Garnet or Garnets Curse

home. It was then that I found out she had been a housekeeper at the Dragos estate. Her name was Mary. She said that morning Charles ’ wife went into a rage and fired her.
    “ Charles ’ wife? ” I asked. “ He does not have a wife! ”
    “ Yes he does and her name is Harriet, ” Maria replied.
    “ Harriet! ” I said, jumping to my feet. “ Harriet is dead! ”
    “ Well, this Harriet is very much alive. Mary said that she and Victor ’ s wife, Ellen, were holy terrors to work for. She called Harriet a skinny witch and Ellen a big fat heifer. ”
    “ That just cannot be, ” I protested. “ My father said nothing about a wife and Ellen is dead too! I saw them carry her away after she fell down the stairs. ”
    Robert walked across the room and put his arm around me to comfort me. “ Garnet, did you actually see this woman fall down the stairs? ” he asked.
    I thought for a moment and replayed the scene in my head. “ No, now that you mention it, I did not. ”
    “ Were there any witnesses? ” Aaron asked.
    “ Charles and I were the first to see her body. When the servants heard me scream, they ran out just in time to see Charles and my father carrying the body away, ” I replied, as thoughts of their possible trickery ran through my head.
    “ Did a coroner come? ” Aaron continued.
    “ I have no idea, ” I said. “ The morning after Ellen fell to her death was maddening. As soon as I awoke, I was informed that Harriet was dead too. Minutes later my father and Charles escorted me out of my own home. ”
    “ What happened to Harriet? Did you see her body? ” Aaron interrogated.
    I began to feel dizzy, sat down and covered my face with my hands. It was a struggle to keep from breaking down, but after a few seconds, I answered. “ They said Harriet overdosed on medication. She was always taking sleeping tonics. No, I never saw either one of the bodies. ”
    Aaron stood up as if he was presenting a case in the courtroom. “ Garnet, I have some startling news too. Captain Julius LaBranch owned the ship that your father left on some 21 years ago. Does that name sound familiar? ”
    Before I could answer, Maria shouted out, “ Nell ’ s father. ”
    “ Correct, ” Aaron replied. “ Now it is my unpleasant duty to present the facts. Neither Captain LaBranch nor Victor Dragos earned their fortunes; they stole them. The two were business partners. Together they owned a fleet of pirate ships that terrorized all of the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the ship your father sailed on was sunk by cannon fire. ”
    “ My father is dead? ” I asked calmly.
    “ Yes, all records indicate that Victor Dragos was aboard, ” Aaron said in a passive voice. “ Now, we must examine the information before us. We are dealing with four proposed deaths. The aunt ’ s death is clearly of natural causes. However, death two and three are highly questionable. If Harriet and Ellen are dead, there should be a bill of sale of their caskets. Before going to the authorities, we must also have evidence that death number four was not Garnet Dragos, but a girl named Arlene. Lastly, in order to redeem Garnet ’ s estate we must prove that the man masquerading as her father is illegitimate. ”
    “ Aye, ” said Maria with a smile. “ I think the rest of my story might prove enlightening. When I delivered Mary to her home, I returned to the Dragos household to ask for her job. I felt confident, but did not expect to go to work immediately. A man I learned was Charles answered the door and I pleaded my case with him on the steps. He invited me in and asked me to have a seat in the front hall. He then disappeared down the hall.
    Shortly I see a woman approaching. At first glance, I am mistaken of her age, judging by her small frame and youthful dress. It was my guess that the dress belonged to Garnet. She extended her hand to me and introduced herself as Mistress Harriet. There was a bit of dialog exchanged before she asked me to begin that day. They were hosting a party and they were short staffed. She and Lady Ellen needed a handmaid to assist them with their evening attire. ”
    “ Mistress Harriet and Lady Ellen? ” I asked, trying to make some sense of this hellish nightmare.
    “ Yes, that is correct, ” Maria confirmed. “ Allow me to give you a visual of the two women. Harriet is about this high with dark frizzy hair. Her eyes are the sort that folds of skin cover the eyelashes making her appear sleepy. Oh, and