by Wendy Gill
Ella jumped up and taking a couple of the spare pillows from the ottoman under the window, she laid them across the seat.
Mr Grundy and Ella helped PC Keyser swing his legs over the side of the bed and supported him when he tried to stand up. He leaned heavily on Mr Grundy but managed to take a couple of limping steps and sit down on the cushioned chair.
"I am going to get changed out of my lovely dress and get something ready to eat for when Charlie gets back home. We had a very nice meal at Mr and Mrs Moyers’ after the wedding so I am just going to do some bread, butter and cold meats for tea.
“I don’t think Jackson and Blanche will be coming so I will bring the meal up here and keep you both company. When Charlie gets back you might find something out to your advantage,” Ella told them.
While Ella set about in the kitchen, Mr Grundy and Ruth dismantled a table that was in Aunt Fran’s workshop and reassembled it up in the sickroom. Five places were set, and more chairs brought up and the only thing missing was Charlie.
Thirty minutes before Charlie arrived home, Jackson and Blanche made an unexpected appearance.
“Blanche, Jackson, I was not expecting you tonight. Will you be stopping for something to eat? I have only done some bread and butter and cold meats, but you are more than welcome to stay.”
“If it is not inconvenient Ella, we would love to stay and have a bite with you, it will round our day off nicely. Really, we have come to see if Charlie has heard anything about the two intruders, as well as begging a free meal of course,” Blanche grinned at Ella, “it is our wedding day after all.”
“I was just about to take the food next door. It would not take long to cut some more bread and there is plenty of cake and biscuits to finish with. You know you are most welcome anytime, both of you. If you want to go next door and see the patient, please feel free to pop along and take some of this food with you while you are going up. Charlie is not here yet, but we are expecting him anytime.”
“I will stay and help you,” Blanche said.
“You will do no such thing. It is your wedding day, go and relax and put your feet up, play with the baby to get some practice in. I will join you when Charlie arrives.” Ella pushed them both out of the kitchen.
Ella had just finished cutting some more bread when Charlie walked in. He looked around the kitchen and enquired, “Are you on your own?”
“Yes, I am. Blanche and Jackson turned up, so I have sent them next door. I was just cutting some more bread. Jackson took the meat plate with them and Blanche a plate full of cakes. I am pleased you are back you can help carry two more chairs next door then we can all sit and listen to what you have found out while we munch away.”
Charlie made no comment but went around the table, took Ella in his arms and kissed her.
“I have been longing to do that since the first time I took you in my arms, you made a lasting impression on me, Ella Penrod, and it is just as nice to hold you in my arms now, as it was then. I look forward to repeating this action many more times, if you have no objections that is,” he looked down at her flushed face.
“I shall look forward to it too, but now I think the patient and his daughter will be ready for something to eat. As it is Blanche and Jackson’s wedding day, let’s not keep them waiting. Grab the chairs would you, Charlie? I will bring the bread and some more cups. I don’t think you will have enough to go around.”
“I might do as you ask, for a price?”
“And what is that?”
“This!” and he kissed her soundly one more time.
Charlie went out and into his own home carrying two chairs, one placed upside down on top of the other and he headed upstairs. Knocking on the bedroom door with his booted foot, Jackson was the one who opened it and let them both in.
“Thank you, Jackson. Not too much of a strain on your back is it, opening the door? I don’t want Blanche having to look after an invalid on her wedding night.” Charlie grinned.
Jackson chose to ignore the remark and after Ella had entered the room, he slammed the door shut behind them.
During the cold meal, Charlie told them how he had put a couple of policemen to watch both his house and Clarence’s house in case the two intruders should return.
"The policemen had seen Blanche call at Clarence’s yesterday, her arms full of flowers but she got no answer to her knock. She had turned and headed for the church.
"My men saw a man matching the description Clarence had given us of one of the men who had pushed his way into his house, come out of a doorway and start to follow Blanche. One of my men stayed where he was observing the houses and the other followed Blanche and her pursuer.
"After Blanche came out of the church, my man watched her pursuer wait until Blanche was out of sight, then he too, went into the church. Again, my man waited outside and when he saw the man that had followed Blanche come out of the church and walk away, he entered the church and went to find the vicar.
"My man asked the vicar what the gentleman who had just left had wanted and he was told he was just admiring the flowers, but he also found out that the vicar had told him about the wedding and who was going to attend. Unfortunately, the vicar had told him everything. I say unfortunately, that is the wrong word because as it turned out it was most fortunate for us as we were able to apprehend the two culprits.
"I sent some men into the wood and told them where to dig to try and find out what the two men had been burying. They came across some stolen jewellery and cash. My men filled in the holes they had dug and covered them over with dry twigs and dead leaves and left the area as they found it. The evidence was brought back to the station.
"This morning half a dozen of my men were sent out very early to take up position in the wood around the spot where the jewellery had been hidden. I advised them to try and find a tree to climb up, keep out of sight and to wait and arrest anyone that came to retrieve the goods.
