Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

is that optimism mixed with melancholy that starts the New Year. And I suspect you miss your sister.’
    Her words produced a guilty start. To be honest, I had banished thoughts of my sister since her letter informing me that our Aunt Edith had proposed that she adopt Elinor. Of course I loved my Aunt Edith and could hope for no more happy home for Elinor, but I hated to contemplate the dissolution of my family. With my father and mother gone and Elinor to take the name Simonds, I would be the last Woodsen of my immediate family.
    ‘Yes,’ I lied, ‘she has been much on my mind.’
    ‘Perhaps I might speak to Charlotte about arranging for your sister to visit us.’
    I thanked her for the proposal, ashamed I had not thought of the possibility of Elinor visiting Bath. Admittedly it would be an imposition were I, who existed solely on her charity, to ask Charlotte such a favour, but the thought at least should have occurred to me. I felt my old life slipping away. Even the sad memory of that horrible season one year ago, as we watched my father’s fortunes quickly crumble, seemed distant. How quickly life can change for the better, I thought, but how important it is not to forget what came before.
    Thankfully Robert informing us that we had a visitor—‘Mr Charles Dundas’—interrupted these musings. His announcement produced both Charlotte, who had apparently overheard this information, and then our visitor. #
    Mr Dundas proved to be a pleasant man of at least fifty years, who bowed to us smartly and then took Charlotte’s hand. I looked to Mrs Fitzhugh for some clarification only to see the gentleman now making the same gesture to her. It was obvious that he was an old friend.
    ‘My dear Margaret, looking lovely as ever,’ I heard him say very solicitously, and I was surprised to see her blush. Clearly he was a man of some affability and forwardness to be addressing my friend by her first name, especially as he was married, as evidenced by my friend’s inquiry.
    ‘And how is Anne? And Janet? I had sent a letter in June, but …’
    ‘My dear wife was unwell this summer but has recovered. I must chide her for neglecting her friends. And Janet is as lovely as ever, and quite the favourite at every ball.’ As he said this, his eyes were upon me.
    ‘Charles, may I introduce our friend Miss Woodsen,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said, obviously still in a flush from his attentions.
    Charlotte added, ‘Jane, Mr Dundas is an old family friend. He and my father had mutual political interests, interests he now shares with my brother.’
    ‘It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Woodsen. You must be the particular friend Michael has mentioned. I am very pleased to know that Charlotte has a fast friend.’
    ‘Thank you kindly, sir,’ I replied, unsure what to say to this charming man. He was clearly a favourite with Charlotte and Mrs Fitzhugh and I suddenly felt like an outsider, and minutes before I had felt such a fixture in my friends’ lives.
    But Mr Dundas would have none of this. He sensed my reticence and for the next few minutes he employed his considerable charm on me, asking me about my family, noticing my discomfort and immediately changing to my observations about Bath and Charlotte and how did I like the weather and was the dancing pleasurable and did I notice the fashions that women were wearing? I did not notice this whole time that we had progressed to sitting and drinking tea, so captivated was I by Mr Dundas’s attentions.
    My surprise at finding myself so swept along by Mr Dundas must have been evident to my friends.
    ‘You have made another conquest, Charles,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘Beware this man Jane, he is a politician and a lawyer and a businessman. He most certainly cannot be trusted.’
    ‘Oh, I know your name!’ I said. ‘You are Mr Dundas of the canal company. I remember from the clippings.’
    He gave a slight nod at this. ‘It is gratifying to be recognized. And so Charlotte, you maintain your interest in the company?’
    ‘Of course, I like to see what you are doing with our money.’
    ‘Er, yes. Actually that is partly the reason for my visit. Which is principally to visit two lovely—now three lovely ladies—but also to ask your assistance for a friend. You have perhaps heard the calamity that has befallen Mr George Haversham?’
    Charlotte sank back in her chair to think a moment and said, ‘Yes, something about a realignment of the canal and a map. But how can I help with this?