Last Wish (Highland Magic #4)(13)
We were lucky that it was a cloudy night because the moon was almost obscured, making it easy to slip unnoticed to the main buildings. I spotted a couple of others wandering about the grounds, no doubt under orders to keep the Bull safe, but they didn’t glance in our direction.
Buoyed up by our success so far, I sped up, knowing that the others would keep pace. Before long, I was standing in front of the old oak door leading into the Scrymgeour kitchens. Taylor was breathing heavily – it was a long time since he’d participated physically in any heists – but there was no denying the gleam in his eyes. He’d missed this. Perhaps we all had.
The door was locked and bolted from the other side. Opening it wasn’t impossible but there were easier ways to gain entry than to waste time fiddling around and trying to pick the lock. I spotted a grimy window high up in the right corner of the wall. If the Bull had been re-modelling, he hadn’t done anything to change the exterior. Not that the comfort of his servants had ever been his concern; he’d always demanded that the kitchen door be kept closed so the grounds staff couldn’t wander in to nab some food whenever they wanted. It could get mightily hot when the kitchen was in full swing, however, so back in my day that little window was always left open to provide ventilation. It appeared that nothing had changed.
I jerked my chin and the others understood instantly. Brochan strode over and pressed his back against the wall before cupping his hands. I lifted my foot onto his makeshift step and pushed myself upwards until my heels were on his shoulders. Then Speck shunted Lexie upwards. His hands lingered on her arse – that was definitely a new development since we’d last done this manoeuvre – until she gained enough purchase to clamber up both Brochan and myself to reach the little gap. The pixie shimmied inside head first. There was a faint clatter as she landed on something metal on the other side. I froze for a moment, waiting to see if the noise had alerted anyone. When the silence continued, I dropped down and dusted off my palms.
Unbolting the door to let us in, Lexie gave us a little curtsey and an apologetic glance. She pointed at a large saucepan which she must have knocked down during her descent. No harm, no foul; I shrugged and patted her shoulder. From here on in, however, we had to be as silent as the grave.
Leading the way, I padded through the tiled kitchen, noting the differences since I’d last been here. A sudden image of the head cook slapping me for tardiness rose unbidden in my head but I choked it back down. I could reminisce later.
Using memory rather than sight, I went to the interior door and nudged it open with my toe to reveal the long, dimly lit corridor ahead. I paused, head cocked, but I couldn’t hear a thing beyond the faint buzzing from one of the wall sconces. With a quick signal to the others, I made a beeline for the Bull’s study. No one was allowed inside – even Tipsania had been roundly scolded one day for daring to snoop while her father was away – and at this hour the Bull himself would be in his quarters snoring like a foghorn. It was the place where we were least likely to risk discovery and also where he would keep any information about the upcoming wedding.
I turned right then left and right again before emerging into the main hall. There was a sudden eep from behind me. Alarmed, I spun round; Speck was clasping his heart and staring, stricken, at an ancient suit of armour. I frowned at him and he looked embarrassed. Bob, taking every opportunity to assert himself, flew into Speck’s face and put his finger to his lips in overly dramatic outrage. At least he did it quietly.
Apart from the occasional creak of a floorboard and the heavy tick from the grandfather clock next to the armour, everything was silent. This was proving to be a piece of cake.
Our mute train continued, twisting down corridors until we reached the room I needed. Just to be on the safe side, I leaned towards it and cupped my ear against its reassuringly solid door. No one was inside. I tried the handle, delighted that the Bull relied on his Clan’s obedience and had left it unlocked, and pushed it open. We shuffled in and closed it behind us. Yahtzee. We were finally inside.
As it was one of the few rooms I’d never entered during my time here, I was curious to see what secrets it held. The reality was disappointing; it looked like any other study anywhere in the world. There were bookshelves containing row upon row of leather-bound tomes, none of which, I noted sardonically, had cracked spines. It was no surprise that the Bull wasn’t much of a reader. He also wasn’t very clean or tidy. Despite the lack of a lock, he guarded the interior of this study too carefully to allow anyone inside to dust or sweep up and the results were obvious. There was a thick layer of grime along the windowsill, making me glad that we’d not entered that way, and several messy piles of papers on the desk. And, in the far corner and in plain sight, an old-fashioned safe.
Taylor cracked a grin and stepped over to it. He ran his hand across its top in admiration. ‘I’ve not seen one of these models for years,’ he whispered. ‘What a beauty.’
Lexie scrunched up her face. ‘It’s ancient,’ she said with a note of disgust. ‘I’d been hoping for a challenge.’
Taylor wagged his finger at her. ‘Now, now,’ he warned. ‘Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s weak.’
‘Are you talking about yourself, old man, or about the safe?’
He jabbed a mock punch in her direction. ‘Have some respect for your elders. One must wait until evening to see how glorious the day has been.’