"Whilst we were in church, the two robbers did indeed go to try and dig up their loot and were promptly arrested. It turns out they were responsible for a spate of house thefts in Hotshell, and they had also broken into a jeweller’s and stolen quite a lot of jewellery and cash.
"Apparently, they share a single room in Hotshell and there was nowhere to hide their haul, so they buried it in the wood. The intention was to go back for it when the police had given up trying to find out who was responsible for the crime.
“Fortunately for us, unfortunately for them, our PC Keyser just happened to be innocently passing the exact spot where they were burying the stolen goods. The culprits are being charged with attempted murder as well as theft for they did try to kill PC Keyser, and I will not have anyone on the force being shot at,” Charlie told them.
“So, your reputation will be further enhanced by this poor man being shot at. You will be telling us next you have been promoted again.” Jackson looked across the table at Charlie.
“That is where you are wrong Jackson old man. I am leaving the force. Another four weeks and I will be plain Charlie Blurr.”
“Don’t believe it,” Jackson said.
“It is true. You know how my grandmother is forever telling me it is time I settled down and took over the running of the estate from her; well, I have decided to do just that. I am going to get married and settle down and have a family just like you and Blanche. I am not having you telling me you are a better man than me Jackson. I am going to get married and have some children of my own. If I don’t I will never hear the end of it.”
“Who will marry you?” Jackson wanted to know.
“My fiancée of course,” Charlie replied.
Jackson looked to the end of the table and asked of Ella, “Don’t tell me you are silly enough to marry him?”
“I am. He has not asked me yet but when or if he does, I shall say yes,” Ella smiled at Charlie sitting at the other end of the table.
“I knew it, I knew it the very first time I laid eyes on you that you were the one for
him, but I tell you this Charlie, you are a damn fast worker. You have only known the woman a week and you have given up your job and are thinking about having children and settling down. Have you had a knock on the head or something?” Jackson wanted to know.
“I am not going to make Ella wait for eight years before I come up to scratch like you made poor Blanche wait,” Charlie informed him.
“We did not wait eight years,” Jackson said in his own defence.
"No, so it would seem. You put poor Blanche through all this rush job by putting the cart before the horse. Well, Ella and I are going to do things right. I am going to court her and woo her and then we are going to get married. She is the only woman I have ever met that has been on my mind from the first moment I saw her, and I do not mind her knowing it. PC Keyser is having trouble with his superintendent, so I have recommended that PC Keyser would be a perfect replacement for me and when he is feeling better he must go into the station and get things sorted out.
“That kills two birds with one stone. He can have this house if he wants it. The house belongs to my grandmother so he can rent it if he wishes to do so. I will move out to the estate and Ella and Clarence will follow me once we are married. You and Blanche can still move into Clarence’s house once Ella and Clarence have moved temporarily into the office. In fact, thinking about it I have killed four birds with one stone, PC Keyser, you and Blanche, and Clarence, Ella and myself. What have you to say to that Jackson?”
All eyes looked across at Jackson, “You have missed out young Ruth and the baby.”
There was a knock on the door, so Charlie stood up and went to answer it. He returned with a young man dressed in a smart black suit, white shirt and cravat and holding a hat in his hand.
Ruth jumped up and ran over to him throwing herself into his arms and bursting into tears on his shoulder.
Jackson looked over at Charlie and snarled, “Clever sod.”
Charles beamed back at his friend, he cast an eye around his table, at the people sitting there, all was right in his world, but he could not help saying to Jackson, “You will have to learn to keep your language clean from now on Jackson, young children about you know.”
Part Two
Chapter Ten
It’s was now or never, Charlotte thought as she ascended the steps; her heart was beating rapidly as she took hold of the doorknocker and gave it three hard raps.
She heard footsteps getting louder as they approached the front door from the inside.
When the door opened, the face she beheld was not familiar to her, which took her by surprise.
“Would you be so kind and give my card to Lord Singleton?” Charlotte held out her card.
The butler took the card, “One moment please.”
He had only been working for Lord Singleton for two weeks and the first thing that had been drilled into him was that he was on no account to admit any female, no matter what age, unless permission was granted first by his lordship.
Looking up to see his butler walking into the room, the gentleman, dressed leisurely in tight trousers, white loose-fitting shirt and bootless feet asked, “Yes, Watson, what is it?”
“A young woman at the front door asked me to hand you her card, my lord.” He presented the card on a silver tray.
Lord Singleton took the proffered card and read the name printed on it.
The butler was amazed to see his lordship’s colour rise. He was even more amazed when the same gentleman stormed past him. He watched with open mouth when his master marched through the hall to the front door and dragged it open.
“Charlotte!” exclaimed the shocked lord.
“Isaac,” responded the young woman giving a slight curtsey.
It took a few seconds for his lordship to believe his eyes as he stood staring at the young woman in front of him.
“May I come in? We seem to be attracting attention,” the young woman said.
“Damn it, Charlotte, you know very well you may come in.” He stood aside for her to enter.
In his confusion he snapped at the unsuspecting butler, “What the devil do you mean by keeping, Miss Palmer, standing on the doorstep. You are a blithering idiot.”
