Heather Song (24 page)

A minute or two later, the door closed again and the bolt slid into place inside.

I ventured another peep from our hiding place just in time to see the light of the kitchen window go black again.

“It’s clear,” I said softly. “Let’s go.”

We darted out and ran on the grass as far as the southern limit of the lawn. We slowed and tiptoed across the gravel drive. As careful as we tried to be, the silence was so deep at one in the morning that the faint crunch of our steps across the gravel was still audible. Reaching the wall, we crept alongside the end of the west wing, then hurried across the opening into the central courtyard to the western wall of the little-used south wing. Its high, windowless wall protected us from the entire rest of the castle, and we crept along in darkness until we reached the southeast corner. Rounding it, we arrived at last at the old door to the nineteenth-century servants’ quarters. I knocked as lightly as possible.

No reply came.

Another knock…nothing.

I thought to try the latch. I was astonished to find that it gave way easily under my touch, without so much as a hint of rust or scraping. I pushed gently. The door swung back noiselessly on its hinges.

We stepped inside. I closed the door as gently as I could, easing it back into place against its casing without so much as a sound, then
s-l-o-w-l-y
released the latch, keeping my hand carefully on it until I was sure no inadvertent clunk or clank would betray us.

Now we truly found ourselves in pitch blackness.

“Where should we go?” asked Alicia.

“What are you asking me for?” I said. “I’ve been gone a year. I thought
you
were leading this expedition.”

“Me—you own the place!”

“I feel like a burglar, not a duchess. Actually,” I added, “I’m not sure I even know where we are.”

We didn’t have long to wait. A beam of light came bobbing down the stairs directly in front of us. To our great relief, at last Nicholls appeared.

“I am sorry about the wait,” he said. “That Farquharson was a bit of a bother. This way, ladies, I will escort you to your quarters.”

We followed our unlikely squire up the narrow staircase, and soon found ourselves in a small but serviceable room. I had myself been in this portion of the castle only two or three times. The rooms hadn’t been used in three-quarters of a century. A musty aroma of age and mildew clung to the walls. Yet belying what our nostrils told us, there sat two beds made up with fresh linens, pillows, and duvets. Folded towels were supplied on the top of each, and a small table held a lamp, a pitcher of water, glasses, cups, a water-cooker, a bowl of fruit and biscuits, and all the necessary supplies for tea.

“Nicholls, my goodness!” I exclaimed. “This is lovely. Accommodations fit for the queen herself.”

“’Tis hardly worthy of your homecoming, Your Grace, but perhaps for a temporary government in exile, I hope you will be able to manage.”

“We will manage, but how did
you
manage it?”

“By stealth, my lady,” he replied. “When Miss Forbes brought me into her confidence two days ago outside Slorach’s Hardware, I began laying in stores—now a pillow, now a blanket, an electric heater. I got Campbell to help me lug the two mattresses and heater from storage and we were fortunate not to be seen. Then last night after the castle was asleep, I managed to creep in and clean the room and make the beds and lubricate the door and hinges to make certain we would not be heard.”

“I am touched and deeply appreciative of your efforts,” I said. “Did you tell Campbell what it was about?”

“I hope I judged the man right, my lady…I did indeed. You will hardly believe the light that flashed in his eye. He was a boy again, taking up his claymore to march with the bonnie prince! He’s one of your men, Duchess!”

“Bless the dear man!” I said.

“But I made him promise not to tell his wife,” added Nicholls. “You can never be too sure of the talk that goes around a kitchen. Mrs. Urquhart has a powerful hold over women.”

“I must say, these beds appear laid out by a professional!”

“My mum made sure her sons as well as her daughters could keep house,” Nicholls said, smiling. I had almost forgotten his killer smile.

“Then we owe her our gratitude as well.”

“I do wish the accommodations might have been better, my lady,” added Nicholls, “but as things stand at the far end, I fear we have little choice. The distance is enough that you will not be heard. Being an interior room the light will not be seen. It is spartan, but I hope you will not be here long. You have supplies for tea, some fruit and cheese and biscuits. The loo and tub down the corridor are in working order and I hope clean enough even for two ladies until the castle is yours again.”

“Thank you, Nicholls, again…for everything. We could not do this without you.”

