The Changeling

Blackmail

AN AIR OF EXCITEMENT pervaded the house. I often had talks with Mrs. Emery and found it comforting to sit in her room and chat desultorily about little matters of the household and to drink a cup of tea from one of her special cups.

She was aware of a great deal of what was going on.

One day she said: “Mr. Lansdon is especially busy these days. Emery and me … well, we’re interested in politics … and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for Mr. Lansdon.”

“Oh … why?”

“Well, there’s this Cabinet reshuffle, isn’t there? And since his party’s in … who knows? I reckon Mr. Lansdon’s made for some high post. Emery thinks the Home Office.”

“Does Mr. Emery think that Mr. Gladstone will stay in power?”

“Oh yes. The Conservatives are not the same now that that Mr. Disraeli’s lost his wife. I reckon a man wants a woman behind him.”

“I’m not so sure. He did some important things after her death. It may be that he’s devoted everything to politics now she has gone. What about his getting control in the Suez Canal and proclaiming the Queen Empress of India and cleverly averting war with the Russians and bringing Cyprus into the Empire? He did all that after his wife died.”

“Yes, but he was never a happy man since and a man needs to have a happy home life. There’s Mr. Lansdon …” She shook her head sadly.

I thought: They know everything about us. They know that Benedict does not love Celeste and that he still mourns for my mother, and that I have come back from Cornwall sad and troubled because my engagement to Pedrek is broken. All these things they know of us and they discuss them at meal times when they are all round the table together. No, Mrs. Emery would not allow that. It would be between herself and Mr. Emery when they were alone in their room. But the servants would be all eagerness to learn; they would listen at every opportunity; they would watch; they would garner their information and compare with each other; then they would doubtless draw their garbled conclusions.

“It’s no good looking back,” said Mrs. Emery. “Your dear mother is dead and gone and more’s the pity. If she were here … how different everything would be. The present Mrs. Lansdon … she tries. She could be good for him … if he’d let her be. But he keeps looking back.”

“Perhaps in time.”

“Time. That’s what saves us all. No use nursing your troubles, Miss Rebecca. That’s what I always say … and it will be wonderful for Mr. Lansdon if he gets a post in the Cabinet. Emery and me … well … we’ll be that pleased.”

“Yes,” I said. “I wish …”

She looked at me expectantly but I did not finish.

She was silent. She was a very understanding woman and I think she had the good of the family at heart. She really would like to see Benedict in the Cabinet and happy in his domestic as well as public life; she would like to see me recovered from my wounds and happily engaged to a suitable someone.

She and Emery wanted to have a happy as well as a successful household over which to rule in the lower regions.

Benedict was in London and Celeste with him. Oliver Gerson came down once or twice but his stays were brief. He told me that Mr. Lansdon was so busy in the House that business matters were left to him.

I was pleased to hear Belinda’s laughter. She really seemed to have forgotten. Leah said she never referred to it now and that she slept peacefully and was her old self.

When I went to the children’s room to say goodnight she suddenly put her arms round my neck and hugged me tightly.

“I love you, dear darling sister Rebecca.”

Such expressions of affection from Belinda were rare and made me very happy.

I went over to Lucie’s bed. She hugged me too. But then she often did. “I love you too, Rebecca,” she said.

I was very comforted.

It was a few days later in the early afternoon, a time when the household was usually quiet. Mrs. Emery returned to her room to—as she said—put her feet up for five minutes. I don’t know what Mr. Emery did—probably took a nap in the Emery bedroom. The house had a somnolent air.

I was going upstairs and as I passed the locked room, I thought I heard a sound. I went quietly to the door and stood there for a few moments … listening.

I felt a tingling sensation in my back. Benedict was in London. Mrs. Emery was in her room, and I knew that someone was behind that locked door.

It was so much my mother’s room … her brushes, her mirror … her clothes … just as she had left it. I must be mistaken. I stood very still … listening. And then came the faint rustling sound.

