Anne Perry - Callander Square

“Emily came this morning!” she said the instant she let go. “She has discovered something tremendous. Come in and I shall tell you.” It was almost an order, and she freed herself from his grasp and swept into the parlor, standing in the middle to watch his expression as she delivered the broadside.

He came in, his extraordinary face crumpled a little in apprehension.

“Emily has found out that Euphemia Carlton is having an affair with young Brandon Balantyne!” she said dramatically. “And that she is expecting a child!”

If she had wished to shock him, she was fully satisfied. His face went blank as he absorbed the information; then clouded a little with doubt.

“Are you sure she is not-” his eyebrows arched. “-indulging in gossip, a bit of scandalizing?”

“Of course she is indulging in gossip!” she said exasperatedly. “How else does one get information? It is for you to determine if it is true. That is why she came to me, so that I could tell you. It shouldn’t be difficult-” she stopped, as he was laughing at her. “What amuses you?” she demanded.

“You do, my dear. Where did Emily come by this invaluable piece of-gossip?” He moved over to the fire and sat down.

She followed him and knelt on the floor in front of him, commanding his attention.

“From Sophie Bolsover, who seemed to be quite unaware of its importance. And that is not all. Apparently Sir Robert is much older than Euphemia, and very grand and grim. And he has fair hair.”

“Fair hair?” Pitt repeated, looking at her; but his eyes were sharper now. Her heart bumped with excitement. She knew she had woken his interest.

“Yes!”

“I take it Brandon Balantyne is dark?”

“Very. You see?”

“Of course I see. Euphemia has the most beautiful red-gold hair and very fair skin. You would not know, but naturally, Emily will have told you!”

She smiled in great satisfaction.

He touched her cheek gently with his fingers, finding a loose strand of her hair; but his face was unusually stern.

“Charlotte, you must warn Emily to be careful. People in society care very much about their reputations; they matter to them more than we can understand. They may take it very ill if Emily meddles-”

“I know,” she assured him quickly, “I told her. But she will try to learn how long the affair has been going on, if it was already begun when the babies died.”

“No. Leave it for me to do. You must call on her tomorrow. Warn her again.” His hand fell and he gripped her shoulder as she stiffened with quick apprehension. “They are not likely to think her anything more than a nosy woman,” he went on, “with nothing better to amuse herself than gossip, but if Robert Carlton is powerful-”

“Sir Robert?” she was surprised, for a moment uncomprehending.

“Of course Robert, my dear. If he has been thrice cuckolded, he will not want the world to know of it! To be the subject of scandal is one thing, to be laughed at, quite another. Emily would tell you that!”

“I never thought of it.” Suddenly she was really unhappy. She could see Emily’s newfound glory eclipsed in a single, sweeping move. How idiotic they had been, playing at detectives. “I’ll call on her tomorrow morning. If she doesn’t listen to me, I shall tell George. He will make her.”

He gave her a small smile which she could not read.

“But the information is useful?” she pressed, harking back to her triumph.

“Oh extremely!” He was genuine in his appreciation. “It is even possible it will lead to the answer. The problem now is how shall I discover the duration of this affair, and if she has given birth to any other children?” He scowled in thought, growing fiercer as the answer receded.

“That’s easy,” Charlotte stood up, as her feet were getting pins and needles. “Speak to her lady’s maid-”

“Lady’s maids are extremely loyal,” he answered, “as well as needing to keep their employment! She is not likely to tell me her mistress is having an affair and has had two babies who have since disappeared!”

She turned at the table, wriggling her foot to wake it up.

“Of course not!” she agreed with disdain. “Not on purpose! Find out what size dress she takes, if she has lately increased her size, and if she did so two years ago and six months ago. Find out if the seams have been let out on her bodices. If I could look at them, I should soon tell you!”

Pitt smiled broadly.

“Is that not detection?” she demanded hotly. “And discover if she has visited the country.” She frowned. “Although since the bodies were buried in Callander Square, that is not likely.” Her face brightened again. “Discover if she has been ill, feeling squeamish or faint. Then if she has a good or bad appetite. If she has overeaten and put on weight, you are answered! Especially if she has had fancies for certain foods she does not normally care for. Look to the clothes yourself, and don’t ask the lady’s maid about the appetite and the fainting, or she will know well enough what you are thinking. Ask the kitchen maid about the food, and a parlormaid or someone about her health.”

He was still smiling.

She looked at him, then began to doubt herself. The advice had seemed excellent to her as she gave it.

“Is that not the right way?” she blinked.

“Most professional,” he agreed. “It makes me wonder how we have managed to solve crimes at all without women on the force.”

“I think you are laughing at me!”

“Most certainly. But I still think the advice is excellent, and I shall take it.”

“Oh good,” she relaxed and gave him a dazzling smile. “I should like to think I was helping.”

He burst out in spontaneous laughter.

The following morning Charlotte did as she had been bidden, and called upon Emily. She warned her very solemnly about the vengeance she might bring upon herself, and even upon George, if she stirred up gossip, however unwittingly, about Euphemia Carlton.

Emily heard her out with a calm, obedient expression, and duly swore to abandon the matter, and do no more than pursue her normal social round. Charlotte thanked her, and left with an unreasonable feeling that she had somehow failed. For one thing, it had been far too easy. She had seen no fear in Emily’s eyes to account for such sudden capitulation, but she could hardly ask for more than one promise to the same effect. She went home and gave the parlor a furious spring cleaning, although it was the first week in November, and beginning to rain.

Pitt returned to Callander Square, and at quarter past ten knocked on the Carltons’ door and asked if he might speak to the servants again. He was shown into the housekeeper’s sitting room, and the parlormaid was sent for.

“Come in.” Pitt sat down in one of the great chairs, so as not to tower over the girl. “Sit down. I hope this business has not distressed you too much.”

She looked at him with some awe.

“No, thank you, sir.” Then she thought better of it. “Well, I mean, yes, it is dreadful, isn’t it? I’m sure I don’t know who it can be!”

“And your mistress? I imagine it may have upset her also?”

“Not more than what pity you’d expect,” she replied. “Very well, she is. I never seen her look so well.”

“Not upset her appetite? Does, with some people, you know; ladies of a delicate disposition.”

“Lady Carlton ain’t delicate, sir, fit as an ’orse, she is, if you’ll pardon the h’expression. None of your fainting and vapors for her-at least-”

He raised his eyebrows in interested sympathy.

“Well, she did come over a bit queer a couple of times, but I reckon that’s her condition, if you take me. O Lor’,” she put her fingers to her mouth and stared at him with round eyes. “You got that out o’ me!”