Aidan thought he might gag. Rich girls like her always got whatever they wanted, no matter the price. “Your family has enough money to buy you twenty new dresses. Your mum is with our mum right now, buying you even more.”
“Leave it,” Cormac said. “Her family has money, but not so much that she can go about mussing her gowns.”
Aidan stared at his brother. Gowns? He’d never heard him talk like that before. It was like Cormac had been taken by a spell.
“All right, then. We shall all climb the stinking chimney.” Marjorie tilted her chin up, like they were her unruly servants. Girls like her always thought they were better than everyone. “I dare you. Whoever climbs fastest wins. Unless it’s you boys who are afraid.”
His fool of a brother bristled. “I’m not afraid.” Cormac went to peer up into the chimney. “I fear nothing.”
Aidan sneered. Marjie might be able to make Cormac do her bidding, but he’d have no part. “You climb it, then, if you’re so keen to.”
His brother climbed onto the grate and stood up. His head and shoulders disappeared from view.
“Cormac!” Marjorie gasped like a maiden in a fairy tale. “You’re truly going to climb it?”
One would think Cormac had agreed to slay a dragon. The whole business was foolish. “I’m not climbing it,” Aidan said to nobody in particular.
“Hurry now. We’ve not much time before the sweeps come to Uncle’s house.” Marjorie raced to the hearth. “What’s it like in there?”
“Sticky!”
Aidan knew a flash of curiosity. He wished he could go and feel for himself, but his pride prevented him. He balled his fists instead.
“Here goes.” Cormac jumped, clambering up into the small space.
Aidan laughed. His brother’s feet were scrabbling in the air, and it made him look like an upended crab.
“Shut your trap, Aid!” Cormac shouted, then he was quiet for a time.
Aidan stole a glance at Marjorie. She gaped at the chimney like Cormac was off fighting the heathen masses, instead of simply climbing up the godforsaken flue.
He had to look away. No girl ever looked at him like that. Treacly-eyed stares seemed reserved for his brothers alone. But never for Aidan.
He shouldered past Marjorie, and went to stare blindly up into the chimney. “You still in there?”
“Move it, stink-breath. I can’t see.” Cormac scuffed his toes along the sides, sending mortar flying into Aidan’s eyes.
He scrubbed at his face, and then laughed as an idea struck him. “When the chimney boys stop their climbing, the master sweep lights a fire to get them going again.”
Marjorie pinched him, hard. “You’ll do no such thing!”
Aidan stumbled backward. “Ow! Criminy, Marj, I was only joking.”
“It’s Marjorie, you beast.”
“That’s the way, Ree,” his brother said. Why did Cormac get to call her stupid nicknames, but Aidan never could?
“Now stop breathing my air. I think it’s getting smaller up here.” Cormac’s voice was growly, like he was trying to sound the man.
“You getting scared?” Aidan taunted.
“No, I’m not getting—oh!” There was a loud scuffling inside the chimney.
Marjorie shrieked. “That’s enough, Cormac. You win! Now just come back down.”
“I best get a good prize for this, Ree,” Cormac said, and Aidan wondered what that meant. “I’m getting the way of it now. Like a wee monkey I am.”
Cormac’s laughter stopped abruptly, and he muttered, “Och, hell.”