Charlotte’s eyes sparkled as she took in the shocked look upon the butler’s face and she felt the need to say to him, “Do not take it to heart, he always was grumpy first thing in the morning.”
“Let me take your coat,” Lord Singleton said.
“I do not think I will be staying that long but thank you Isaac. No doubt you will be wishing me gone to the devil in ten minutes.”
“Take off your damn coat, Charlotte.”
Charlotte locked eyes with the gentleman, and the butler held his breath.
Smiling sweetly up at his lordship, Charlotte slowly and deliberately took off her gloves and handed them to Lord Singleton. Then she started to calmly unbutton her coat which, after this process was complete, she slipped off her shoulders and passed to him.
His lordship without ceremony promptly handed the items of clothing to the butler, then he stood awkwardly, and at a loss for something else to say.
Charlotte had to confess, that she had been in the same flustered position five minutes ago, whilst she had stood upon the doorstep, waiting to be invited in.
Coming to his lordships rescue Charlotte asked, “Where is Fisher?”
“He has broken his leg and it is very inconvenient of him. Would you like to see him?”
“Yes, I would.”
His lordship indicated along the hall and Charlotte walked by his side heading towards the kitchen.
On reaching the third door to the left, his lordship rapped once, then opening the door he held it open for Charlotte to pass through into the room.
A portly gentleman who was sitting in a shabby leather chair, and his right foot elevated onto a footstool, looked up from his newspaper and his wrinkled face lit up. He was genuinely pleased to see her.
“Miss Charlotte, what a wonderful surprise,” and he held out both hands to her.
“I must apologise to you for not standing when you entered the room, as you can see for yourself, unfortunately I am indisposed, and I find it difficult to stand,” Fisher pointed to his elevated leg.
“And it is nice to see you too, Fisher. I am sorry to see you in this predicament. Isaac informs me that it is damned inconvenient of you to break your leg.”
“Is it indeed, well he has a fitter and younger man on the door, so he should have no reason to complain.” Fisher looked at his lordship over the top of his glasses.
“According to Isaac, he is a blithering idiot.”
“No doubt he is doing his best under difficult circumstances. I am surprised at you, my lord.”
“He kept Charlotte standing on the doorstep, closed the door in her face, would you believe. I will not have it.”
“He was not to know your ruling did not include, Miss Charlotte, if you did not tell him,” pointed out Fisher. “Anyway, how are you keeping my dear, you do not know how good it is to see your pretty face again.”
“I am keeping in better health than you Fisher. Is there anything I can do for you to make you more comfortable?”
“Bless you no, I am being well looked after,” the old retainer smiled at her.
The door opened, and the huge backside of a woman dressed in grey came into the room dragging a serving trolley behind her.
“Here we are dearie, a nice bit of bacon and eggs for your breakfast.”
“Hello, Martha,” Charlotte said.
The cook spun round nearly knocking over the tray and for an instant she was taken aback to see his lordship standing looking at her from his position by the fireplace.
Then seeing Charlotte, her face changed into a beaming smile and she rushed over to Charlotte and clasped her to her bosom saying, “Miss Charlotte, Miss Charlotte, well bless my soul if it isn’t, Miss Charlotte. My girlie, but you are a sight for old eyes. Welcome back.”
Charlotte retu
rned the embrace and said, “Thank you, Martha. It is nice to see you too. It’s no good asking you if you are in good health because I can see for myself that you are.”
“Someone has to keep the house running smoothly with Fisher laid up,” the cook told her.
“We will leave you to have your breakfast in peace, Fisher,” Lord Singleton told him.
Fisher looked purposefully over at his lordship and he looked him up and down then asked, “Do you think that is suitable attire to be entertaining your young lady in, my lord?”
Looking down at his feet Isaac, realised they were stocking clad, his hand went up to his throat and his loose-fitting shirt was open at the neck, and he had the grace to blush.
“I was not expecting visitors,” he told Fisher in his defence.
“No, I don’t suppose you were. If you do not want to make a cake of yourself again with Miss Charlotte, go put some clothes on,” Fisher advised. “And this time take more care of her, don’t go losing her again.”
Charlotte’s eyes sparkled at his lordship’s embarrassment and he said to her, “I hope you have seen enough of Fisher now Charlotte; for I know I have, let’s go.”
“Aren’t you two married yet?” Charlotte asked Martha ignoring his lordships last remark.
This time it was, Martha and Fisher, that were left speechless and Charlotte saw the colour rush into Martha’s cheeks.
“To save Martha any more embarrassment, they were married three years ago,” Isaac informed Charlotte.
Fisher’s mouth dropped open in amazement, “How the devil did you know that?”
“It is my place to know, Fisher. I like to keep track on all of my staff, make sure they are fed and well looked after.” Isaac let his eyes run over the laden food trolley.
Charlotte looked up at his lordship’s face and he was grinning down at her.
Lord Singleton went over to the door and held it open for Charlotte to pass through, leaving his speechless butler and cook to overcome their shock.
“You enjoyed that, did you not?” she asked.