Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

proper for Mr Wallace to remain in a household of three women.’
    ‘Yes, of course, I know.’
    ‘I’ve sent a message to my sister, asking if I might yet again recuperate in her home. No doubt I will be gone when you return from your investigations.’
    ‘Jane, are you ready to leave yet?’ Charlotte asked upon entering the dining room. ‘The carriage has arrived. Oh, Margaret you are looking well. Will you accompany us?’
    ‘Yes, I think I am up to it. But give Jane a moment further to eat something. And have you eaten anything or are you as usual too excited?’
    Charlotte raised a dismissive eyebrow at our friend’s comment. I quickly ate some toast and a boiled egg and burned my mouth on coffee.
    ‘I’m ready,’ I said, losing a few crumbs as I spoke. ‘I hope you will recover soon, Mr Wallace, and I will tell you how we fare.’
    ‘You will be cautious. If Mr Simms is holding the woman against her will …’
    ‘Don’t worry, sir,’ Charlotte said, ‘I think Mr Simms will prove tractable. And now we must leave.’
    Which we did in our carriage, under fair and cold skies, yesterday’s rain a memory but for the muddy streets. The streets were busy and the driver proceeded slowly. Charlotte was annoyed by our progress.
    ‘It will take as much time as it takes, Charlotte,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said.
    ‘Yes, you have the house under observation. And if we arrive in a tumult, it would draw attention,’ I said.
    Charlotte relaxed a little at this.
    ‘Why don’t you tell Margaret of Charlie’s report?’
    ‘Yes, what draws us out?’
    Charlotte considered this and said, ‘Very well, the news is that in addition to the normal complement of the house and Mr Simms, the children have observed a woman, who matches our description of Mrs Brown.’
    ‘Oh, but can they be sure? May she not be some relative or a visitor?’
    ‘It is entirely possible, but I certainly hope it is her for I do not wish additional players in our drama.’
    Despite our slow progress, it did not take long before we were crossing Pulteney Bridge. Charlotte had the driver stop immediately after the crossing and we exited after giving the driver instructions to wait for us. We walked the remaining distance to the house and here we stood out a little for it was still too early for fashionable women to be shopping. It was a time for shopkeepers and costermongers and fishwives to be about but fortunately we attracted little attention, except for two children, a boy and girl, who approached us. I recognized the girl as Donna who immediately gave Charlotte her report . #
    ‘They’re still in there, miss. And one of us’s watching in back, too.’
    ‘Good,’ Charlotte said. ‘And the others have arrived?’
    ‘They’re here, but you can’t see ’em. If you cry out, we’ll know.’
    Charlotte nodded and motioned for the children to leave. In seconds it was if they had disappeared. Charlotte then led us to the milliner’s shop where Mr Simms had led Mr Wallace.
    ‘Jane, would you be so kind as to wait here—precisely here—while we go inside the shop.’
    Surprised at the unexpectedness of her request, all I did was nod while Charlotte and Mrs Fitzhugh entered the shop. A bell tinkled as they opened the door and through the window I could see a man at the counter put down his mug, obviously finishing his breakfast. He put the mug under the counter and awaited his customers. I could dimly hear Mrs Fitzhugh exchange a pleasantry with the man while Charlotte seemed to be busy examining the wares. She passed out of view and I wanted to move to observe her but remembered her ‘precisely here.’
    After a few minutes of waiting, I became bored and spent my time trying to spot the children who had us under observation when the door behind me opened. I turned to see Mr Simms.
    ‘Mr Simms!’ I said in surprise.
    He stopped short, his mouth open but without speaking a word. I heard the door bell tinkle again and my friends stepped out.
    ‘Ah, Mr Simms, just the man I was hoping to see for I have a few questions. If you might invite us inside I think we can see a prompt conclusion to this affair.’
    ‘Oh, Miss House. I was just stepping out … it is not convenient …’
    ‘Mr Simms, I know all. Now take us upstairs and introduce us to the woman I see looking down at us from above.’
    I looked up at her words and indeed saw a woman looking down at us, who stepped back from the window at my glance. How Charlotte knew she had