Changeling

It is such a disappointment that you are not with us. You must come in the Spring. That’s the best time really. But it would have been lovely to have you for Christmas—particularly now that Pedrek has broken this wonderful news.

All our love, darling,

Your loving and deprived (of your company, of course) Grandparents

They were lovely, heartwarming letters. I put them in the silver box which my mother had given me and I kept them in a drawer because I knew I should want to read them again and again.

A few days before Christmas Oliver Gerson arrived. I was surprised. I had heard that a business associate of Benedict’s would be spending Christmas at Manor Grange but Oliver’s name had not been mentioned.

I had been out riding with the girls which I did frequently. Miss Stringer had already left and that meant that I was even more frequently than usual in their company.

As we returned into the drive I saw a carriage at the door and Mr. Emery was standing there giving instructions for the gentleman’s luggage to be taken into the house.

Then he turned and I saw who it was.

“Mr. Gerson!” I cried.

Belinda surprised me. She leaped from her pony and ran to him. She stood before him, looking up and smiling. There could not have been a warmer welcome.

He took Belinda’s hand and solemnly kissed it. “What a pleasure it is to see you,” he said.

Then he walked to me and, taking my hand, kissed it in the same manner. He looked at Lucie. She held out her hand and received the same treatment. I had rarely seen such gracious manners.

He was gazing at me as he said: “I have been looking forward to this pleasure. I must confess I was apprehensive, fearing that you might have decided not to spend Christmas here.”

“We shall be here,” cried Belinda, jumping into the air.

“What fun that will be!” he replied. “Christmas in the country with the most delightful of companions.” He included us all in his smile.

“Are you going to stay for a long time?” asked Belinda.

“That will depend on how long my host wants me to.”

“Is your host my father?” asked Belinda a little blankly.

“Indeed he is.”

“Let’s go into the house, shall we?” I suggested.

The groom took our horses and we went into the hall. As we did so Benedict came down the stairs.

“Oh, there you are, Gerson,” he said. “They have your room ready. I’ll get one of them to take you up. It’s good to see you.”

“I am delighted to be here. These ladies have already made me feel welcome.”

“So I see …” said my stepfather vaguely. “Your bags will be taken up. Good journey?”

“Quite good, thanks.”

“I’d like to have a chat about things before dinner.”

“But of course.”

“Right.” He walked with Oliver Gerson across the hall. He seemed hardly to have noticed our presence.

I looked at Belinda. Her eyes were shining. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “Aren’t you pleased, Lucie? He’s going to be here for Christmas.”

“He’s very nice,” said Lucie.

“Of course he’s nice. He’s the nicest man I know.”

“You don’t really know him yet,” I reminded her.

“I do know him. I like him. I’m glad he’s here.”

She skipped up three stairs.

I looked at Lucie and laughed. “It’s clear that he has Belinda’s approval,” I said.

“She talks about him a lot. She says, he’s like one of those knights who did all sorts of daring things to win the King’s daughter.”

“Let’s hope she’s right,” I said.

When I look back it seems that that Christmas was dominated by Oliver Gerson. He devoted quite a lot of time to the children which I thought was kind of him. He seemed to understand Belinda and she was certainly happier in his company than I had known her to be before. She had become a normal fun-loving child. It proved to me that she craved attention and that her waywardness had been a method of calling attention to herself. The change in her was remarkable. Oliver Gerson was, for the greater part of the day, in my stepfather’s company. It was for that purpose, I supposed, that he had been invited to the house.

He told me that he was my stepfather’s righthand man.

“I knew that you were in business together,” I said. “It’s those clubs, isn’t it?”

“That and other things. I worked for your stepfather’s grandfather, you know.”

“Oh yes … Uncle Peter.”

“He was a wonderful man. Astute, knowledgeable and crafty as a fox.”

“Did you like working for him?”

“Immensely. It was a great adventure.”

“He is very much missed in the family although we all knew there was something rather shocking about what he was engaged in. Is it the same still?”

“Those who are shocked are envious of others’ success. The clubs provide a need for certain people. If they want to gamble why shouldn’t they? If they lose money it is their affair.”

“I believe there are other things besides gambling.”