Miss Juno stood with her mouth open. “So it’s true, then.”
“It seems it is.”
“What do I do about Miss Marnier’s things?”
“I don’t know. I suppose you could take them with you. Or leave them here for her to collect. It’s not your responsibility.”
“Poor Miss Marnier,” Miss Juno said.
“Do you think it’s true what she said about her family?” Clemmie asked.
“I don’t know. She never spoke about it, but I do know that her family is from the same region as the countess. There must be some history there. Why else would she have done this?”
This all left a bad taste in Clemmie’s mouth.
“What do you think they’ll do to her?” Miss Juno asked.
“I’m not sure. But what can they do for writing threatening messages on walls and doors? At the most, she is responsible for vandalism.”
“But the abductions. Mr. Carter is still so unwell.”
“She will blame it all on Mr. Hubert, and Oliver’s testimony shows it was him responsible for the abductions. I think through Miss Marnier’s direction, but she won’t own that part.”
And really, Mr. Hubert met with harsh justice for the part he played.
Clemmie’s thoughts were distracted by Oliver approaching. “We are free to leave,” he said. “With the constable gone, there is nothing keeping us here. So we should leave. Mr. Weber has also been very kind and has offered us a traveling picnic for the journey. Marvelous man.”
Miss Juno looked even more worried.
“Miss Juno is worried she’s stranded here,” Clemmie said and Oliver turned to her.
“Well, that is hardly fair,” he said. “You cannot simply be left behind. The countess will have to see to you.”
“Go pack your things and we’ll see what can be done,” Clemmie said to Miss Juno. “We will do the same, I think.”
Oliver nodded. “I’ve asked for the carriage to be prepared.”
And so they were leaving. After having been there for so long, their time there had come to an end so very abruptly. In a short span, they would be on their way. And it seemed they weren’t even going to wait to have a hot chocolate.
It was understandable that Oliver wanted to be on his way.
“Let’s collect our things,” Clemmie said with a reassuring smile to Miss Juno, who nodded and joined them as they walked back toward the rooms.
They parted company and Clemmie returned to her room with Oliver. Excitement was growing in her about being on their way. How could she not want to put all this behind her?
It took about half an hour to pack their trunks and they locked them before leaving them to be collected. It was still hard to believe that this was over.
“I guess we are ready to leave,” Oliver said.
Clemmie nodded and left the room. When they returned to the lobby, Mr. Weber wasn’t there. The countess and her companion were being helped into the carriage they’d waited so long to be repaired.
Miss Juno was nowhere to be seen, and Clemmie worried that she’d been forgotten. Until the carriage started moving, and they saw her sitting with the driver on the companion cart which carried their trunks. It would be an uncomfortable journey for her, but at least she was on her way home. Perhaps the countess and Miss Juno would reconcile during the journey, and if the countess still held a grudge, then perhaps Miss Juno was better off finding other employment. Miss Marnier’s accusations against the countess were probably true, Clemmie suspected. Such hate didn’t come from thin air. “I suspect the damage to the countess’ carriage was probably intentional,” Clemmie said. “They must have planned this.”
“I suppose they must have come this way before, and then hatched a plan for this return journey. Somehow Mr. Hubert knew of that cave. I doubt he simply found it.”
“That’s a long time to plan vengeance.”
“I just wish they hadn’t included other people in their vengeance,” Oliver said.
“Yes,” Clemmie agreed.
“Ah, so it is time to leave,” Mr. Weber said as he returned to his desk. “I wish it would have been a better stay for you. I have to admit this time has been very tense and uncomfortable for all. I shall hope to never experience anything like it again.”
“Yes, I cannot agree more,” Oliver said.
“How is Mr. Carter?” Clemmie asked.
“He is improving. The doctor is tending to him, so he is in good hands,” Mr. Weber replied. “I understand there has been communication with the American Embassy in Geneva. They will send a man to assist him, I believe.”
“Please send him our regards when you can, and ask him to call on us if he should ever come to London,” Oliver said.
“Of course. Now, your carriage is coming. The trunks have been loaded. I’ve asked for a hamper to be placed inside for your refreshment. And now comes the time when I wish you a wonderful journey with few surprises.”
“Thank you for all your help and support,” Clemmie said earnestly. “There were times when I felt I had few friends, and you were steadfast.”
“It was my pleasure, and I am happy that the consequences of these vile actions have not been worse.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Weber,” Clemmie said and Oliver nodded his gratitude before they walked to their waiting carriage.
Clemmie nodded to the driver before Oliver helped her in and then climbed in himself. And then they were on their way. It felt like an age since she’d sat in this carriage, and for a while, she hadn’t been able to see how she could ever leave the Belvedere Hotel, but now they were.
They carefully descended down to the village and continued through, onto lands she hadn’t seen before. Away from the ghosts and the fear. The ghosts would stay, they had always been there, and she knew in her gut they were real. The legend Miss Marnier and Mr. Hubert had used to serve their wicked purposes had turned on them and sought justice exactly as they were foretold to do.
A thought occurred to her as she sat watching the wild countryside of the Alps. “Honestly,