“I will come to you as soon as I am able in the morning for whatever may be your instructions. Again, my lady, let me say welcome home, and that I am pleased to be back in your service.”

“Thank you, Nicholls, very much.”

The good man departed, leaving Alicia and me alone, feeling a little like housebreakers. At the same time we were revived and energized by the successful completion of our clandestine siege.

“This is exciting!” I said, sitting down on one of the beds. “I wish I had a harp—I would play a victory ballad! When was the last time you spoke with Mr. Crathie?”

“Earlier today. I told him what we were going to try to do.”

“Did he have any other instructions?”

“Only to call him day or night with any news.”

“Then I will,” I said.

I took out the mobile phone he had given me and auto-rang the number.

“Mr. Crathie,” I said. “I’m sorry it’s so late…it’s Marie—everything went fine. We’re in!”

“Undetected?” he asked groggily.

“We believe so. Nicholls was spotted, but not Alicia or me. We’re in a little-used wing where Nicholls set up sleeping quarters for us.”

“Good, excellent. Get some sleep. I shall be in touch tomorrow, or possibly the next day. The worst of it is behind us. I must say I am greatly relieved. If Mrs. Urquhart sees you now, there’s nothing she can do. Good work! Don’t worry about your things at the hotel, I will bring them. But don’t leave the castle. We must keep you there until your position is secure.”

I
don’t know what time we finally got to sleep, probably not until after 3:00 a.m. Alicia and I were so keyed up at first that sleep was the farthest thing from our minds. In the intoxication of our success, and knowing we were out of earshot, we began to get silly—two schoolgirls again, only this time at the
beginning
of summer after a long absence. I can’t even remember what we talked about, but after the tension and ordeal of the last week, following so closely on the heels of my father’s long decline and eventual death, it felt
so
good to laugh again with a friend.

When I began to come to myself after a sound sleep, the room was still pitch black, as how could it not be with no windows. I fumbled for my watch, then heard a voice.

“Are you awake?” whispered Alicia.

“I am,” I said. “So if we both are, let’s get a light on. What time is it?”

“A little after ten,” replied Alicia. “I woke up a few minutes ago.”

It took some feeling about in the dark, but we soon had the lamp and electric heater on and water boiling and tea brewing and plans being made for who would take the first bath.

“What is the state of my studio and the Music Room?” I asked.

“They’re about the same,” answered Alicia. “At least when I was here, she hadn’t made any changes, except getting rid of your harps. She rarely uses that room. What are you thinking?”

“I am thinking that if we don’t hear anything from Mr. Crathie by midafternoon, what do we have to be afraid of? I would like to reclaim my right to that room at the very least. If this is an infiltration campaign, that will be our beachhead. You are probably still more familiar with the passageways and stairways than I am— Can you get us there from here without detection?”

“I am pretty sure that we can go from here up to the third floor, then across through the storage loft through the east wing, then down the supply staircase to the first floor using the library stairs—the back staircase, I mean, not the main one—and through the library and across to the Music Room and your studio. As long as no one is using the laundry or library.”

“I doubt Olivia, Adela, Farquharson, or Campbell spend much time in the library,” I said. “What about my harps? You mentioned they’re in a storeroom?”

“Down in the basement below the east wing.”

“That might be more difficult, then…unless we can get Nicholls to help. He can still come and go.”

“If she saw him carrying or wheeling a harp about, Olivia would be down on him in a flash. I only hope your harps are still there. I’ve been worried she might sell them or even give them away.”

“She wouldn’t dare!”

“Don’t be too sure.”

“Then that decides it,” I said. “At least
one
of my harps comes back to the studio, and today!”

After baths and the most exquisite breakfast of tea and cheese and oatcakes, I was ready to take the next step in this campaign.

Nicholls came to us sometime after eleven. I told him that I wanted to retrieve one or both of my midsized harps from the storage room and have them brought to my studio. Could he manage it somehow?

“I believe so, my lady. I chanced to get wind that Mrs. Urquhart is going to Crannoch early in the afternoon.”

“Will she want you to drive her?”

“’Tis doubtful, my lady. She mostly drives herself. I’ve become ‘persona non grata,’ as I believe they say. I could bring the harp up then. I’d have to take it outside, around the corner, and to the service elevator. I might be seen. Cruickshank watches my every move.”

“We will take that chance. If she sees you, what will it hurt?”

