Tess opened a cabinet under the bookshelf and found two decks of cards and a board game called Parcheesi. There was a chess board set up in the corner, but Max always won. Max admitted it probably wasn’t fun for Tess to play chess with him—Tess could never quite work out what might happen three or four moves from now, which is what Max insisted was the key to becoming any good at chess. She saw Max eyeing the chess board. Tess shook her head.

“What about this?” asked Tess holding up the Parcheesi even though she had no idea what the game was or the rules. . . .

“Most of the pieces are missing,” a voice behind them said.

They turned around and saw the boy who had been in the dining room having tea alone. The one who had disappeared. Tess looked at Max to see if he saw him, too. Max nodded.

“It’s not terribly fun, anyway,” the boy said. And then he added, “I’m Colin, by the way.”

“Tess,” said Tess.

“Max,” said Max.

“Nice to make your acquaintance,” he said somewhat formally.

“Are you here for Christmas?” asked Tess, not meaning to be forward.

“I guess so,” he said shyly. “Actually, I live here all year round.” His voice was soft, with what sounded like a proper English accent, and he seemed exceptionally polite. He was taller than she thought he would be, a couple of inches taller than Tess. He had dark eyes, framed with long dark lashes, delicate features, but a strong jaw that somehow denoted a sense of confidence, and almost the smoothest skin that Tess had ever seen. It was flawless, and he was so pale Tess wondered whether he ever went outside. Then she remembered how little sun there was in London, so it made sense he would be pale. He was a little more dressed than they were, wearing a sort of suit jacket again, but this time a gray one, and those same silver cufflinks. He was a bit of a contradiction, shy and forceful at the same time.

“The pieces have been missing on that game forever,” he said, “but I have a table hockey game in my room.”

Max’s eyes lit up. He loved table hockey. Tess wasn’t sure they should accept what seemed to be an invitation from a stranger. On the other hand, he wasn’t exactly a stranger. He was only a couple of years older than Tess, she didn’t think, and he was living in the hotel that they were staying at which, Tess reasoned, almost made them neighbors.

“Mother,” Colin said, “is having a party but honestly I don’t think she’d mind.”

Tess looked at Max.

“I mean, it’s not like we’re leaving the building,” said Max.

“I guess that’s right,” said Tess.

“Thanks,” Tess said to Colin. “We’d love to.”

~ CHAPTER TEN ~

party on the 8th floor