“I’ll get them.” Lila jumped up from the floor and ran out of the parlor.
“Have you played Spillikins, my queen?” he asked.
“Not since I was a child,” Althea admitted, though she had been very good at the game and often beat her male cousins. They hadn’t possessed the same patience as she, nor took time to look from nearly every angle before pulling a stick. Each move must be strategic, as it was in chess. Perhaps that was why she did well in both games.
The center table was cleared of flowers and the girls settled on the floor. Althea took a seat beside Winifred and Melcombe settled next to her. Directly across from Althea was Matilda, who had a look of determination.
“I know two versions of the game,” Althea said. “Which do you play?”
“Two?” Delia asked.
“Yes. One is where after the sticks are dropped on the table, the first player removes one stick at a time without moving the others, but if they do, their turn is over. Then it is the next person’s turn with the sticks that remain, and play continues until all the sticks are gone and the one who collected the most wins.”
“That is how we play.” Theodora set the box of Spillikins on the table and took the empty space between Winifred and Delia. “What is the other way?”
“When it is the next player’s turn, they can choose to pick a stick from the scattered sticks or scoop up all the sticks and drop them again to try and pick up more than the player before. If you play that way, then the score must be kept for each player. Some play until a certain score is met, but my cousins and I simply tallied at the end of each round to determine who had won.”
“Which version would you like to play, King?” Lila asked.
“I’ll leave that decision to my queen,” Melcombe answered in return.
Being called his queen, even though it was all in fun, warmed her in ways that Althea shouldn’t acknowledge.
“Shouldn’t we leave the decision to our subjects?” she asked.
“My queen, this is a monarchy, not a democracy like they have in America,” he stated with aghast.
“Yes, but subjects tend to revolt when not granted a boon upon occasion.” She leaned in and whispered loudly. “Do not forget that unpleasantness in France.”
“Yes, of course.” Preston rubbed his chin in thought, playing along. “I can see your wisdom, my queen. We shall let them decide.”
Althea focused on the children. “What shall it be, subjects of Ambrose Hall. Version one or two?”
They voted for the second, and Theodora was up again and running to the library for paper and pencil to tally the points. Then the games began with Winifred, the youngest going first.
While playing the game was delightful and there was much laughter, Althea was far too aware of Melcombe by her side. Often their legs and arms touched because there were so many crowded around the table. The only time he pulled back and away was when it was her turn, so as not to crowd her, yet when another played, he nearly pressed against her.
At the end of the first game, she and Matilda were tied with each having successfully removed eleven sticks before they disturbed one. Poor Winifred only managed three, and two of those had been sticks that had fallen separate from the pile.
Matilda looked up, a challenge in her blue eyes. “Shall we play again?”
“Perhaps it should be Matilda and Miss Clay…I mean our queen.” Delia laughed. “They are much better at the game than we are.”
“I’d be happy to play again,” Althea said.
“I’ll take Winifred upstairs,” Melcombe said. Althea glanced over and noticed for the first time the child had moved away and was asleep on the settee.
“The rest of you go ahead. I’ll be back down shortly.”
Lila stood. “I’m tired as well.”
“I am going to stay and watch our queen beat Matilda,” Theodora announced. “She’s not lost in over a year.”
Althea chuckled. “My luck may not hold this next time.” And she didn’t really mind if she lost. It wasn’t like when she was a child and wanted to beat her male cousins.
Chapter Seventeen
Prestononlyrememberedthatthere was no maid this evening when it came time to put Winifred to bed. Together, he and Lila removed her dress and shoes, leaving only her black, silk slip that had been beneath her evening muslin dress, then tucked the child into her bed before he returned to the parlor.
