Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend

question Mr Haversham when he is able.’
    —&—
    Unfortunately we were unable to begin our investigation immediately. Mrs Fitzhugh calmly reminded Charlotte that it had been several hours since our last meal and that even though our travel had been swift and pleasant, she would benefit from a short respite and refreshment.
    In this she found a ready ally in me, and Mrs Streetham also insisted that we should be the better for some food. Clearly Charlotte and Miss Streetham wished no delay, but our compromise was that they should continue to converse while Mrs Fitzhugh and I had a hasty luncheon. I took the time to observe the demeanour of the servants employed by Mr Haversham, thinking their qualities might reflect on their employer and that Charlotte might be too engrossed with the young lady to notice.
    And I formed a favourable impression of the land speculator based on the solicitude of the servants. Obviously they did not know the reason for our visit but they sensed that we were well-wishers and several times professed their concern for their master. I also gained the impression that they too had little love for Edward Haversham, comparing their master’s behaviour to that of his brother. Mrs Streetham very properly admonished the servants for being so free with their opinions, but I could tell she was impressed that they shewed such concern for her future son-in-law. I also was impressed by their devotion when I realized that these servants probably had only known their master a short time, as they were presumably secured for his recent tenancy in Bradford.
    Finally we were ready for a visit to Mr Haversham’s office. Mr Dundas’s landau was sent for and Charlotte, Miss Streetham and I set off for St Margaret’s Street. I could not help but wonder if the town would have been my home had I been able to secure the position with Mrs Danvers. I found it charming overall but it paled beside Bath and was secretly happy Charlotte had intervened.
    We were quickly at the offices. We knocked and were met by the boy, Kenneth, who brought us inside to meet Mr Clarke, the partner. The offices were an untidy affair and not at all the image of a successful business. It had been a shop previously, with one room separated from the rest of the lower floor by leaded glass double doors. It obviously served as their office and was bestrewn with charts and maps and drawings tacked to the walls or laid out on a large table. Mr Clarke led us into the office that contained only two chairs. Miss Streetham took one of the chairs while Charlotte and I remained standing.
    ‘I am sorry I’m unable to offer better accommodations,’ Mr Clarke said. ‘As you can see we are crowded here. This is just one of several offices we have along the canal.’
    ‘You are a busy concern, sir,’ I said.
    ‘We are indeed,’ he said, displaying a twitch at the corner of his mouth that betrayed his worries.
    ‘Surely news of the new canal route must be devastating to your interests,’ Charlotte said, which I thought unnecessarily direct. She was surveying the office as she said her remark, making a slow circuit, her long fingers lightly brushing the cabinets and the table that held the many scattered maps and technical drawings. At one point she stopped to pick up a wadded ball of paper and place it in a overfilled box that was obviously used for refuse.
    ‘We shall weather the storm,’ he said, a twitch again betraying his emotions, as did the hand he put on the back of one of the chairs to steady himself.
    Charlotte stopped her circuit at the doors and bent down to peer at the lock. ‘A Bramah lock?’ #
    Mr Clarke left his place by the chair to join Charlotte. I took advantage of this to take the remaining chair and then produced my notebook and pencil stub from my reticule. I made a note of the lock with the thought of asking later the significance of her observation.
    ‘Yes, I suggested we install the lock.’
    ‘Of course,’ Charlotte said. ‘When was this?’
    ‘About two months previous.’
    ‘And who has the keys to the office?’
    ‘Only myself and Mr Haversham.’
    Charlotte nodded at this information and continued her inspection of the office, stopping at a large roll top desk, next to which on the floor sat a strongbox.
    ‘Miss Streetham, this is the office where you discovered Mr Edward awaiting his brother?’ She asked this question while crouched low in a rather undignified position in order to more closely inspect