Read Online Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend by Jennifer Petkus - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Petkus
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earlier.
‘My apologies,’ he said after he caught up. ‘I was worried that you had left Bath.’
‘I was unwell for a time but have recovered.’
‘I was unsure where I might call.’
‘I stay with Miss House.’
‘Then I might call upon you?’
‘Yes,’ I said, quickly adding before another separation, ‘No. 1 the Royal Crescent. That is the address.’
All too soon the dance ended. Mr Wallace made his goodbye and promised again to call. Charlotte collected me and we returned to Mrs Fitzhugh.
‘Jane has reconnected with Mr Wallace,’ Charlotte told Mrs Fitzhugh.
‘He did not know where I lived,’ I said. ‘He wanted to call.’
‘Your spirits certainly have improved.’
‘There is nothing like the expectation of a man,’ Mrs Fitzhugh added.
I noticed the archness of their tone and said, ‘Yes, well, all right. And how did you enjoy your dance, Charlotte? Mr Hickham certainly shewed an interest in you.’
‘He is an excellent partner,’ she answered. ‘Let us find a place to sit and I’ll tell you of our conversation.’
We found seats and Charlotte started: ‘He repeated that he knew of me and of my employment. “You are the court of last appeal,” he said—I rather liked that—“but what need arises that involves you in my betrothal to Miss Ashby?”
‘I told him that it was merely coincidence that we met and that I was surprised that we had not met earlier.
‘“Oh, but I have heard you are a dangerous woman, Miss House,” he said—I rather like that as well—“and it is not wise to make the acquaintance of dangerous women.” Utterly charming and designed to put me off my guard, which I am embarrassed to say it did.’
‘Did you get the impression that he is aware of the letters?’ Mrs Fitzhugh asked.
‘No, I am certain he is not, although I naturally did not broach the subject directly. He did give me to understand that he is quite aware and forgiving of Miss Ashby’s … outgoing nature.’
‘Indeed!’ I said, shocked.
‘“Experience is the best teacher and I benefit from what she has already learned,” he told me.’
‘I cannot believe it,’ I said. ‘Mrs Ashby seemed so adamant in her daughter’s defence. You were quite correct, Charlotte. Everybody lies.’
‘Yes, Jane, everyone does.’
I sighed and said, ‘Unfortunately we have learnt little to help Miss Ashby.’
Charlotte smiled and looked at me curiously. ‘You still wish to help her, with what you now think of her?’
‘You told Mrs Ashby that we would help regardless. Besides, from what you say, they are suited for one another, and yet you know that Mr Hickham would never consent to marriage were it publicly known.’
‘Lord and Lady M_ would never countenance that,’ Mrs Fitzhugh agreed.
‘Quite,’ Charlotte said. ‘However, Jane, you are incorrect to say that I have learned little. I learnt quite a deal of the young lord’s character. You will remember a moment of clumsiness during the dance?’
I had hoped no one had noticed Mr Wallace’s clumsiness, but of course Charlotte would.
‘Do not blame your young man. Mr Hickham tripped Mr Henshaw who bumped into Mr Wallace.’
‘What?’ I said. ‘How uncouth!’
‘On the contrary, it was brilliantly done. I am sure Mr Wallace and Mr Henshaw are both blaming their own clumsiness when it is Mr Hickham to blame. In fact, I don’t know how he did it, for I did not see it, but the look of satisfaction on his face made his guilt clear.
‘I fear Mr Hickham is a contradiction. He appears on the surface affable and charming but underneath I suspect he can be petty and vindictive over such a little slight. I fear he uses people for his own ends without consideration of their … why are you both looking at me in that way?’
‘I really must get some refreshment,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘Will you accompany me, Jane?’
‘I should be happy to, Margaret,’ I said, and allowed her to lead me away from the puzzled Charlotte.
‘My apologies,’ he said after he caught up. ‘I was worried that you had left Bath.’
‘I was unwell for a time but have recovered.’
‘I was unsure where I might call.’
‘I stay with Miss House.’
‘Then I might call upon you?’
‘Yes,’ I said, quickly adding before another separation, ‘No. 1 the Royal Crescent. That is the address.’
All too soon the dance ended. Mr Wallace made his goodbye and promised again to call. Charlotte collected me and we returned to Mrs Fitzhugh.
‘Jane has reconnected with Mr Wallace,’ Charlotte told Mrs Fitzhugh.
‘He did not know where I lived,’ I said. ‘He wanted to call.’
‘Your spirits certainly have improved.’
‘There is nothing like the expectation of a man,’ Mrs Fitzhugh added.
I noticed the archness of their tone and said, ‘Yes, well, all right. And how did you enjoy your dance, Charlotte? Mr Hickham certainly shewed an interest in you.’
‘He is an excellent partner,’ she answered. ‘Let us find a place to sit and I’ll tell you of our conversation.’
We found seats and Charlotte started: ‘He repeated that he knew of me and of my employment. “You are the court of last appeal,” he said—I rather liked that—“but what need arises that involves you in my betrothal to Miss Ashby?”
‘I told him that it was merely coincidence that we met and that I was surprised that we had not met earlier.
‘“Oh, but I have heard you are a dangerous woman, Miss House,” he said—I rather like that as well—“and it is not wise to make the acquaintance of dangerous women.” Utterly charming and designed to put me off my guard, which I am embarrassed to say it did.’
‘Did you get the impression that he is aware of the letters?’ Mrs Fitzhugh asked.
‘No, I am certain he is not, although I naturally did not broach the subject directly. He did give me to understand that he is quite aware and forgiving of Miss Ashby’s … outgoing nature.’
‘Indeed!’ I said, shocked.
‘“Experience is the best teacher and I benefit from what she has already learned,” he told me.’
‘I cannot believe it,’ I said. ‘Mrs Ashby seemed so adamant in her daughter’s defence. You were quite correct, Charlotte. Everybody lies.’
‘Yes, Jane, everyone does.’
I sighed and said, ‘Unfortunately we have learnt little to help Miss Ashby.’
Charlotte smiled and looked at me curiously. ‘You still wish to help her, with what you now think of her?’
‘You told Mrs Ashby that we would help regardless. Besides, from what you say, they are suited for one another, and yet you know that Mr Hickham would never consent to marriage were it publicly known.’
‘Lord and Lady M_ would never countenance that,’ Mrs Fitzhugh agreed.
‘Quite,’ Charlotte said. ‘However, Jane, you are incorrect to say that I have learned little. I learnt quite a deal of the young lord’s character. You will remember a moment of clumsiness during the dance?’
I had hoped no one had noticed Mr Wallace’s clumsiness, but of course Charlotte would.
‘Do not blame your young man. Mr Hickham tripped Mr Henshaw who bumped into Mr Wallace.’
‘What?’ I said. ‘How uncouth!’
‘On the contrary, it was brilliantly done. I am sure Mr Wallace and Mr Henshaw are both blaming their own clumsiness when it is Mr Hickham to blame. In fact, I don’t know how he did it, for I did not see it, but the look of satisfaction on his face made his guilt clear.
‘I fear Mr Hickham is a contradiction. He appears on the surface affable and charming but underneath I suspect he can be petty and vindictive over such a little slight. I fear he uses people for his own ends without consideration of their … why are you both looking at me in that way?’
‘I really must get some refreshment,’ Mrs Fitzhugh said. ‘Will you accompany me, Jane?’
‘I should be happy to, Margaret,’ I said, and allowed her to lead me away from the puzzled Charlotte.
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