The changeling

“A bit of a misery, I used to think. Might have had all the troubles of the world on her shoulders. Well, she’s changed. Now there she is laughing away with the children and that Mr. Marner. Do you know, I heard her singing the other day.”

“What ... Leah?”

“I couldn’t believe my ears. She used to go round with that mournful face as though she was going to a funeral. Now chatting away she is ... and she was always such a, close customer.”

“I’m glad. Mr. Marner seems to have made himself very popular.”

“I suppose he’ll soon be moving on.”

“I’m afraid so. There will be lamentations in the nursery.”

“Miss Belinda will be very sorry ... that Leah, too. By the way, it’s good news about the shuffle. That’s what Emery calls it. Something to do with the government. It seems it’s really coming now ... after all the talk about it.”

“You mean the Cabinet reshuffle.”

“Emery knows all about these things. I reckon he ought to have gone in for it himself.

He thinks there’s a good chance of something coming out of it for our gentleman.”

“Mr. Lansdon?”

“Who else? It’s not only Emery. There’s a bit in the paper. Emery cuts bits out and saves them, you know. Emery would like the Foreign Office for him but he doesn’t think there is going to be a change there. The Home Office would be good. Or the War Office ... Emery says.”

“You’re very ambitious for him.”

“Emery’s a very ambitious man.”

I could not help smiling at this perfect example of the joys of reflected glory.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed ... Emery and me ...”

I was still smiling. A session with Mrs. Emery was as refreshing as her tea. When I was passing Benedict’s study, he opened the door suddenly and stood smiling at me.

“Rebecca, could you spare a moment?”

“But of course.”

“Then come in.”

I went in, he indicated a chair and I sat down. He took his place at his desk and we sat facing each other.

“I thought I’d let you know,” he said. “I am definitely out of the club business.

The deal has gone through.”

“That must be a great relief to you.”

“Yes, it is. The Devil’s Crown decided me. I only wish I could have done it years ago.”

”I hear there is a possibility of a Cabinet post.”

“A possibility,” he admitted. “There’s only a hint at the moment, but I think there is almost certain to be one.”

“Well, good luck.”

“Thank you.”

“The Emerys are very eager for your success.”

He smiled. “I gathered that from Emery.”

“They are very loyal.”

He nodded. “And one needs loyalty in this business.”

“It’s very acceptable in any.”

“I thought I’d tell you about the clubs because of our little talk the other day.

It was what your mother would have wanted.”

We were silent for a moment.

Then he said: “By the way, Gerson hasn’t been prowling round, has he?”

I had a quick vision of him, coming out of The Hanging Judge with Celeste.

“Around the house ... no, I shouldn’t think so.”

“That’s good. I never discovered how he got that key. I should like to know. I don’t suppose I ever shall. But that sort of thing shakes one. I’ve always been so careful.”

“Yes,” I said. “It’s a mystery.”

I rose. Our conversation seemed to have come to an end and our relationship was still such that there was embarrassment between us.

I said: “I’m glad about the clubs. I am sure it is for the best.”

He nodded. “I thought you’d like to know.”

I went to the door and as I did so, he said: “You shouldn’t be so much in the country. You should be in London ... getting out and about. That was what your season was for.”

“I prefer to be in the country.”

“Might you not regret it later?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Has something happened?” he asked.

“Something happened ...” I repeated stupidly.

“You seem withdrawn lately. Brooding on something, are you?”

“I’m all right.”

“Well, if I can help ...”

I shook my head.

“I really think you are making a mistake in shutting yourself away like this. What’s happened to Morwenna Cartwright? Wasn’t she supposed to launch you into society?”

“That was at the time.”

“Well, it goes on, doesn’t it?”

“I think I am supposed to be launched now.”

“It’s no good shutting yourself away in the country.”

“I assure you I’m all right.”

“If it is what you want ...”

“It is.”

“Are you sure there is nothing wrong? Nothing I can do to help?”

“Thank you. There is nothing.”

He looked at me quizzically. He was trying hard to put things right between us. He would be telling himself that he ought to do it for my mother’s sake. He had now sold out of the clubs because that was what she wanted him to do. No. It was not because of that. Had he not clung to them for all these years? No, he wanted to become a Cabinet minister and as such he could not be involved in them. I must not forget that he had kept his secret papers in what was supposed to be a shrine to my mother. In the midst of his sentimentality, Benedict would always be practical.

I went out and closed the door.

Benedict had gone to London and Celeste had not gone with him.