I was trembling. Did the dead really return? Once I had had the feeling that my mother came back to me. That was when I had fancied that she had wanted me to take in Lucie. Fancy? Imagination? I had always had a vivid one. I had been intrigued by the story of Lady Flamstead who had returned to comfort the child whom she had never seen. Perhaps if people left especially loved ones behind they had to come back. My mother had left Benedict and she had left me. I knew how deeply she had loved him and I had been the center of her life until she married him.

These thoughts flashed into my mind as I stood there, tingling with excitement and apprehension.

I took the handle of the door and turned it very quietly. The door was locked. Yet … someone was in there.

I stood for a few more seconds and then I went very quietly along to Mrs. Emery’s room.

I knocked. There was no answer for a few moments and then she said sleepily: “Who’s there?”

I went in. She was dozing by the fire and was startled to see me.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Emery, but I think there is someone in the locked room.”

She continued to look bemused and was clearly not yet awakened from her doze.

“Locked room …” she repeated.

“Yes. I distinctly heard someone there.”

She was recovering herself. “Oh no, Miss Rebecca. You must have fancied it. Unless Mr. Lansdon’s come home unexpectedly and none of us heard he had.”

“I can hardly believe that. Have you got your key?”

She jumped up, looked alarmed, and went to a drawer, opened it and held up the key in triumph.

“Then it must be Mr. Lansdon. But I tried the door and it was locked.”

“You didn’t speak to him, did you? He wouldn’t have liked that. He wouldn’t have wanted to be disturbed.”

“No, I did not. I was very quiet. I can’t believe he was in there.”

“I’ll go up to his room and see if his things are there. But we should have heard him if he’d come from London. There would have been the carriage from the station and all that bustle. There always is.”

“Let’s go at once, Mrs. Emery. Bring the key. Let’s go into the room. Someone may have broken in.”

She nodded grimly. But first we went to Benedict’s room. There was no sign of his arrival.

Mrs. Emery was looking uneasy.

“I must assure myself that there is no one there, Mrs. Emery,” I said.

“All right then, Miss Rebecca.”

We went to the room and she unlocked the door. I caught my breath in amazement. Oliver Gerson was sitting at a little bureau near the window. There was a tin box at his feet and it looked as though he were going through some papers.

He stood up and stared at us.

“So …” I stammered. “It was you …”

“Miss Rebecca …” He looked a little startled for the moment. I fancied he had paled beneath his bronzed skin.

I said: “What are you doing here? No one is supposed to come here. How did you get in?”

He smiled at me and then he was the charming easy-going Oliver Gerson. He put his hand in his pocket and held up a key.

“But there are only two. Mrs. Emery has one.”

“This is the other,” he said.

“Mr. Lansdon’s? So he gave it to you.”

“I came to get some papers and take them back to him.”

“Papers?” I said. “But this was my mother’s room.”

“He keeps some papers here … rather special papers. He wanted me to find them and take them to him.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling deflated.

Mrs. Emery looked very relieved.

“You look really scared,” he said. “Did you think I was a ghost?”

Mrs. Emery said: “Mr. Lansdon always wanted the room locked. He was the only one who went in … bar me to clear. I wonder he didn’t say.”

“Oh, he didn’t think it was important. He knew my coming would not excite much curiosity. As a matter of fact I have nearly finished.”

“Did you bring any luggage, Mr. Gerson?” asked Mrs. Emery. “I’ll see about a room …”

“No … please. It is just a day visit … to get the papers and get back with them. They are wanted urgently.”

“Well, I expect you’ll want something to eat before you go back to London.”

“I dropped in at an inn for some ale and a sandwich. I was in rather a hurry.”

“How did you get into the house?”

“The back door was open and as everyone seemed to be out of the way I got on with the business. I knew where to find everything.”

“Well, you’d like something, I daresay. A cup of tea … or that sort of thing?”

