by Janni Nell
All he said was, “We didn’t kill him but we did mark him. To send a message.”
Wonderful. Case solved.
Almost. “You said the treaty had been broken twice. What happened the second time?”
“He’s just told you about the second time,” said Scarlett.
“Okay, what happened the first time?”
Harq looked as though someone had stolen his heart. “Eark,” he began. I guess that was the name of another selkie. “She was—is—my sister. Her skin was stolen.”
Immediately I remembered the chest of furs in Sir Alastair’s attic and the skin that hadn’t been made into a coat. So that’s why my toe had itched. Sir Alastair had stolen Eark’s skin and hidden it in the attic, thereby forcing her to live as his wife.
Suddenly it all made sense. The skin, the naked dancing in the wood, and the slight accent that reminded me of Harq’s thicker one.
“Lady Justina is your sister,” I said.
“That bastard Sir Alastair stole her skin,” Scarlett said. “He broke the treaty made by his great-grandfather, Sir Donald. I’ve tried everything to convince him to set Eark—Justina—free. I’ve threatened and pleaded but he just laughs at me and calls me crazy for imagining he’s married to a selkie. That’s why when the other men attacked Cark, the selkies took matters into their own hands. It’s a shame they couldn’t get their hands on Alastair.”
Sometimes, during my work, I get the chance to bring real joy to people. This was one of those times.
Looking from Scarlett to Harq, I said, “I know where Justina’s—I mean Eark’s—skin is hidden. I’ll have her back in the loch tomorrow.”
“You will help us?” asked Harq. “Even after what we did to the man you call McEwen?”
I nodded. “But you must promise not to harm any more humans.”
“Of course,” he said. “As long as Eark is returned.”
It was midnight when I returned to Mac’s. I considered going straight to Maitland House but Sir Alastair would probably have Justina locked up for the night. Tomorrow would have to do. If I got lucky I would find Justina in the wood
Chapter Seventeen
I set out before breakfast. The air was bitterly cold and I huddled into my jacket as I marched up the road. When I reached the track that led into the wood, I left the road and made my way to the clearing.
A thin mist wreathed the trees but it didn’t obscure my view of the clearing, which was disappointingly empty. Lady Justina must have opted for the full English breakfast before her customary spot of woodland dancing. Either that or the cold weather had put her off. Hoping it wasn’t the latter, I hunkered down in the bushes to wait.
I was beginning to wish I’d stayed at Mac’s for another coffee, when I heard the soft crunch of leaves underfoot. A moment later Lady Justina appeared.
She was wearing a tartan shawl over her dark ankle-length dress. Apparently oblivious to the cold, she took off the shawl and draped it over a low branch. She stretched her arms toward the sky and began to dance.
“Lady Justina.”
She jumped and whirled to face me.
“Please don’t be frightened,” I said.
“I’m not frightened of you, but I didn’t expect you to be here. What do you want?”
Touching her arm, I said gently, “I know you’re a selkie.”
To my surprise she burst into tears.
“You must not tell anyone. Please.” She actually fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around my legs.
Astonished by her overreaction, I tried to reassure her. “I promise I won’t tell anyone. I want to help you.” Her arms were still locked around my legs, throwing me off balance. If she didn’t let go soon we’d both end up sprawling on the ground. “Look, maybe you should stand up.” Helping her to her feet, I said, “I’ve spoken with your brother.”
Her eyes brightened. “Is he well?”
I thought about the naked male I’d seen in Scarlett’s garden. “He looked pretty well to me.”
She gave a little smile then more tears trickled down her cheeks. “I’m so lonely. I’d give everything I have to get back to my people.”
“You don’t have to give me everything,” I said lightly. “Your eternal gratitude will be enough.”
She looked confused.
I enlightened her. “I know where your skin is hidden.”
At first she stared at me in disbelief. Slowly her expression changed. I’ve never seen such joy. If I could’ve bottled it I’d be a rich woman.
“Are you sure you know where it is?” she asked.
I nodded. “It’s in the attic.” I explained about the carved chest that contained a fox stole, a mink coat and a strange skin that had never been made into a coat. “I should have realized immediately it was a selkie’s skin.”
“That doesn’t matter now.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I must go to the attic.” Then her face fell. “But Sir Alastair’s staff watch me all the time. How will I manage it?”
“I’ll get the skin,” I said. “All you have to do is keep Sir Alastair occupied while I nip up to the attic.”
“I don’t know how to thank you, Allegra.”
I shrugged—aw shucks—and said modestly, “I’m a paranormal investigator. It’s what I do.”
We headed for Maitland House immediately, but right from the beginning luck wasn’t with us.
I had hoped to get inside without being seen, but as we approached the back of the house, Sir Alastair came out onto the patio. I guessed he had been watching for Lady Justina’s return.
He walked toward us but he spoke to me. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Allegra?”
Lady Justina said nervously, “I met her in the wood. I—I—she–”
“I needed to use the bathroom,” I said quickly.
“I see.” There was no way he believed me.
“Please, Alastair,” Lady Justina said. “She won’t take long.”
“I seem to remember,” he said dryly, “that last time she was here she spent quite a lot of time in the lavatory.”
