She looked at him blankly.
"He asked me to inquire of you whether you had heard anything, I know you are so easily disturbed."
She shook her head, "Sorry, Archie, I heard you coming a mile off, even in your slippers, but nothing before that." Her hair shone in the moonlight, and Archie wondered at the beauty the artist had managed to capture.
"Thanks anyway, Maddy. How's the book? Baxter was asking after you."
She blushed, "He's a scoundrel, that man. Tell him I am well, and all the better that he asked."
Archie nodded. "Well I shall leave you to it. Thank you for your help."
He padded back to the chess board. Rook to H5 was the right choice. His fingers hesitated as he noticed Baxter's pieces had moved. The King was on its side. But Baxter had been winning.
He looked up, "Baxter, you can't mean..." and realised he was talking to himself.
A space on the wall marked where King Baxter had once sat
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