“How very good of you, Mrs. Emery; always so thoughtful for our creature comforts. I was saying to Mr. Lansdon what a treasure you are. But I can’t stop. I’m in rather a hurry. I have to get back to London.”

He was putting some papers into a case.

“You found what you wanted?” I asked.

“Oh yes. Everything.”

“So you will be leaving immediately?”

“I regret that I must. Mr. Lansdon can be a very impatient man.”

“Belinda will be disappointed.”

He put his fingers to his lips. “Sh. Not a word to her or I shall be severely castigated when I next see her which I hope will be soon.”

He smiled at me warmly. “Well, much as I regret it, I must be off. Sorry I gave you a bit of a scare.”

“It wouldn’t take me long to brew a cup of tea,” said Mrs. Emery. “The kettle’s on the hob in my room.”

“Mrs. Emery; you are an angel of mercy as well as a treasure, but duty calls.”

He closed the case and we went out of the room. He locked the door and put the key back into his pocket.

“Au revoir,” he said and was gone.

Mrs. Emery said: “Well, I could certainly do with a nice cup of tea after that. You really had me scared, Miss Rebecca.”

“It was a bit hair-raising to hear someone there.”

“I’d say. It was a good thing it wasn’t one of those girls. They would have had hysterics … you can bet your life.”

“I’m glad we found the explanation.”

We went to her room. “What a nice young man he is,” said Mrs. Emery, looking intently at me. “Always a smile and a cheery word. He’s as friendly to the tweeny as he is to the rest of us. And the children just love him.”

“Yes,” I agreed, “particularly Belinda.”

“Poor mite. She looked really seedy when she came back.” She looked at me intently and added: “I think he’s sweet on you.”

There was a little smirk about her lips. I guessed she was thinking he might provide the solution to my troubles.

It was about a week after that incident that Benedict came to Manorleigh. Oliver Gerson came with him.

They had not been in the house more than twenty minutes when the trouble started.

Benedict was in his study and the children at their lessons in the schoolroom. Belinda was very excited because Oliver Gerson was in the house and she guessed that we should all go riding together as we did when he was here.

I was mounting the stairs when I heard angry voices coming from the study. I paused. Then I heard Benedict saying: “Go. Go at once. Get out of this house.”

I stood still, horror creeping over me. For the moment I thought he must be talking to Celeste.

Then I heard Oliver Gerson: “Don’t imagine you can talk like that to me. I know too much.”

“I don’t care what you know. You are finished here. Do you understand? Get out.”

“Look here,” said Oliver Gerson. “You can’t do this, I tell you. Don’t imagine that I shall just go meekly. You can’t afford that, Mr. Benedict Lansdon. I repeat … I know too much.”

“I don’t care what you know. I won’t have you here. You must be mad if you think you can blackmail me.”

“You can’t afford to be so high and mighty. All I ask is what would be expected: after the marriage … partnership. It would be good for you, too. Enable you to be free of the whole unsavory business. It’s not good for your political image, you know. You won’t want certain things known. The Devil’s Crown, eh? What goes on … Mr. Benedict Lansdon, the owner of the most disreputable club in Town. Come, come, be reasonable.”

“I would not allow my stepdaughter to marry you, no matter what you threatened to do.”

I could not have moved then if I had wanted to. They were talking about me. I tried to calm myself. It was vital that I understand what this was all about.

“And …” went on my stepfather, “if Rebecca knew what you are you wouldn’t have the ghost of a chance with her.”

“She knows me well enough.”

“But you admit you have spoken to her.”

“I tell you it is only a matter of time. I am almost there, and she’ll be ready to defy you. Think again.”

“I tell you I will not have it.”

“Isn’t it her decision?”

“I am her guardian. I will forbid it. I have no doubt you have been a charming suitor and in the event of failing with her you have your eyes on Belinda. You’d have to wait a long time for that one. But get this out of your mind. You are not getting a foothold in this family. I know too much about you and now you are indulging in attempted blackmail, I tell you it is the end.”

