Mr. Marlow laughed and laughed and she could see the tension drain from him. “I suppose it would be hard for you to imagine Diana as a young woman. She took my breath away the first time I saw her across the room. I had to meet her, to be near her, and like a moth to a flame I crossed the room to introduce myself.” He patted Miles’s arm. “I am having a hard time picturing her as someone’s aunt.”
“She is still very attractive, elegant, and stylish.” Susanna arched an eyebrow. “I know that seeing your dedication inThe Isle of Skyemade her cry. And that she spoke of your time together fondly with no bitterness. Perhaps when we are ready to go home, you could join us. We could reintroduce you to your lost love.”
“Don’t beat around the bushes then,” Miles muttered as he selected a card from the pile and then set down a trick face up on the table.
She glared at him. “I won’t, as my express purpose in tracking down Mr. Marlow was to invite him to see her.” Turning back to Marlow, she flashed her most persuasive smile. “I do so hope you will consider it, Mr. Marlow.”
“I will,” Marlow replied. He set down three cards.
They continued to play, although Mr. Marlow was more subdued. She hoped his silence was because he was considering her proposal and not because she had annoyed him. Susanna had just taken her fourth trick in a row when she realized that not once during play had Miles asked the rules of the game. She set her cards face down on the table.
“Miles, you remember how to play loo.”
He glanced down at his cards and then back up. He shrugged. “I suppose so. I didn’t really think about it.”
“But you do have memories you can access. Perhaps it is slowly coming back.”
“I also remember how to dress myself. That’s no miracle.”
“Quick, what’s your favorite food?”
“Apple tart.”
“Yes! Don’t you see, you can remember some things.”
“How do I know my favorite food but not recognize my own name? Nothing makes sense.” He ran a hand over the stubble on his jaw. He hadn’t shaved since they arrived and he had quite the beard growing. She hadn’t said anything, but it was so unlike him to ignore his personal grooming.
“Let’s try something else. Mr. Marlow do you have a chess board?”
“Yes. It’s just here in the cabinet.” He crossed the room and returned with the board and a velvet bag full of pieces. The board was fine looking with dark mahogany trim and mother-of-pearl inlay for the white squares. The pieces were all carved from marble.
“This is a lovely set.” She ran a finger over the beautifully carved black knight.
“My aunt and uncle were avid chess players. If we are done playing cards then I will leave you to play chess. I have some things to take care of for the estate.”
“Of course, we will see you at supper,” she replied.
Susanna set up the chess pieces. “Let’s play. Which side do you want to be?”
“White.”
She grinned. “Yes, that’s right, you always like to play white.”
Miles smiled back. He moved his pawn to e4. “Why do you let me choose if you know I will go first?”
“Because I like a challenge.”
After several moves back and forth, Miles stared down at the board for a long time.
“Having trouble deciding what to do?” she teased him.
He picked up one of his rooks and studied it. “This reminds me of something. Wait, it’s Daniel’s home. By the gates there are a pair of stone rooks with…birds on top?”
“Yes. The estate was purchased for your mother. Your parents loved to play chess.”
Miles nodded slowly. Then he looked up with a grin. “I remembered.”
His smile was so boyishly exuberant she couldn’t help but reach over and squeeze his hand. “See? It will all return if you just give it some time.”
