Page 32 of Charming Artemis

“In this game, one person has their eyes covered with a scarf or cravat or whatever is at hand. The others call out, ‘Catch us! Catch us!,’ all the while doing their utmost to slip out of reach. If the one with his or her eyes covered catches hold of someone, he or she has to guess the person’s identity. If the one who has been caught is identified, that person is blindfolded next.”

“I know this game. An excellent choice.” Artemis sounded excited. “I do worry, though, that the one blindfolded will inadvertently step on poor little Hestia. She is not swift enough to get out of danger.”

Persephone offered a solution. “She and I will play as a team. I’ll hold her. She will be happy simply to be part of the fun, though she’ll not understand at all what we’re doing.”

Charlie had to free his hand. He felt a surge of disappointment. Perhaps Artemis would let him hold her hand again. It was quite possibly the most hopeful moment they’d had together since their marriage. He needed something to cling to.

He tugged at his cravat; it would need to serve as their eye covering. “If ever we have all our Lancaster nieces and nephews together with all our Jonquil ones, we simply have to play an enormous game of catch us, catch us. It would be a beautiful bit of chaos.”

Artemis watched him with surprise. “Are you a fan of chaos, then?”

“What is life without a bit of chaos?”

“That is the Jonquil family motto, no doubt.”

Charlie laughed. “It ought to be. But our motto isFortitudo per Fidem. Latin for ‘There are a lot of us, so prepare yourself for an aching head.’”

Artemis smiled in clear enjoyment of his jest. Yes, this was proving an encouraging day.

He hunched down in front of Oliver. “Would you like to be the searcher first?”

The boy agreed eagerly. Charlie tied the cravat around his head, covering his eyes. Then he spun the boy about before stepping back.

“Catch us! Catch us!” Charlie called out.

The game that ensued was filled with delightful laughter. Oliver captured his mother, who handed Hestia off to Artemis and took her turn. She caught Artemis, who gave the little girl to Charlie. Soon it was Oliver’s turn again, then Charlie’s. The children’s giggles—even Hestia, who had been all but silent during their time at Brier Hill, laughed a couple times—filled the back lawn with joyfulness.

Oliver caught hold of Charlie’s coat on his next turn. “Caught you!”

Charlie kept still, grinning as Oliver tried to sort out who he had captured.

“Mama doesn’t wear a coat like this,” Oliver said.

“Though she was wearing a cravat a few rounds ago,” Artemis tossed out.

“And tied an embarrassment of a knot,” Charlie said, mimicking Philip’s voice and mannerisms.

Persephone and Artemis both grinned.

“You sound just like him,” Artemis said.

“A talent of mine.”

“It’s Uncle Charming!” Oliver proclaimed.

“I’ve been sorted.” Charlie sighed.

He helped Oliver out of his blindfold, then tied the cravat in place over his own eyes. “I am quite good at this game, I should warn you. I’ll likely find all four of you at the exact same time. You will be amazed.”

Oliver laughed. It was an utterly adorable sound.

“Catch us! Catch us!” He knew that was Artemis. Her voice was exceptionally familiar to him.

All their voices echoed about, calling out the same phrase, broken up by their laughter. Charlie held his arms out, trying to catch hold of someone. Oliver had a bit of an advantage, being so much shorter than everyone else playing.

Hearing a rustle behind him, Charlie spun about and caught someone. It was either Artemis or Persephone.

This time adopting his imitation of the duke’s voice, he said, “I am almost certain this is Oliver.”

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