“Queen Bishop Pawn one square.”
“Queen Pawn two squares.”
“My Pawn takes yours.”
Of course, it did. “Uh, my Queen takes your Pawn.”
“Queen Pawn one square.”
“King Bishop Pawn two squares.”
“Queen Bishop to the third square at my King.”
Blindfold chess had always been a strain for George. He was a man who didn’t see things in his head easily. But he had forced himself to learn to memorize the board, the location of the pieces. But it had always been simple for Phoebe. She had taken to it like a duck to water, as easy for her as if the board were right in front of her. And she was very good about reminding him where the pieces were when he got muddled.
All those hours at balls standing next to Phoebe, playing blindfold chess with no blindfolds, watching the dancing, keeping a wary eye on Alice.
All those hours. At balls. Playing chess with Phoebe. While other women were dancing.
“Phee, Phee,” he cried out.
“George, I’m here, I’m waiting for your next move. What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for playing chess with you at balls.”
“We were just doing what we always did together, that’s all.”
“I should have danced every dance with you instead. Or wandered away so someone else had a chance with you.”
A silence.
“Phee!”
Her voice came back to him, strained, heavy. “I’m here. I could have wandered away myself, you know. Gone to speak to my mother, the other ladies. But I didn’t. And I don’t care about other chances. I was with the man I wanted. The man I’ve always wanted.”
“Do you still want him?”
“I do.”
“I’m glad, Phee. If I weren’t in here, I’d be the happiest man in the world.”
Noises coming through the door. Indistinct voices. Her voice again. “You know, my lord, there are a great many people around now. To help us get this door unfastened.”
“Don’t stop talking to me, Phee.”
“No, I won’t. I’ll keep talking. I’m right here. Just know . . . there are some things I have to tell you. Later. Now, make your move.”
He took a deep breath. The chessboard came to him and he saw the pieces with surprising clarity. But he wanted to hear her voice. “Remind me where the pieces are.”
She told him.
“Uh, King’s Bishop at my Queen to the third square.”
Five moves later, she said, “The farrier and the grooms are here with some tools, George. I’m going to back away so they can work on the door. I want you to keep going with the game. You know what I would do, anyway, don’t you?”
He wanted to scream,No, no, I don’t know what you would do. Don’t go away. Don’t stop talking to me.
A whisper. “I’m going to embarrass you by kissing you all over when this door opens, George Danforth, and you won’t be able to stop me.”
