Eccentric isn't the word to descried Mrs Moore. Try as crazy as holy toast.
We open the door and she engulfs Lucinda is a bear hug. "Ahhh, my darling Lacinda!"
"Lucinda," she corrects.
Mrs Moore gives me a slap. "No one ever contradicts me!" I furrow my brows as my check wells red, I wasn't the one doing the contradicting! Mrs Moore brightens up "Come see the parrots!"
So were whisked away to meet Daisy and Buttercup, her parrots.
Sophie seems accustomed to the ladies unique ways. She whispers reassuringly to me "It’s okay, you'll get used to it."
I mutter back "That’s what I'm afraid of."
Sophie smiles, "It isn't so bad. Buttercup is really sweet."
_______________
I try and stay out of the way but when Mrs.Moore takes us back she chatters non-stop to both and we’re expected to mumble hasty replies.
Finally it’s time to leave and I see a guard walking down the hall with purposeful strides. I turn my face to the floor and am heartily surprised when the guard stops at our door. Sophie and I pick up the pace and enter at the same time as the guard.
Sophie’s mother looks up and the guard addresses her, "There has been a mix up. This servant has been taken to the wrong room; I'm here to take her. Your servant will arrive tomorrow."
The voice is clearly Joes. I hold in my laugh as he speaks in a refined voice.
The excuse seems justified and Joe takes my arm roughly and drags me out. I send a goodbye look to Sophie and she shoots me a sad glance in return.
Joe drags me away harshly his metal coated hand gripping my skin a little too tightly. "Joe!" I hiss. "Let go!"
He drops my hand like it’s on fire and winces guilty, "Sorry," he apologizes sheepishly.
I roll my eyes "Its fine, but where did you get that amour from? The armoury is on the ground level." I ponder.
Joe nods "Well. About that." He stops walking at an empty podium. There spread evenly along the corridor but the others have knights’ suits balanced on them.
Then it hits me. I raise an eyebrow "How did you get in there?"
Joe shrugs "With great difficulty. A hand getting out please?"
But before much else can happen I hear footsteps from down the hall. I push Joe onto the podium and crouch behind him. The footsteps march past and the guards’ heads never turn our way. Once there out of ear shot I breathe a sigh of relief. I give Joe a hand and balance the armour back on the podium.
"Come on." I encourage, "There’s only a day or so left before the servants are put on duty, and that’s when the security will increase. Also, after their moved from the holding hall, I won’t know where to find him." I explain.
Joe picks up the pace.
We manage to reach the stairs. I tell Joe, "There’s a secret passage in this staircase that will lead us upstairs. We can't go straight up, because it’s guarded."
Joe asked "What? Do I just press the stones and it springs open?"
"Hopefully,"
Joe opens the door, "Ladies first."
