“You asked for me, Miss Moon?” Violet said, standing in the doorway.
Angry shouting could be heard floating up the staircase.
“Yes, please shut the door.”
Before Violet could close the door, a standard white poodle pushed past Violet and sat before Mona whimpering.
“Who is this?” Mona asked, scratching the dog behind the ears.
“Moon Manor has lots of dogs, but she was Mr. Manfred’s favorite. She’s been awfully blue since your uncle’s death.”
“What’s her name?”
“Chloe.”
“Has anyone in the family claimed her?”
“She was supposed to be put in the kennel before your arrival. I’ll put her out.”
“No, leave her. I like dogs. She’ll be fine.”
“If you say so, Miss.”
“Do you have the key?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Are there only two keys to this room?”
“I think so, Miss.”
“I want you to keep one key on you at all times. You are to guard it closely. Give it to no one, and keep it in a safe place on your person.”
Violet looked puzzled but nodded.
“I will keep the other key with me as well. This room and the adjoining maid’s room will be locked at all times. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Miss, but how will Mabelle clean?”
“She won’t. You will.”
“Oh,” Violet sighed unhappily, as a lady’s maid didn’t usually clean.
“Your duties are going to change. No one is allowed into this suite except you and me. You are to take care of my rooms and my clothes. Does this key fit all the locks for this bedroom and the maid’s room?”
“Yes, Miss Moon.”
“Does this key fit other locks in the house?”
“Not to my knowledge, Miss. Each bedroom has its own key.”
“Very well. Each time you go out of my rooms, you will lock the door. Each time you enter these rooms to work, you will lock the door behind you. Understood?”
“Yes, Miss.” Violet jumped when a knock sounded at the door. “That must be Samuel and Isaac with your trunks.”
“Let them in. Then lock the door. Show them to the bathroom and dressing room. Get my aunt’s things out of here.”
Violet opened the door, letting in two young men carrying Mona’s heavy steamer trunks.
They stood sheepishly beside Violet waiting for instructions.
“Put the trunks in the dressing room. Violet will show you. Where is Aunt Melanie’s luggage?”
Violet offered, “She keeps her luggage in one of the closets in the dressing room.”
“Good. Her things should be easy to pack.”
“Where should we take her belongings?” Samuel asked.
Mona replied, “To her house, I should think.”
Isaac spoke up, “It’s not going to be easy to shed Miss Melanie. She’s brewing a terrible storm downstairs. Cussing too. Not too ladylike if you ask me.”
“Hush, Isaac. Not our place to say,” Samuel hissed.
“Take her luggage downstairs and leave it on the front driveway. Tell Jamison to take the luggage to Aunt Melanie’s house.”
“He’s not here,” Samuel said.
“Where is he?”
“Jamison took Mr. Deatherage home.”
“Of course. Well, leave the luggage in the driveway and tell Jamison to take it over to Aunt Melanie’s house when he gets back. That includes my cousins’ belongings as well.”
Samuel and Isaac glanced at each other before following Violet through the bathroom.
Mona called out, “Violet, bring me one of Aunt Melanie’s hatboxes.”
Violet dutifully hurried to Mona and handed her a large hatbox.
Mona went through the nightstands, desk, and chests in the room, throwing items into the hatbox. Coming across an address book and a packet of letters, Mona kept them, tucking them in her purse. She also kept a calendar, as well as an old bank statement. After cleaning out the drawers, she checked under the mattress, then the bed, finding nothing but dust bunnies.
Fifteen minutes later, Violet entered the main bedroom and announced, “We are ready, Miss Moon.”
“We need to execute this carefully. If I’m correct, my aunt and Mrs. Haggin will be outside the bedroom door waiting for us to open it.”
Violet nodded.
“Tell Samuel and Isaac to leave by the maid’s door with the luggage once they hear footsteps running down the main staircase. Have them use the same staircase and go out the front door. If my plan goes right, everyone will be scurrying to the back of the house.”
“What will I be doing, Miss?”
“You will be explaining through the door to my aunt and Mrs. Haggin that if they don’t vacate the second floor, all my aunt’s belongings will be thrown from the balcony.”
Violet’s face drained of color. “I don’t know, Miss. Sounds awfully drastic to me.”
“It will work. Now let’s start.”
After Violet gave Samuel and Isaac their instructions, she came back and approached the bedroom door.
Mona gave her an encouraging look.
Violet asked in a quivering voice. “Mrs. Haggin, are you there?”
Two muffled voices sounded as if discussing the question.
“I’m here, Violet. Open this door at once,” Mrs. Haggin demanded.
“I’m afraid I can’t. I’m to let you know that if you don’t go downstairs, Miss Melanie’s things will be thrown off the balcony.”
“This is outrageous!” Aunt Melanie bellowed, her words slightly slurring. “You better not touch my possessions.”
“Sorry, ma’am, but everything has been packed. You’re not to cause any trouble. If you do, Miss Moon says your beautiful clothes will be thrown out for you to collect. Please Miss Melanie, don’t cause mischief.”
Melanie shouted, “How dare you talk to me that way!”
A masculine voice intervened. “Mother, do come away. You’re making a scene. There’s a better way to handle this.”
Hoping to bluff the women, Violet shouted, “Ma’am, Miss Moon is tossing your luggage over the railing now. Oh my goodness! Everything has dashed out onto the lawn, and the dogs are sniffing about. Hurry before the dogs do their business.”
Violet jumped when someone violently kicked the door, but soon heard the clank of the elevator door close, followed by the rattle of cables as the elevator descended to the first floor. She pressed her ear against the door. “I think they’re gone, Miss Moon.”
“Good. Tell the lads to skedaddle. Luckily our ruse worked and the path is free.”
Violet rushed to Samuel and Isaac who jerked the maid’s door open and hurried down the front staircase, with their burdens thumping on each stair.
Locking the maid’s door, Violet went back into the bedroom where she found Mona watching out the windows.
Seeing Mrs. Haggin and Aunt Melanie rounding the corner, Mona pulled back from the window and sat at the desk. “Well, that’s done.”
“Oh, Miss, I hope you haven’t started something you can’t finish. Miss Melanie is awfully strong willed. Only your uncle could control her.”
“Thank you for the warning, Violet. Now will you fetch me some hot tea and a couple of sandwiches.”
“Surely.”
“And leave your key here. Give five taps when you knock, and I’ll know it’s you.”
Violet put the key on the desk and fled. She was pleased Miss Melanie had been thwarted, and her look of anxiety changed to a conspiratorial expression of delight. She didn’t know what to make of the new mistress, but knew life would not be dull at Moon Manor.