Ah, yes, he’d embrace whatever pleasure life presented in the now.
They had shared a comfortable late morning meal. She’d initially picked at her food, quietly, until he’d asked after her daughters’ schooling. Afterwards, they ventured outside for a short walk, but returned quickly, unwilling to wade through the mud again.
Eve was polite to everyone they met, and during a short conversation with the innkeeper’s wife, discovered the existence of a very small library set off from the tap room. This provided a few hours of amusement for them. Both favored several authors in common and despite the pain Niles experienced with each breath, what ought to have been a banal afternoon, proved to be rather enjoyable.
This woman.
Her company had made yesterday quite tolerable as well.
“Can the bishop jump other pieces?” Eve’s question drew his attention back to the board they’d discovered set up near the window. She’d confessed to not having played in years. She could not remember all the rules, she’d admitted. A game was exactly what they needed. He wasn’t certain either of them was ready to return to the chamber he’d rented.
“Only the knight can jump.” He patiently explained, watching her fingers turn the piece so she could study it. Although it was not an expensive looking set, someone had put a great deal of care into carving the wooden pieces.
Once play began, she caught on rather quickly. Already, she was establishing her pawns in the center of the board.
“It’s difficult to plan one’s moves far in advance.” She scrunched her nose up, deep in concentration. “And contemplate every possible scenario.” She frowned and then slowly slid her bishop across the board making it so that she could utilize her queen.
Which was exactly what he’d failed to do the entire course of this journey. Examine every possible scenario. Plan his moves in the unlikely event that he might find himself sharing a bed with her.
“Emotions cloud your strategy,” she added.
Indeed, they did. He could escort her back to their chamber. And then what? Turn his back while she donned that ridiculously large night dress? Feign sleep when she climbed into the bed with him?
Or would he make love to her, in truth, tonight?
Could his ribs survive it?
And what if she took offense at his advances? He’d lose this tenuous but pleasing connection they’d established with one another. And yes, he could lose a valuable client, but even worse, she’d be without protection.
She slid a pawn sideways and took his rook.
Damn, but he’d lost his concentration.
Four moves later, he’d placed her in checkmate. He’d not insult her by allowing her to win.
She was disappointed but immediately went to lining the pieces up for another game. “You’re a devious man, Niles Waverly.” She laughed and moved one of her pawns forward two spaces. “I’d always thought the game represented war, but it’s more than that, I think.”
“It’s often used to practice military strategies.” But it was so much more, he agreed to himself. Niles matched her next move. “Anything that involves strategy,” he added.
“For example?”
“Business dealings.” He briefly explained one scenario he’d orchestrated for Mr. Findlay. An opening bid. A counter. Negotiations and eventually capitulation.
She listened carefully as they took turns opening up the board.
She frowned and nodded. “I recognize similarities in how I evaded my husband throughout the years. He’d make a move and I would counter. In the beginning, I acted defensively. Toward the end, I made my own moves. I set up my own strategy to protect the girls from his influence, from him.” She bit her lip. Almost as though she’d revealed more than she’d intended.
He’d change the subject for her. He knew well enough of Jean Luc Mossant’s treachery. “Miranda plays chess with Ferdinand, in the Tempest. It’s the only time the Bard ever referred to the actual game of chess, as far as I know. Although he used the terms of chess numerous times.” Niles eyed the board thoughtfully. “Checkmate. Stalemate. All the strategies of chess could be found in his work.”
He grinned as she took one of his pawns and then fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Sweet lord, you play me false.” Eve, of course, knew the scene he referred to.
Niles searched his memory for Ferdinand’s response… “Not for all the world.” He could not recite the line word for word. Miranda had accused Ferdinand of cheating so that she could win. The entire plot had been something of a chess match.
“In the middle ages, it was one of the only activities where a couple could spend time together, alone. Even now…” Eve frowned at the pieces before her.
Niles moved his piece into position.
He’d been allowed to play chess with Lady Katherine. What harm was there? He had been the gardener’s son. She’d gotten angry with him when he’d put her in check mate. She’d told him it wasn’t gentlemanly to play to win.
