“I don’t work with drunk men.”

“If you think a sip of Madeira is going to knock me under the table, your education in the normal pleasures of life is sadly lacking.”

Nathaniel ignored the comment as he lined up the chess pieces. He needed patience. This man had just endured more than a year of captivity on behalf of the nation and was due a modicum of respect.

“I’ll take the white, you can take black,” he said once the chess pieces were in place.

“Entirely fitting,” Luke replied.

Nathaniel studied the board for a full minute before making his initial move. Luke moved a knight before Nathaniel’s hand was even off the pawn.

“You need to wait until I release the chess piece,” Nathaniel said. “I still had the option to change my mind.”

“Fine, but speed it up.”

There was no need for speed. The telegram hadn’t been delivered, and they might be here for hours. They each moved three more times, and Nathaniel wondered if Luke was deliberately goading him by carelessly moving his black piece only a second after each of Nathaniel’s carefully analyzed moves.

“Check,” Luke said after moving a knight into position.

Nathaniel captured the knight with a pawn. “That was a stupid move. You weren’t even looking at the board.”

“That’s because I’m looking at Captain Holland’s house and don’t need to win a chess game to prove my manhood. How about I circle around to the back of the house and peek in the windows?”

“To what end?”

“To see if I can find out who’s home and who he consorts with. It’s called being decisive.”

“It’s called an illegal search and can invalidate any evidence we find. Your move.”

Luke casually shifted another pawn, once again acting without even studying the board. “What I’d like to know is if you’re going to capitulate and take Caroline to the Smithsonian. You can still take her to the reception if you delay your trip to Milwaukee by a day.”

Nathaniel wasn’t about to discuss his near-sacred feelings for Caroline with her irreverent brother. Besides, Luke had just dangerously exposed the black queen. He could capture it, but it would come at the cost of his own bishop. He analyzed the board, projecting several moves ahead to see if he could get the queen at a lower cost.

“I think you ought to take her,” Luke continued. “She pretends to be invincible, but if you prick her feelings, she’ll never forget.”

Nathaniel grunted in reply, anything to get Luke to shut up. He slid his bishop, pausing to analyze the downstream implications of—

“Once again!” he said in annoyance. “You need to wait until my hand is off the piece before moving.”