I had to wait to sneak into his study. I still didn’t know how many people lived in the house and occupied the dozens of rooms within its walls. Someone would snitch on me if I was seen creeping around in his wing of the house, that was for sure. So, I sat in the common room, warming my toes by the fire and pretending to read a book until the last of the people lingering around the dining room table retreated to their rooms.

I waited a while longer, listening to creaking ...