“Can you see anything?” she asked as she finished.
Phoebe shook her head and to Harriet’s satisfaction, the blindfold did not shift with the movement. “Is it too tight?”
Once more Phoebe shook her head. Harriet glanced at Lucy and then at Theodore, who had not moved from the doorway. “I shall spin you gently three times and then you will have to feel around to find us and catch us.”
Phoebe nodded and as Harriet began to turn her gently, she saw Lucy dart to an opposite corner of the room. She arched an eyebrow at Theodore, nodding her head to the opposite corner. She thought she saw his leg shift, just slightly, but he did not move.
She held in a sigh as she jumped back from Phoebe. “Go!”
Phoebe extended her arms in front of her, the edge of her smile lost in the folds of fabric across her face. She took a tentative step forward, and then another. There was none of the usual self-consciousness in her movements, only the caution one might expect of someone who could not see.
“Warmer,” Harriet called, making Phoebe whip round and move towards her.
She hastily moved away, but Phoebe clearly heard her footsteps and shifted directions. Harriet stilled as Phoebe moved towards her, trying to quietly move out of her reach.
“Over here!” Lucy called from her corner.
Phoebe whirled in the direction of her voice, her arms outstretched as she felt her way towards the maid. Harriet could feel Theodore watching them.
Phoebe made contact with Lucy and both let out a delighted laugh. The sound echoed through the room, and Harriet saw the muscles in Theodore’s shoulder relax, just slightly. He stood, his hands clenched, body perfectly rigid.
She had been too distracted watching him, and Lucy nearly stumbled towards her. Harriet darted out of the way with a yelp, and across the room, Phoebe let out another delighted laugh, clapping her hands together.
“Aha!” Lucy oriented herself towards the noise and Phoebe leapt to one side, ending up in a corner with nowhere to go.
Harriet opened her mouth, ready to draw Lucy’s attention away, but before she could Theodore tapped his hand against the wall, distracting Lucy long enough for Phoebe to scramble away laughing wildly.
He moved, his footsteps heavy and Lucy followed him. Harriet felt something shift in the room as she caught sight of the broad smile on Theodore’s face. He looked almost boyish, and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes that Harriet had sometimes seen in Phoebe’s.
“Over here!” Harriet called as Lucy strode closer to Theodore.
The game continued, and the longer it went on, the more Harriet felt as though her heart might burst. Theodore and Phoebe’s competitive natures began to shine through, as each tried to lure whoever was blindfolded to other contestants.
In a moment of distraction, Harriet was caught and then it was her turn to be blindfolded. She donned it, spun around three times and then began to feel her way around the room.
“Where are you?” Harriet called, listening for the sound of Phoebe and Lucy’s giggling.
She thought she could hear someone breathing a few paces from her.Is that suppressed laughter?She held her armsoutstretched, stepping towards the sound. Something brushed against her and she lunged, but caught only air.
Laughter echoed around her. She could not help but smile. She paused, and strained her ears. “I know you are there.”
Footsteps behind her. She whipped around, arms flailing as she made her way towards the sound. Her outstretched hands met only the wall and she began to feel her way along it.
“I am going to get you,” Harriet called out.
“If you can find us!” Lucy’s voice sounded from one of the corners.
Harriet smiled, she would be able to get there quicker if she used the wall as guidance. As she reached the heavy fabric of the curtains, she felt air brush against her elbow, but knew it was not a draft.
Lucy!
She twisted in the direction of the movement, but tangled herself in the curtains, half stumbling, half lunging towards the person. Her fingers brushed against the silk of a shirt, her body following close behind.
Strong arms wrapped themselves around her, steadying her as she fought the tangle around her. Her hand was pressed againstsomeone who was hard muscles and angles. She could not tell if the sharp intake of breath was hers or his.
She felt him still against her. With shaking hands, she lifted the blindfold.
Theodore was holding her. She was pressed so close to him, she could see the faint line of stubble creeping along his jaw. Her eyes drifted across his face, his lips to his eyes. The smell of cedar and musk filled her nose.
