Page 68 of The Sisters of Sea View
Georgiana leaned closer and began reading the rules printed within the board’s center square:
“Whoever lands on 5 must pay one for learning to dance. Whoever spins 6 must pay one for a toll. The soldier, number nine, may march on to number thirteen. The Gamester must begin again. The Dandy must pay two for his folly....”
Georgiana read the remaining rules and then sat back. “Thankfully, they are printed right here, in case we forget anything.”
The game began, with Georgiana spinning the teetotum for Mr. Hornbeam.
Georgie exclaimed, “It’s a five, Mr. Hornbeam, so you must pay the dancing master. That’s back one space for you.”
They took turns around the table, spinning and moving as indicated.
When his second turn arrived, Mr. Hornbeam held out his hand. “Let me see that teetotum.”
With a perplexed look, Georgiana laid it on his open palm.
“But you can’t see,” Effie said unnecessarily.
He fingered the spinner, carved of animal bone, and asked her, “Are you quite certain?”
He spun the top, and when it toppled, fingered the surface. “One.”
Then he spun again. “Three.”
Georgiana beamed. “You’re right, Mr. Hornbeam!”
Like dice, each side held concave dots carved into it to represent a number.
He said modestly, “You shall still have to help me find the correct spaces.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Georgiana assured him.
The game continued with Mr. Hornbeam spinning another five.
He said, “I ended on four after paying the dancing master, so that puts me at nine. Ah! Which means I land on the soldier and advance to thirteen.”
“Good memory, Mr. Hornbeam.”
Sarah landed on the courtship space, illustrated with one monkey in lady’s dress and bonnet, and a second on bended knee before her.
“You get to move ahead to the inn,” Georgie reminded her.
From courtship directly to the inn, Sarah mused. What was the implied meaning there? Whatever it was, Sarah didn’t think she liked it. Unbidden, thoughts of her older sister, Claire, intruded. Her courtship had advanced to an inn, and far too quickly. Sarah’s stomach twisted, and she hoped her expression did not reveal her unhappy thoughts.
On his turn, Mr. Henshall also landed on courtship, and foolishly, Sarah’s cheeks warmed.
“Oh la la,” Georgie teased. “You both landed in courtship!”
He moved to join Sarah at the inn, but Effie reminded him, “Two players can’t be on the same space. Since ye arrived there last, ye must go back to your former place.”
He returned his piece with a melodramatic sigh. “Stuck in courtship.”
“Take heart,” Mr. Hornbeam said with mischief in his tone. “There are worse places to be.”
Later in the game, Sarah fell down the well and had to stay there until another player landed on the same spot.
“See now why we wanted more players?” Georgie said. “You’d be waiting an awfully long time otherwise.”
Sure enough, on his next turn, Callum Henshall landed in the well and Sarah was able to go forward.
