“Good morning.” Charlotte answered the door.
“Are you ready, Miss Waite?”
“Yes.”
“Well, let’s get on then, shall we? It’s time we left. I will meet you by the front door in twenty minutes.”
It was ten o’clock when they arrived at the Fitzroy Square, which was Sunday quiet. As they drew up alongside the Georgian building that housed Maisie’s office, Billy crossed the square.
“Oh, good timing,” said Maisie. “My assistant has arrived. He is part of my plan, and will be going with us to Dulwich.”
Maisie formally introduced them and, once in the office, Billy reached out to take Charlotte Waite’s coat. Maisie removed her jacket and hung it on the back of the door.
“Let’s get down to business. We should leave by one. That should give us enough time to be absolutely sure of each step.” Maisie beckoned Charlotte to join her and Billy at the incident table. A large sheet of paper had been placed where a case map would usually have been unfurled and pinned. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” Maisie took up a pen, and began to explain.
During the conversation that followed, Charlotte excused herself twice and each time Billy stood outside the office door until she returned, to ensure that she did not leave the building. These were the only interruptions until Maisie pushed back her chair and walked over to the telephone on her desk. She dialed the Waite residence in Dulwich.
“Hello. Maisie Dobbs here. I want to confirm that all necessary arrangements have been made for Miss Waite’s arrival home this afternoon.” Charlotte and Billy looked on as Maisie listened. “Indeed, yes, I spoke with Mr. Waite early this morning and I know that he was just about to leave for Yorkshire. Back on Tuesday, isn’t he? Yes, good. Do remember, though, Miss Waite does not wish to see anyone and no one must be informed of her arrival. Yes, she’ll go straight to her rooms and I will remain there with her until she is settled. Quite. Yes. No, absolutely no one. Good. Right you are. Thank you.” Maisie replaced the receiver and turned to Billy.
“Time to get us a taxi cab, Billy.”
Billy reached for his coat. “Back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, Miss.”
As Billy closed the door behind him, Maisie turned to Charlotte. “Now then, you are clear on what you are to do?”
“Of course. It’s simple, really. You’re the one taking all the risks.”
“As long as you know that when you do your part, you must not be recognized. It’s imperative.”
“And you think it’ll—you know—all be over in a few hours?”
“I believe the murderer will strike again quickly.”
Billy returned, flushed with exertion.
“Billy, I’ve told you not to run!”
“Miss, the taxi cab’s outside. Better get going.”
They climbed into the taxi cab but were silent throughout the journey, each mentally reviewing the part to be played as the evening unfolded. Upon arrival at Waite’s Dulwich mansion, Billy took Charlotte’s bag.
“All right?” Maisie put her arm around Charlotte’s shoulders and led her toward the house. Charlotte’s head was lowered, with only a few strands of hair visible beneath her close-fitting gray hat.
“Yes. I won’t let you down.”
“I know.”
The door opened before they reached the bottom step leading up to the front door, and Maisie nodded acknowledgment to Harris as she hurried Charlotte inside.
“Thank you. We’ll go straight to Miss Waite’s rooms.”
The butler bowed, inclined his head to Billy as he came though the doorway with Charlotte’s bag, then followed the two women upstairs.
“Billy, wait outside this door until I come for you.”
“Right you are, Miss.” The door to Charlotte’s rooms closed behind him as Billy took up his place.
Maisie took off her coat, then her hat, followed by her blouse. “Hurry, I want you to leave as soon as possible.”
Charlotte began to undress. “I . . . I’m not used to . . .”
Maisie pointed to the bathroom. “Go in there, undress, leave your clothes behind and use your dressing gown.”
Charlotte scurried into the bathroom, while Maisie removed the rest of her clothing. After several moments, Charlotte opened the door and came into her small sitting room again. Maisie pointed to the pile of clothes on the chair.
“Now, put those on and pull some strands of hair free. I’ll be out in a minute.”
She dressed as swiftly as she could. Her hands were cold and she found it hard to work the buttons at the front of Charlotte’s dress. Perhaps she didn’t really need to wear Charlotte’s clothes, but in case someone looked up at the sitting room from the garden, she must be prepared. It would be Billy who had to take care not to be seen.
Returning to the sitting room, Maisie gasped. “Oh, my . . . if I didn’t know better”
“Your clothes fit me very well, Miss Dobbs.”
“And the hat seems to be a good size for you, too.”
