Charlotte House Affair 01 - My Particular Friend by Jennifer Petkus Page B

fallen to the floor, accounting for the sound.
    Charlotte laughed what I can only describe as a cackle, and said, ‘Oh, what brilliant children.’
    Mr Hickham tore off his mask and threw it to the floor. His face was flushed, as he looked left and right. We saw Mr King step forward as planned to confront and delay Mr Hickham.
    ‘Jane, we must hurry. Miss Winslowe has heard the commotion; you can see her by the tearoom. Now would be the perfect time. Yes, she has seen my signal.’ Charlotte turned to me. ‘We must go.’
    We hurried out the room. I could hear Mr Hickham’s voice cursing as we left and I wished to see and hear more, but I knew we must hurry. We had some difficulty exiting as the crowd pressed in, but soon found ourselves in the Small Octagon and then to the room Mr King had prepared. #
    We opened the door and immediately heard Mrs Fitzhugh’s voice. ‘It has started?’ she asked. ‘Indeed it has,’ I answered. We closed the door behind us and all was darkness until a candle was uncovered and we saw Mrs Fitzhugh step out from behind a screen. We ran to meet her and slipped behind the screen where Mrs Ashby was also waiting.
    ‘What is going on?’ Mrs Ashby cried.
    ‘Madame,’ Charlotte said in her voice that brooked no quarrel, ‘be silent. All will shortly be revealed.’
    Mrs Ashby’s protestations subsided and I quickly shed the Persian slippers and exchanged them for ones matching Miss Winslowe’s footwear. And Mrs Fitzhugh removed Charlotte’s armour with the release of a single clasp. She then helped me as I struggled to put on the headdress and outer garments that were the double of Miss Winslowe’s costume. Charlotte also produced another candle, lit it from the first and then lit two more candles in the room, only slightly relieving the gloom.
    While we were engaged, the door opened and I heard Miss Winslowe say, ‘He has seen me and is right behind me.’ I stepped out from behind the screen while Charlotte shepherded Miss Winslowe behind it, and then doused her own light and Mrs Fitzhugh’s candle.
    ‘Who is that?’ I heard Mrs Ashby ask from behind the screen, at least this time in a hushed tone. Mrs Fitzhugh quieted her.
    I arranged the veil that should conceal my face and then the door opened again and Mr Hickham entered, his body framed against the light without. He softly closed the door behind him and as he did, I wondered,
Where is the footman? And Mr King?
    ‘Is it you, Catherine?’ Mr Hickham asked softly with a coldness that drew me back.
    ‘It is, Frederick,’ Miss Winslowe answered for me from behind the screen.
    Mr Hickham walked toward me, forcing me to take another step until my back was against the screen.
    ‘Take another step and I scream,’ she said, her tone also cold.
    He stopped and drew himself up to his full height, and I felt very small.
    ‘Why do you accuse me with your letters? You have nothing to fear from me, Catherine. ’
    ‘You are right, for you have taken everything from me already, my maidenhood, my father’s life, but you have kindly left me a scar that reminds me every day of my foolishness.’
    I heard a small gasp, hastily smothered, from behind me, but luckily Mr Hickham did not notice. I, however, saw him take a slow step toward me that went unnoticed behind the screen. And I was powerless to say anything for fear of betraying our imposture.
    ‘Catherine, I am truly sorry for what has happened between us.’ He took another step. ‘Upon my honour as a gentleman, I wish that I could atone for what I have done.’ Another step.
    I heard an almost inaudible whisper behind me and then Miss Winslowe said, ‘A real gentleman … would not need to beat women … to summon his manhood.’
    Mr Hickham stopped again and said very quietly. ‘You will pay for that, you little bitch.’ Suddenly he lunged for me and I felt his hands around my throat. I fell backwards into the screen, which also fell. From behind the screen I heard Mrs