“I promise I won’t be long this time.”
“Very well,” said Sir Alastair. “Do you remember the way or would you like Phillips to escort you?”
“I remember the way.”
“When you’re finished,” he continued, “why don’t you join us in the drawing room for tea.”
“Love to.”
I headed off in the direction of the bathroom but I didn’t go in. As I crept upstairs I knew I couldn’t risk taking her skin out of the house while Sir Alastair was hanging around. The best I could do would be to move it to Lady Justina’s room. Then I could keep him talking while she got the skin and went down to the loch. Simple. Perfect. What could go wrong?
Lots of things:
(1) I could meet Phillips on my way up to the attic.
(2) He could catch me hiding the skin in Lady Justina’s room.
(3) Sir Alastair could come in search of me.
(4) Lady Justina could get cold feet and confess our plan to Sir Alastair.
(5) I could slip on the stairs and break an ankle.
Trying not to dwell on all of the above, I headed for the attic. I couldn’t shake the feeling that at any moment Phillips would appear and enquire what I was doing creeping around the house when I was supposed to be in the bathroom. It was a relief to reach the attic without bumping into him.
I surveyed the mounds of junk. Amongst it there were no less than five carved chests. I tried to remember which one had contained the furs but it was no good. They were too similar. I was wasting time. It would be quicker to look in each of the chests.
The first one contained the long out-of-date clothes I had seen on my last visit. The second chest contained old schoolbooks. The third contained the furs.
I scooped out the fox stole and the coat that might have been mink. On my last visit Lady Justina’s skin had been directly beneath it. No, I must be mistaken
. There was another fur coat beneath the mink. I dragged it out and dumped it on the floor. Another coat lay beneath that. I pulled it out too. Then I stared deep into the chest. It was empty. I checked every other chest in the room but none contained the skin.
How had Sir Alastair known Casper and I had been in the attic? Had he followed us? I was almost certain he hadn’t. Then I realized he didn’t have to. All he had to do was check the attic after we had returned to Furness. Evidence of our nocturnal visit would have been clearly visible in the thick layers of dust.
With a sinking heart I crept downstairs and returned to the bathroom. I made a lot of noise flushing the toilet and washing my hands but it was pointless. Sir Alastair had known I would creep upstairs to the attic. Right now he was probably rubbing his hands in glee.
Trying not to look as disappointed as I felt, I made my way to the drawing room. Lady Justina was pouring a cup of tea for Sir Alastair.
“Feeling better, Allegra?” he asked.
“Fine, thank you.”
Justina gave me a hopeful lift of her eyebrows.
I shook my head.
Sir Alastair said brightly, “How about some tea?”
I accepted hoping to have a few moments alone with Justina to plan our next move, but Sir Alastair didn’t budge. He kept up a steady stream of small talk until my patience wore thin and I told him I had to get back to Furness.
When I finally left Maitland House, he was beaming in triumph. Beside him Justina looked as though she was about to mount the scaffold.
It took me a long time to retrace my steps to Mac’s. I had no wish to parade my failure in front of Douglas but sadly I was given no choice. He was waiting for me.
“You missed breakfast,” he said solicitously. “What was so important you had to run off without eating?”
“I’ve made progress with the case,” I told him.
“Well done, Allegra.”
“Not so fast, Douglas. I know what’s going on but I’m not sure I can make it right.”
“Come and tell me all about it,” he said, ushering me into the warm kitchen. “Do you want something to eat? I make a mean omelet.”
He could cook too? Why was I resisting this man? Unfortunately I was in no mood for food.
“Just make me a strong coffee, Douglas.”
His coffee tasted better than Bess’s. Much better. I took another sip of the tasty brew.
“Dinnae keep me in suspense,” said Douglas. “Tell me what you’ve found out.”
I told him about Harq and the selkies. When I got to the part about Sir Alastair stealing Justina’s skin, he murmured, “Bastard.”
Douglas was being kind. I would’ve called Sir Alastair something much worse.
Douglas said, and I thought he sounded a little sad that the case might soon be concluded, “So all that remains is to return Lady Justina to the loch.”
“There’s a problem.” I stood up and began to pace the room. “This is so frustrating. Her skin was in the attic at Maitland House. Casper and I found it the night we stayed there. I had it in my hands but I didn’t realize what it was. Now it’s gone. Sir Alastair has moved it.”
Douglas swore. “What do we do now?”
“Find it.”
He looked at me as though I was crazy.
I said, “Yeah I know. It could be anywhere.”
“Like searching for a needle in a haystack,” said Douglas miserably.
“Then we’d better get going.”
He shook his head.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, Allegra, I can’t help you,” he said. “Not today. Bess has gone to town. I have to open Mac’s.”
“Stuff Mac’s,” I said. “Lady Justina is more important.”
“Allegra, if there was the slightest chance of finding the skin I’d help you, but…” He trailed off.
“You’re right,” I said grudgingly. “Besides, I’m the paranormal investigator. It’s my job to find her skin.”
“Where will you start?”
“At the loch.”