“You can’t do it, Lansdon. Just think what it means. It put an end to your grandfather’s political ambitions. Can’t you learn from him? This Devil’s Crown affair. It’s damning.”

“How … how did you …?”

“How did I discover? Never mind, I did. Think again. You’d better be careful. You’ll be better off as my stepfather-in-law, you know, than if certain things came out into the open.”

“Get out of this house.”

“Do you think you can push me out like this? What of my contracts?”

“It will be arranged through lawyers.”

“Don’t think I shall go meekly.”

“I don’t care how you go as long as you go.”

“It’s not the end of this, Benedict Lansdon.”

“It’s the end of our association, Oliver Gerson.”

I knew the door was about to open and I sped upstairs. I stood on the landing above looking down. I saw Oliver Gerson stride down the stairs.

I still stood there in a dazed fashion. Benedict came up the stairs and saw me.

“Rebecca!” he said, and I realized at once that he knew I had overheard at least something of what had been said.

“You were listening.”

I could not deny it.

“Come into my study,” he said. “It is time we talked.”

I followed him in. He shut the door and stood looking at me for a few seconds.

Then he said: “Sit down. How much did you hear?”

“I heard him threatening you, demanding a partnership … and then something about marrying me.”

He said: “How could you marry a man like that! Did you imagine yourself in love with him?”

I flushed. “No. I certainly did not.”

“Thank God for that. I couldn’t make up my mind. You were with him a great deal. All those rides with the children … all that gallantry.”

“You … noticed that?”

“Of course I did.”

“I’m surprised. I thought you were quite oblivious of our existence.”

“Belinda is my daughter. You are my stepdaughter. You were left in my charge. Of course I am aware of you. I blame myself for allowing him to come here.”

“I gather he is a close associate of yours. It was natural that he should come here.”

“I guessed what he was after when he paid so much attention to you.”

“He wanted a partnership in your business, I gather, and he thought if he married me it would help him to get it.”

“That is so.”

“He did ask me to marry him some time ago. I declined.”

“He is so sure of himself that he thought in time you would change your mind.”

“He made an error of judgment.”

“I am glad of that. He has a certain superficial charm. I should have seen through him before. When I told him I would never allow him to marry you, I think he lost his head. He saw his careful plans coming to nothing … and then he tried to blackmail me. You heard it. You might as well understand the position clearly … particularly as you are concerned.”

“I am a little shocked. I don’t know what to think.”

“You couldn’t see the motive behind all the gallantry.”

“What surprises me most is that you were aware of it.”

“Do you think I am blind?”

“To your family … yes. I know you are very astute in other matters.”

“Your welfare has always been my concern. You were left in my care by …” He faltered a little. “By your mother. I looked upon it as a trust. I know that you resented me right from the moment we were married. I tried to understand it. She explained it to me. She said that because you had no father you and she had been particularly close. You didn’t want change. We never got together, did we? And then … she died.”

He turned away and I said: “I know. I lost her too.”

“She was … everything I wanted …”

I nodded.

“There has been animosity between us … It was not my wish …”

“I see that now.”

And I was seeing a completely different person. He was vulnerable as I had never thought of him before. He might be the stern ruthless man but he had his weaknesses … and he had loved my mother and needed her … he needed her now.

I was sad and lonely. I had lost her, as he had, and then I had thought I could have a happy life with Pedrek, and now I had lost him, too.

He said: “We should try to help each other, you and I … instead of which …” He was silent for a short while and then went on: “There was only ever one trouble between your mother and me. It was these clubs. She hated it when I inherited them from my grandfather. She wanted me to get rid of them. I should have listened to her. It was the only time there was contention between us. She knew my grandfather. He was an adventurer. Everyone said I was like him. But I think there is a difference. I should have listened to her. I should have got rid of them long ago.”

I said: “I heard something about … was it The Devil’s Crown?”

