A Collector of Hearts by Sally Quilford

Blake.
                “She stole the Cariastan Heart,” said Mrs Oakengate. “She
was near to me just beforehand and snatched it from me whilst the lights were
out. I saw her dashing away as they came up again.”
                “She can’t have,” said Blake. “She was with me when the
lights went out.”
                “Oh you would say that. No doubt she’s fooled you too. I
knew I shouldn’t have taken on someone whose parents were so notorious.”
                Caroline turned to her employer indignantly. “How on
earth does it follow that if my parents were both spies that it would turn me into
a thief? That doesn’t even make sense.”
                “Stealing state secrets. Stealing expensive jewellery.
It’s all the same,” said Mrs Oakengate. “I knew there was something going on
here this weekend, but I hardly believed it was my own companion.”
                “I’ll call the police,” said Jack Henderson. “Then we’ll
sort this out.”
                “No,” said Mrs Oakengate. “I don’t want a scandal.
Caroline, if you just give it back to me, we’ll forget the whole thing. Of
course, I won’t be able to employ you anymore, but you can hardly expect
otherwise.”
                Caroline felt as if her life were spiralling out of
control. The whole thing was ludicrous. Just because her parents were spies did
not automatically make her a thief. She also began to wonder about Blake. Had
this been what he was involved in? If so, that would mean that he had used her
as an alibi, by saying he was with her when the lights went out. But it also
made him her alibi, so that did not make sense. Unless…. Unless he had an
accomplice. Someone who dressed up as Lady Cassandra. It went back to who had
suggested Caroline’s costume. She still doubted it was her employer’s idea.
“Mrs Oakengate,” she said, as calmly as she could. “Whose idea was it that I
dress as Lady Cassandra tonight?”
                “It was mine. I’ve already told you that. You look just
like her.”
                “Please forgive my rudeness, Mrs Oakengate, but you’re
not the most insightful woman in the world.”
                “I won’t forgive that.”
                “Well, as you’ve just fired me, it hardly matters if I’m
rude to you or not, does it? And as I’ve been wrongly accused of stealing, I
think I’ve every right to ask questions.” Caroline took a deep breath, to try
to calm her fevered mind. “In fact, Mr Henderson I would like you to call the
police. Get them here now, and have everyone searched.”
                “No,” said Mrs Oakengate. “We’re not going to do that.”
                “Why ever not?” asked Blake. “Someone has stolen a
priceless jewel. Your priceless jewel. Why on earth would you not want the
police involved in retrieving it?” There was something in his eyes that
Caroline could not fathom. As if he knew something he was not telling. He
almost seemed to be challenging Mrs Oakengate.
                “I have my reasons,” said Mrs Oakengate. “And those
reasons are none of your business. Now, Caroline, I ask you once again, give me
the Cariastan Heart back and you will be free to leave here.”
                “With everyone thinking I’m a thief,” said Caroline. “I’m
sorry, Mrs Oakengate, but that’s not good enough.”
                Count Chlomsky stepped forward, and took Mrs Oakengate’s
arm. “Dear lady, why don’t you tell the truth about the Cariastan Heart?” He
spoke quietly, so that only Mrs Oakengate, Caroline, Blake and Jack Henderson
could hear.
                Mrs Oakengate’s mouth opened in an expression of shock.
“What do you know about it?”
                “I will leave it to you to tell the truth, to Miss Conrad
alone if you prefer. Then,