Changeling

“You go to that room regularly and everyone knows you do that. I think someone got into your room, found the key and took the clothes from my mother’s wardrobe.”

“The door is always locked and I have the key.”

“You always keep it in the same place?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Possibly someone discovered where you kept it.”

“I can’t see how.”

“I can. The door of your room … this room … is never locked, is it?”

She shook her head.

“Someone could come in when you are busy and there was no chance of being disturbed. Whoever it was could have taken the key, gone to the locked room, taken the clothes, locked the door and returned the key back to this room. That’s possible.”

“No one would dare.”

“There are some daring people around, Mrs. Emery.”

“But what for? What’s the good of it?”

“Mischief. That is very attractive to some.”

“You mean someone did it to frighten the wits out of that poor lady?”

“It’s possible, and I intend to find out. You have the key here now?”

She rose and went to a drawer. She opened it and triumphantly held up the key.

“I want you to take me up to that room now, Mrs. Emery,” I said. “I want to see if those clothes are there. If they are, and I think they should be because my mother was wearing them right to the time she left here, then we shall know that whatever Mrs. Lansdon saw under the oak tree was not a figment of her imagination. But because this happened only yesterday, whoever took the clothes might not have had time yet to return them.”

“Well, the key was there, and if anyone took it they’d have had to return it pretty prompt like. They wouldn’t know when I was going to pop in … and it would be dangerous to bring it back when I might come in and catch them at it.”

“So it is fair to say that if the clothes are still there what Mrs. Lansdon saw was something very likely to be supernatural. And if it was someone playing a trick … well then, the one who played the trick could still have them.”

“I can’t believe anyone would go to all that trouble just to frighten her. And run the risk of getting caught into the bargain.”

“Some people like mischief. They like to take risks, too. In any case, let us take the first step towards solving the mystery. Let’s go and see if the clothes are still there.”

Mrs. Emery rose immediately and we went to the room.

Even at such a time I was deeply moved as I stepped over the threshold. It was exactly as it had been in the old days and I could imagine myself a young girl again … secure in the love of my mother, though that resentment I felt towards my stepfather was already with me.

The sight of her things unnerved me; but I had come here for a purpose.

I went to the wardrobe. Her clothes were hanging there but there was no sign of the blue coat. I reached up and in between a tweed costume and a riding habit was an empty coat hanger.

I turned to look at Mrs. Emery.

I said: “I think someone has been in here and taken the clothes.”

“I can’t believe that,” cried Mrs. Emery. “I kept that key in my room. Nobody comes in but him and me. We are the only two with keys.”

“Could anyone have stolen his key?”

“I’d hardly think so. He keeps it on his watch chain and it is always with him … and he hasn’t been here this past week or more.”

She locked the door and we went back to her sitting room.

When we were seated she said: “Of course, there is no knowing that this coat and hat was in the wardrobe.”

“Not for certain,” I agreed. “But I know my mother liked it particularly and she did have it right to the time she went down to Cornwall. You always keep the key in that drawer, I suppose. Could you put it in a different place?”

“Well, perhaps I could …”

“Then if someone came in to steal it again they wouldn’t be able to find it. I am presuming that whoever took the clothes might want to return them. Or perhaps they are keeping her clothes and intend to be a series of hauntings.”

“You’re giving me the shivers, Miss Rebecca. I’m not sure I wouldn’t it were rather the real thing than all this plotting.”

“I am going to see if I can find the clothes, Mrs. Emery. I feel they are somewhere in this house and if I did find them I should discover who played this wicked trick on Mrs. Lansdon.”

“It could have been really serious … if she’s been carrying …”

“Mrs. Emery, will you guard the key … absolutely? Put it in a different place and make sure that none but yourself knows where. I do not want anyone to be able to get into that room until I have solved this mystery.”

“I’ll do just as you say, Miss Rebecca, and I would like to know who played such a nasty trick … I would that … and if it’s any of my maids … well, they won’t be on my staff much longer, I can tell you.”

As soon as I left her I went to the schoolroom. Belinda and Lucie were seated at the table with Miss Stringer.

“Good morning, Miss Mandeville,” said Miss Stringer. “Did you want me?”

I said: “No … no. How are the lessons going?”

“Oh!” She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “As well as can be expected.”

“We’re doing history,” said Lucie.

“I’m glad to hear it.”