“Yes … I was considering acquiring it. Gerson believes I already have. He does not know as much as he thinks he does. I can’t imagine how he has so much information about my affairs.”

A sudden memory came back to me.

I said: “Do you keep confidential papers in that locked room?”

“Yes,” he said.

“So it is not entirely a shrine. I thought you kept it as it was because …”

“I did,” he admitted. “Then it occurred to me that it was just the place to keep secret documents.”

I was surprised that at such a time I could feel a twinge of amusement. I supposed that was typical of him, that in the midst of his emotions he could think of such a thing. He had made that shrine to her memory and he could at the same time use it as a secret cache for important documents. I seemed to see my mother’s face smiling indulgently, whispering: “Yes, but that is Benedict.”

I said: “You kept private documents in there yet you let Oliver Gerson have access to them.”

He stared at me in amazement. “No. Never,” he said.

I went on: “He was here in that locked room.”

“When?”

“Not very long ago. I heard noises there and I made Mrs. Emery get her key. We went there and he was there with some papers before him … at the bureau. He said you had given him your key.”

He was incredulous. “He must have got hold of Mrs. Emery’s key.”

“No. She had hers. We had gone in with that and found him there. He had locked the door on the inside.”

“I can’t believe this. My key has never left the ring on which I keep it.”

“Well, it was not Mrs. Emery’s because she had hers.”

“I am astounded, Rebecca. I can’t imagine how this could happen. There are only two keys.”

“If one of them had been in his possession for a while couldn’t he have had another made?”

“That’s the answer. He must have stolen one of the keys at sometime.”

“It seems the only reasonable solution.”

“And he has been examining papers …”

“Does that make any difference to what he can bring against you?”

He shook his head. “You know so much now, so let me tell you this. The clubs which my grandfather started and owned for many years brought him great riches. He was a clever man who loved adventure. Life without risks would not have been exciting enough for him. He enjoyed what he did. Some would say he was a rogue … but many loved him. I have realized that we are different. I am not of his caliber. I have inherited some of his qualities … but not all. You know my ambitions are great. They mean more to me than that fortune which comes through questionable channels. For some time I have been working on disposing of the clubs and concentrating entirely on politics. As you know I made a fortune from the goldmine. I still have a small interest in that. Money is no problem. It was just the thought of more that tempted me. Now I am following the advice which she gave me … all those years ago. I shall dispose of my interests in the clubs. That is what Gerson does not know. He has worked for me for some time. He is ambitious. He plans to have a big share by acquiring a partnership … well, you’ve heard all that.”

“And this attempt to blackmail you, what harm could it do you?”

“This Devil’s Crown which I was considering adding to the others … is more than just a night club. There are activities going on there which are quite unsavory. I think it is possibly the haunt of drug traffickers. It was that which decided me that I wanted to get out.”

“So you are not caught up in anything of that sort yet?”

“Nor do I intend to be. I shall not be acquiring The Devil’s Crown, I think.”

“Then Oliver Gerson’s threats are groundless. He could bring nothing against you.”

“Well, he could always remind people of my connection with the clubs.”

“And that would harm you?”

“If I were in the Cabinet, perhaps.”

“So you think it wise to get out?”

“I should have listened to your mother long ago. But I am so pleased you are not involved with him.”

“There was never any intention on my part to marry him, but if there had been …”

“Oh yes,” he said with a faint smile, “you would have rejected my advice. I anticipated conflict so I am only too delighted that there is no need for it.”

“But if I did decide to marry …”

The smile deepened. “You would not be prepared to listen to me.”

“I should expect to make my own decision.”

“And if your choice had fallen on an unsuitable person such as Oliver Gerson, I should have done everything in my power to prevent the marriage because … well, I should feel it would be what your mother would have wanted. I wish …”

I looked at him waiting for him to go on.

“I wish,” he continued, “that I knew how Gerson got that key. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you are not involved with him. That pleases me more than anything.”

He meant that. I was amazed.

It was a turning point in our relationship.