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“You know, tap them so they’re out.”

She nodded her understanding.

“We had to be deathly quiet,” Matthew continued, “no matter how few or how many people were here. It was always best when the castle was quiet, though. Like today.”

His eyes took on a faraway look, then he cast a sidelong glance at her.

“What?” she questioned.

“I wonder what it would be like to play now…” he said, then he ended in a loaded silence.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Winnie’s brow furrowed, and she instantly shook her head. “No way,” she stated at once.

But the light in Matthew’s eyes wouldn’t cease. “Oh, come on. Just one quick game?”

She looked around them, even though she already knew no one was there. “Are you kidding me? There’s no way I’m gonna play a game in a castle we’re not allowed to.”

“The worst you’d get is a warning,” he said with a flippant wave of his hand, his smile becoming more appealing by the second. “Come on. One quick game. No running. No shouting. It’ll be fun.”

Man, he was convincing. But there was no way she could play.

She folded her arms, unable to bend. “Sorry, but I can’t.”

Matthew delivered an exaggerated sigh, then he shrugged and sauntered away from her. “Fine. Suit yourself. But you’re not getting out of Skipton until you find me.”

Winnie dropped her arms to her sides. “What? What do you⁠—”

Her words ended abruptly as Matthew flashed a smile. “Good luck,” he said, then he was gone.

Winnie stared at the open doorway he’d disappeared through, shaking her head in disbelief. Was he really going to make her do this?

“Matthew, I’m not going to find you,” she said, her voice only slightly raised.

He made no response. Instead of the trepidation she probably should have been feeling, excitement bubbled within her, and a smile etched across her lips.

Fine. She’d play his little game, and she’d beat him at it, too.

She rushed to the open window, peering at the ground below as she anticipated where he’d go first.

Sure enough, she found him walking swiftly from the ground floor out into the courtyard, looking over his shoulder, as if expecting her to be following him.

She tapped lightly on the glass. “Found you!”

Matthew paused, looking from window to window until seeing her. “Cheat!” he said, pointing at her.

She shook her head, putting a finger to her temple. “Smart,” she said.

“You still have to tig me,” he returned, then he walked swiftly to another door and disappeared within.

Winnie remained where she stood, watching as he popped in and out of the rooms, his head appearing every once in a while in the windows, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

After a few minutes of not seeing him, however, she knew he must’ve wised-up. Leaving her vantage point, she went the opposite way Matthew had, hoping to catch him that way.

Before long, she caught sight of him, pointing at him and calling out, “Found you!” in her softest whisper she could manage.

Matthew grinned, then disappeared through the door.