“How will I know which harp to bring, my lady?”

“There should be one very large harp, two very small ones that you could pick up with one hand, and two in-between-sized ones— Is that right, Alicia?…
Journey
is at the hotel; I had the two new ones sent to Canada…Yes, there should be five still here in all. So bring either one of the midsized harps. There may be a small wheel-cart with them, if she had that removed with the harps as well. Otherwise, I think you will be able to manage carrying it.”

“I’m sure I shall, my lady. I will be very careful.”

“We will be in the Music Room at two. If Adela sees you, invite her to join you. I have nothing to hide from her. If she asks what you are doing, say you are under orders from the duchess and leave it at that. If she doesn’t like it, as I say, invite her along!”

Feeling fresh in spite of having to wear our walking clothes from the night before, excited, and reasonably rested, Alicia and I set out through the castle about one. Getting to the Music Room proved easy enough. The castle was so big that, if you kept your wits about you and listened for footsteps, it wasn’t so very difficult to keep out of sight and not be heard. Going slow, with many stops and only two or three false turns from having to take the most circuitous route, we arrived at our destination in less than fifteen minutes. The Music Room as well as my studio end of it looked exactly the same. My heart swelled just to stand inside the wonderful room again. It contained so many memories. For the first time I felt like I was really back in Castle Buchan.

A little less than an hour later, Nicholls appeared right on schedule. When my eyes fell on the
Aida
, it was like seeing a long-lost old friend rescued from a kidnapper. It looked no worse for wear other than two broken strings.

“Thank you, Nicholls,” I said excitedly. “Did you see Adela?”

“Thankfully no, my lady. Is there anything more I can do for you?”

“Just don’t be too far away in case we need you. Leave the door ajar when you go—I’m not going to hide.”

I checked the drawer in the sideboard and found my string supply still intact. I put on the new strings, and quietly set about retuning them all.

“Shall we have a little fun with Olivia?” I said sometime around three when I assumed she was back.

“What did you have in mind?” asked Alicia.

“Oh, I don’t know…something like this!”

I set the levers, then played out an F7 glissando up and down the strings several times as loud as I could.

Alicia’s eyes popped out. “She’ll hear you!”

“You think so?” I said, then repeated the brief slide up the strings even louder. Already I detected a slight stretching in the two new strings, and retuned them. Then I began to play: “Will Ye No’ Come Back Again”…“Charlie Is My Darling”…“The Black Isle”…“Wild Mountain Thyme”…“MacPherson’s Lament”…​“Highland Cathedral”…even a triumphant verse or two of “Scotland the Brave,” and others as they flowed effortlessly from one to another.

It felt so good to make music in this room again! Not since I had returned to Canada had my fingers and heart felt truly
one
. Today they did. Gradually the music of Scotland gave way to the music of the angels, with reminders of Alicia’s “Heather Song,” and at length I found myself playing Gwendolyn’s music.

Fittingly, it was those haunting melodies that eventually brought Gwendolyn’s aunt to investigate what could be causing this musical disturbance at the heart of her domain. We heard footsteps in the corridor, then Olivia came through the door and stopped, gazing in shock at the sight before her.

I glanced toward her as if nothing were out of the ordinary, but kept playing. Gradually my hands stilled and Gwendolyn’s music, as it often did, drifted peacefully away into silence. I turned toward Alasdair’s sister.

“Hello, Olivia,” I said.

I must give Olivia Urquhart credit, when the situation demanded it, she could maintain remarkable poise. I detected the fire in her eyes and the smoke coming out of her ears as she came into the room and saw Alicia and me sitting there. Now, only a few seconds later, she forced a smile and advanced toward me.

“Marie,” she said softly, “this
is
a surprise. How nice to see you again.”

I rose and went forward to meet her. She offered her hand. I took it and we shook hands…limply, lifelessly on both our parts. We both knew we were playing a game. But we went along with the pretended cordiality.

“You should have let me know you were coming,” she said, moving into her dreamy, beguiling, mesmerizing voice. “I could have prepared a
guest
room for you.”

I doubted that her phrasing and choice of word were accidental.

“Where
are
you staying, Marie dear?” she added.

“I was at the Crannoch Bay for a couple of nights,” I replied.