Leaving Douglas to open Mac’s, I headed out of the kitchen and down to the shore. I was almost certain Sir Alastair wouldn’t have hidden the skin down there but I was pretty sure the crisp breeze from the loch would help me think.
Where would Sir Alastair hide the skin?
The obvious place was somewhere on his estate. Inside Maitland House? Probably not. I had a feeling he would want to move the skin well away from there. On the other hand, he might have realized that’s what I would think and done the opposite. Maybe he’d hidden the skin in his bedroom. Or maybe not. It might be buried in the wood in a locked chest. Or it might be—well, anywhere really.
I sighed. It was impossible to guess where he’d hidden it, and he must have known that. I imagined him sitting in Maitland House congratulating himself on getting the better of me.
Think again, Sir Alastair. I’ve got a trick or two up my sleeve—or should I say, in my sock.
I remembered how my toe had itched the first time I was in the attic. Then, I had assumed the presence of a ghost, but now I knew the itch had been in response to Lady Justina’s skin. I was betting that the next time I was near the skin my toe would itch again. But I knew I would to have to do a lot of walking before that happened. It was going to be a long day. The sooner I got started the more ground I would cover.
First I went to the wood. I half expected to see Lady Justina in the clearing but she wasn’t there. I walked around the perimeter, concentrating on my toe. Nothing. Not even a tingle. I went further into the wood, moving carefully, keeping a look out for Wilson’s Creag.
“Good morning.” The voice was behind me but I knew immediately who it was.
“Hi Casper.” I turned to face him.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I filled him in on the case. When I was done, I asked him, “Do you know where her skin is?”
“No.”
“Even if you knew, you couldn’t tell me, right?”
“Right.”
“Couldn’t you give me a hint? Just a little one?”
“Allegra, I really don’t know where it is. No matter what you might assume, I’m not omniscient.”
I sat down on a log and rested my chin in my hands. “If you had to guess where a man like Sir Alastair had hidden the skin…”
“He’s going to hide it in a place where he expects no one to look. But I’m sure you’ve already thought of that.”
I had, but Casper seemed to be in a giving mood. It wouldn’t hurt to press for more information. “Where would he expect no one to look?”
“Beats me,” said Casper, using one of the first expressions I’d taught him. I think I’d been about seven years old at the time. I sighed nostalgically. Life had been so uncomplicated then. No wait—that was the year Dad had been out of work and I’d been ostracized at school for not having the latest Barbie. Maybe adult life wasn’t so tough.
Apparently Casper felt nostalgic too. “I remember,” he said, “the day you taught me the meaning of ‘beats me.’ You’d been crying because the girls at school teased you for not having that little plastic doll. When I asked why having the doll was so important to your friends, you said, ‘Beats me’.”
I smiled at him. “You showed the girls your wings and told them you were an angel. They told their parents about you and they were all punished for making up lies.” I laughed at the memory. “That was very naughty of you, Casper. I’ll bet the Powers-That-Be didn’t approve.”
“I got a reprimand,” said Casper, “but it was worth it.”
“To get back at those kids?”
“To make you smile, Allegra.”
Avoiding his eyes—how could I look into them and not rush straight into his arms?—I stood up and brushed woodchips off my jeans. “I’ve rested long enough. Better start searching for this skin again.”
“I’ll come with you,” offered Casper.
“There’
s no need. It’s not like you can help me or anything.”
“No,” he agreed, “but I could use the exercise.”
Yeah right. I ran my eyes over his splendid physique. If he had an ounce of fat I couldn’t see it.
He must have noticed my skeptical glance because he asked, “You don’t mind if I join you?”
Mind? My heart soared at the prospect.
Retrieving my heart from the stratosphere, I said with feigned nonchalance, “You can come with me. I don’t mind.”
Chapter Eighteen
After searching all afternoon without experiencing even a tickle in my toe, I finally called it a day. Casper flew off to do whatever he does when we’re not together and I returned to Mac’s.
“Any luck?” asked Douglas as I walked into the bar.
I shook my head.
“We’ll have more luck tomorrow,” he said confidently, “when the whole village is involved in the search. I’ve organized a public meeting for tonight. We’ll let them know that we’re looking for—”
“You can’t do that. I promised Lady Justina I wouldn’t tell anyone she was a selkie.”
“The villagers don’t need to know who owns the skin, but just between you and me, they’ve probably guessed she’s a selkie. And most of them take the treaty seriously. They’ll want to help.”
“Okay,” I said, “but you’ve got to promise not to mention Lady Justina. Even if the villagers have guessed the truth, it’s best we don’t confirm it.”
“Done.”
Once we’d got the details out of the way, I was touched that he’d gone to the trouble of organizing the villagers.
“Thanks, Douglas. I thought I’d be on my own with this.”
“Did you really think I’d refuse to help?”
“Of course not.” Liar, liar pants on fire. I hurried on. “I’m going to have a shower. I’m filthy.”
Leaving Douglas to organize a meeting of the villagers, I hauled myself upstairs to my room. After dropping my dirty clothes on the bathroom floor, I stepped under the scalding shower. Bliss.
I was toweling myself dry when I heard a knock at the door. It sounded urgent. Clutching the towel around me, I hurried to see what was wrong.
