it is—that both Mr Simms and Mrs Brown hatched this plot. You think differently?’
    ‘I may be indulging in a flair for the dramatic I did not know I possessed. I hope you will apprise me of further developments.’
    ‘But … you are leaving?’ I asked, knowing full well the necessity of his departure.
    Mrs Fitzhugh coughed and said, ‘Jane, it would hardly be