“But wanted to see your former home—I understand, for old times’ sake. How did you, ah…”

“How did I manage to get in when you had the locks changed and gates installed?” I said bluntly.

Olivia smiled as if humoring a child. “It seemed best under the circumstances,” she said. “New ownership is always so awkward and difficult for people to accustom themselves to. As I did not intend to continue the unpleasant come-and-go policies of my brother, I thought gates the simplest solution. I’m sure you would have done the same in my position.”

“I would not have done the same at all. I think what you have done is a travesty.”

“Ah, well, that is, of course, your opinion. But as you are no longer in a position to interfere in my affairs, it really doesn’t matter, does it? Did you, ah, speak with Adela? Was it she who allowed you access?”

“I have not seen Adela,” I said, “though I am aware that you replaced Alicia with her.”

“Yes.” Olivia nodded. “Again, I thought it best. Miss Forbes and I were no longer seeing eye-to-eye about many things.”

“Such as mail delivery?” I asked.

“I’m afraid I do not understand you, Marie dear. Even as the new duchess, there are certain things that remain outside my control. So, were the gates not locked?” she went on. “I saw no car outside— Did you come by taxi?”

“No, we walked in,” I replied. “Actually, I have no idea whether the gates were opened or closed.”

Puzzled and clearly unnerved by this breach in her security, Olivia nevertheless did not pursue it.

“And you will continue on at the Crannoch Bay for your visit, or will you perhaps be staying with friends?” she asked, casting a brief glance in Alicia’s direction.

“My immediate plans are, shall we say, in flux,” I replied. “Like you, I am facing changes in my life that will require adjustments by many people. You may be one of them, Olivia.”

“I see, though I fail to grasp how anything in your life could possibly concern me. As I say, had I known, we might have made some possible arrangement to accommodate you, out of courtesy to my brother’s memory. However, under the circumstances, with you coming in apparently without permission—in what would in all likelihood be viewed by the authorities as trespassing—I do not see how I could entertain as a guest one who—”

Alicia was not about to let the subtle condescension continue. She was no longer intimidated by Olivia, and had finally had enough.

“Marie is not here as a
guest
, Olivia!” she blurted out. “She is not staying at the Crannoch Bay. She will not be staying with friends. She is staying
here
! She has returned to take possession of Castle Buchan.”

“And
you
!” Olivia spat as she spun around to face her. “What do
you
have to do with it other than sneaking about where you have no right to be?”

“I have nothing to do with it,” replied Alicia. “But Marie has everything to do with it. She is not trespassing, but exerting her legal rights. It is
you
who are trespassing, Olivia.”

At last Olivia’s eyes flashed visibly with fire.

“You deceitful little hussy!” she cried. “How did you get in—climb the fence, bribe one of the maids? I told you I did not want to see your face on my property again, and this time I will make you pay for your insolence. If you do not leave, the police will be here within thirty minutes, and believe me, I
will
bring charges.”

Alicia sat unmoving. Olivia turned again toward me. Her face was red, but she tried to regain a portion of her composure.

“I don’t know what lies she has told you, Marie,” she said. “But I am certain they are just that—lies. I do not want to see you hurt. I have nothing against you personally, even though I believe you hastened the death of my poor niece. But you must understand that I cannot sit idly by and listen to absurdities and accusations. I am sorry, but you will need to leave…immediately, I’m afraid. Perhaps if you can talk some sense into Alicia, and with an apology, I might be persuaded to be lenient. Then perhaps you can come back for a visit, through proper channels rather than this sneaking about. But if you do not leave my property, I cannot be responsible for the consequences to either of you.”

She turned and left the room.

Alicia and I looked at each other with expressions that silently shouted,
Whoa!

“What now?” Alicia asked. “Are we going to leave?”

“Of course not,” I replied. “We are not going to kowtow to threats.”

“She
will
call the police,” said Alicia. “If I know her, she will tell them that there has been a break-in at the castle and that she has the trespassers in custody. She won’t tell them who we are, so they will come expecting hoodlums.”

“Making it sound like an emergency and robbery attempt. A clever way to get the police here in a hurry, planning to make an arrest.”

“What shall we do?”

“You are going to call Mr. Crathie immediately to tell him I blew it and confronted Olivia and that he had better come rescue us. That’s what
you
are going to do. As for me, I am going to keep playing my harp.”