The changeling

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.”