Charlotte took his hand and pressed it, laying a finger against her lips.
‘As to motive, that is something that the lady might wish to discuss in private,’ said Sharrock. He rose to his feet. ‘Charlotte Pearce, I am arresting you for the murder of Jonathan Eckley. You are advised not to make any statement that might tend to incriminate you. I require you to accompany me to the station for further questioning.’
Cornelius made to protest, but Charlotte silenced him and rose. ‘I will go. Miss Doughty – Frances – would you be so kind as to stay here with Harriett?’
‘And I will accompany you, my dear, and do everything necessary to resolve this dreadful mistake,’ Cornelius assured her.
The unfortunate maidservant was sitting in a corner, sniffling with fright. ‘Please, everso please, can I go home now?’ she whispered.
Cornelius pressed a coin into her hand. ‘And not a word to anyone of what has happened here.’ She looked at the coin, gasped, nodded and hurried away.
Charlotte departed soon afterwards, leaning on Cornelius’ arm, the couple flanked by the two policemen. Frances and Mrs Antrobus were left with the dismal remains of the celebration. Frances did what she could to console the lady in her misery, but at length the conclusion was that the only thing that would mend the situation was Charlotte’s return.
‘I have every confidence in my uncle,’ said Frances. ‘He will leave nothing undone to assist, I know it.’
‘I am sure of it. He is a true gentleman and a good friend.’
‘Perhaps if you were to tell me everything you know, I might be able to find some way in which I too can help. Is it true that Charlotte went to see both Dr Goodwin and Mr Eckley?’
Harriett nodded.
‘What do you think Inspector Sharrock meant when he referred to Charlotte wanting to protect her own reputation and prospects? Is he just guessing at something?’ Frances’ mind went back to her conversations with Dr Goodwin, the fact that he had admitted he knew the identity of Isaac’s mother and her own firm exhortation to tell the truth, however upsetting. ‘Or has he learned that Charlotte is Isaac Goodwin’s mother? I think he has.’
‘All is now ashes!’ moaned Harriett. ‘My poor sister! I am told the boy is handsome and the image of his father. I hope he is never so cruel as to deceive an unfortunate girl. The man came to the shop – Charlotte assisted our father there sometimes – he represented himself as single and offered her marriage. But we found out too late – far, far too late – that he already had a wife and children.’
‘And Dr Goodwin, who knew your mother since she was a patient of his, helped find a family to care for the child.’
Harriett clasped Frances’ hands. ‘We were so nearly sisters, I think of you still as a kind sister. I know you will not broadcast poor Charlotte’s shame.’
‘No, of course not. I can see why someone might suppose she had good reason to try and stop Mr Eckley from making his enquiries, but from pleading with him to taking violent action against him is a long step which I cannot believe she would take.’
They were expecting a message from Cornelius, but in the event he returned to the house alone, looking like a man crushed by fate. ‘She has been charged with murder,’ he told them, quietly. ‘I have procured the services of a solicitor to stay by her side while Inspector Sharrock speaks to her, but he would not permit me to be present. And would you believe, my poor dear Charlotte never for one moment thought of herself, only you, Harriett. She could not be easy in her mind until I assured her that I would engage a competent servant to care for you, which I have done, and she will be here directly. But you have my solemn promise that I will not rest until Charlotte is free again. Frances, you must instruct Tom Smith’s boys to carry messages to me from the police station every hour of the day, every minute if need be.’
‘Of course I will.’
He shook his head in disbelief. ‘They really have no evidence. There must be a thousand knives like the one the Inspector had all over London. It is outrageous that the police should be going about arresting respectable people – are there no criminals in Bayswater?’
‘There are any number of desperate persons willing to stab a man to death for the sake of his watch,’ said Harriett. ‘One reads about them in the newspapers all the time. The Inspector must be urged to look for them. Frances – will you try to convince him?’
‘I will do what I can.’
Within the hour a large comfortable-looking nursemaid had arrived and taken charge of the patient, and Frances went home to reflect on the events of the day.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Next morning Frances, with a firm sense of what she must do, returned to Craven Hill to see Harriett Antrobus. She found the lady in a better state than she might have been under the circumstances, declaring that the nursemaid Cornelius had engaged to care for her was ‘a treasure and a miracle. Nothing is too much for her, and she even has a gruff voice. Your uncle is so very kind to me.’
‘I will reassure Charlotte that you are well looked after and keeping in good spirits,’ Frances promised. ‘I was able to see her just now, and she is hopeful that all will be resolved happily very soon. There is no further news on the case, but I did speak to Inspector Sharrock, and I think I have made good progress towards persuading him to direct his enquiries another way.’
‘Oh, but that is wonderful!’ breathed Harriett. ‘I am sure no one but you could have achieved so much.’
‘There is still a great deal to be done before Charlotte can be declared innocent of all blame, but I have given the matter careful thought, and I think I can see a way of further influencing the Inspector. I have come to know his ways and character very well in the last year or so. Despite his harsh manners and rough exterior, Inspector Sharrock does have a sympathetic nature, and I think he might respond to an appeal made by two ladies together with my uncle, who I believe has impressed him as a respectable gentleman incapable of untruth.’
‘But you cannot expect me to go to a police station,’ Harriett objected. ‘There would be crowds of noisy people there. I could muffle my ears of course, but how might I then hold a conversation?’
‘No, I understand that and would never ask you to do such a thing, which is why I have asked both the Inspector and my uncle to come here today.’
‘Today?’
‘I know I have taken a liberty by inviting guests to your home, and I beg your forgiveness, but I thought you would not wish your sister to remain in custody for a moment longer than is necessary.’
‘Not a single moment,’ Harriett agreed. ‘What a surprising and energetic young woman you are; I can see why the newspapers praise you so.’
Soon afterwards Cornelius and the Inspector arrived as arranged, Sharrock looking grim and Cornelius weary but resolute.
When they were all assembled in the little parlour Frances addressed the Inspector. ‘I have asked you to come here today to listen to the very earnest entreaties of Mrs Harriett Antrobus on behalf of her poor sister. You will, I am sure, admit that she knows her own sister better than anyone and can give you a full understanding of her character. When you have heard what she has to say you will see that it is quite impossible for Miss Pearce to have acted in the manner of which she has been accused.’
Cornelius nodded emphatically. ‘Well said, my dear. Inspector, I beg you to listen and take good note of what both my niece and Harriett have to tell you.’
‘We also feel very strongly that the police have been hasty and presumptuous, and ignored other far more obvious avenues of enquiry,’ added Frances, glancing at Harriett, who nodded emphatically.
‘Oh we have, have we?’ growled Sharrock. ‘Well let Mrs Antrobus speak for herself.’
Harriett turned her bright, luminous eyes to the policeman. ‘I am so grateful that you have taken the trouble to listen to me. My poor sister is a gentle selfless creature, who has laboured all her life in the interests of others but has never committed an act that would harm another. She would be quite incapable of doing so.’