Serafina and the Black Cloak

Growing tired, Serafina sleeps on a soft rug in front of the fire. Hours pass, and Braeden wakes. He says he hoped she would visit. She tells him about all that happened on her journey back to Biltmore. Braeden is amazed: “You’re so clever and brave, Serafina” (167). This emboldens her to ask if he sees a “normal” girl when he looks at her. Braeden says everyone is different in their own way but admits that while he normally prefers the company of Gidean and his horses, since meeting Serafina, he increasingly wants to talk with her. He worried greatly when they separated over the last two days and understands inherently that her differences make her an excellent friend.

Relieved that they are indeed friends, Serafina agrees that their differences make them compatible. Braeden gives her a present. Serafina does not even know how to unwrap it, but Braeden helps. It is a lovely dress of burgundy velvet. Braeden admits that his aunt wanted the gift to go to Clara Brahms, but he wants Serafina to have “something nice” and had nothing else to give. Serafina thanks him and kisses him on the cheek. Braeden says his aunt thought he and Clara could be friends and arranged the gift for her visit. As they talk, they hear approaching footsteps. They are quickly certain that it is the Man in the Black Cloak. Braeden says he has a secret passage by which to escape, but Serafina says they should wait. She slips closer to the door to listen. The Man tries to turn the doorknob.

Serafina watches the knob turn, but since she locked it, the man cannot get in. Serafina can feel his frustration from the other side of the door. Soon he gives up and moves on. Braeden is appreciative: “I’m glad you got here before he did” (178). They wake in the morning to Mrs. Vanderbilt’s anxious call from the hallway. Braeden shows Serafina how to hide in the passageway of vents behind a wall grate under his desk. From the vent, she hears Braeden’s aunt tell him another child is missing, this time the pastor’s son.

Serafina goes exploring the vent system. She surveils a variety of rooms; in one, Mr. Vanderbilt listens to Mr. Bendel’s and Mr. Brahms’s ideas about hiring a detective. They discuss whether the kidnapper might be one of the guests or one of the servants. Mr. Thorne translates for Mr. Rostonov (Serafina recalls how Mr. Bendel said Mr. Thorne could speak the language), but at one point, Mr. Rostonov becomes agitated, clearly upset at two words that Mr. Thorne called him: otets and batya. Without explanation, Mr. Thorne tries to apologize, but Mr. Rostonov only grows more confused and bothered. Mr. Vanderbilt breaks in to say he will organize another search party.

Serafina returns through the vent passage to Braeden’s room. She asks him about the words; he does not know, so they elect to go to the library via the passage. Serafina notices immediately how loud Braeden is in the vent—“like a herd of wild boars” (185). In the library, Serafina jumps the long distance to the floor and lands gently, but Braeden must climb slowly down a nearby set of shelves. On the wall of the library, Serafina sees a painting of a mountain lion. Braeden says it might be a catamount, or “cat-of-the-mountain.” Serafina thinks old folktales say catamounts are “changers” (189), but Braeden does not know. They look up the Russian words and are confused to discover they mean Father and Papa. Braeden says he is surprised Mr. Thorne would make such an error in translation, as he is very intelligent and capable.

Serafina convinces Braeden that they must search the rooms of the gentlemen guests for the Black Cloak. Braeden is hesitant but eventually agrees. They use the ventilation passage to sneak into Mr. Bendel’s room, then Mr. Thorne’s. They find no black cloak. They find beautiful dresses for the missing Anastasia in Mr. Rostonov’s room. They eavesdrop next on Mrs. Vanderbilt and her assistant. Mrs. Vanderbilt wants a gathering in the Banquet Hall that evening at seven—not a party or feast, just a get-together so that they may all lend one another support and safety.

Serafina hides in the pipe organ loft during the gathering. She watches Mr. Vanderbilt console the parents of the missing children; he appears to be sincere. Mr. Rostonov is absent, too “heartsick” to attend. Mr. Thorne stands near the fire, coughing. Mrs. Vanderbilt asks Mr. Thorne to play a musical composition, and though he looks hesitant, he agrees. He moves toward the pipe organ, but Braeden redirects him to the piano by saying he loves piano music. Mr. Thorne plays a haunting sonata. Afterward, Mr. Vanderbilt asks Mr. Thorne to join him and other close friends in the Billiard Room for cigars and drinks. Serafina thinks that Mr. Thorne looks a little too pleased after this invitation. Braeden steals some chicken and whipped cream for Serafina.

Serafina and Braeden meet secretly outside the bottom floor of the back of Biltmore. She eagerly downs the food and cream he took for her. Braeden is not happy to hear Serafina’s suspicions about Mr. Thorne. To Braeden, Mr. Thorne is always kind, and he saved Gidean from Mr. Crankshod. Braeden tells Serafina Mr. Thorne’s background: He lost his wealth and plantation in South Carolina in the Civil War, then started drinking. Inebriated, he fell down a well in the woods for two days and once rescued, realized he needed to turn his life around. He made his way through law school while employed as a factory worker where he learned about machinery and became a manager. Once he became an attorney, he was once again able to purchase property and become a wealthy landowner. Braeden thinks this is all proof of the man’s hard work, moral character, and ingenuity. Serafina, however, suspects Mr. Thorne’s gloves—why does he play piano with them on?—and his work with machines, wondering if he broke the dynamo intentionally. Braeden sticks up for Mr. Thorne as they talk.

Serafina next asks how the Vanderbilts came to know the Brahmses. Braeden bristles at Serafina’s questions about his uncle. He says Mr. Bendel and Mr. Thorne introduced his aunt and uncle to the Brahmses. Serafina ticks off Mr. Thorne’s many random talents and then suggests that the cloak not only murders people but consumes and “absorbs” them as well. Braeden comments that this idea is “disgusting” and is very resistant to it, but Serafina insists it might be true: “Think about it […] The owner of the cloak absorbs his victims—their knowledge, their talents, their skills” (214). This theory explains how Mr. Thorne could drive the team home (Nolan’s knowledge), play the piano so well (Clara’s talent), and speak Russian (Anastasia’s ability). She reminds Braeden that the Man in the Black Cloak wants Braeden next just as they hear the sound of someone coming.

The person is Mrs. Vanderbilt searching for Braeden. She asks with whom he was talking, but he claims he was talking to himself. When she requires him to go inside, Serafina, hiding in the bushes, half-coughs a muted directive to lock his bedroom door. She can hear by Braeden’s words that he is smiling; she is glad he is not angry with her for her idea about Mr. Thorne and the cloak. Mrs. Vanderbilt tells Braeden that she and his uncle have arranged for Braeden to go somewhere safe briefly. He does not want to go, but she insists. In the morning, Mr. Thorne will take Braeden to his [Mr. Thorne’s] home in Asheville.