Twins of Tenby Hall

Chapter 7

The following afternoon brought on a myriad of activities to entertain the guests of Tenby hall. Most guests had gone home, but those who lived the greatest distances away stayed the week; thus, fifty-eight guests remained. Among them of note were Mr and Mrs Bradshaw and their daughter Miss Victoria Bradshaw, Mr and Mrs Dunsworth with their son and daughter, Mr Kirkley, the Mr and Mrs Lawrence, Mr Edwin Lawrence, Mr and Mrs Bertram and Miss Cotton who had come with them, and Mr Westbrook who lived near enough he was there every day in any case – these are all that pertain to our story. It was another unnaturally warm and sunny day, coaxing everyone outside to play croquet, walk the trails around Tenby's large lakes, and picnic on the estate lawns. 

After a two o'clock tea outdoors, a group gathered for word games under the shade of the willows by the lake. Miss Bradshaw invited the Miss Rileys and Miss Dunsworth to play, who in turn invited Mr Westbrook – a persistent abundance of pleading and creative persuasion was required to gain his participation. Miranda convinced him in the end by reasoning that she also disliked word-games for they made little sense to her, yet she was obliging her friends and therefore could he not do the same for her sake? He agreed to join them if they convinced both Eugene Dunsworth and Edwin Lawrence to play as well. The girls' determination and skillfully applied charismatic charm brought them success. 

Someone suggested they begin with 'connections', in which one would say three words and the others guessed what made them similar. Matthew, being forced to play first, offered 'knights', 'love', and 'hounds' to which Isabel correctly guessed 'loyalty'. Isabel followed with 'silk', 'chocolate', and 'tiger', the theme 'exotic' guessed correctly by her sister, making it Miranda's turn. A few turns passed and Mr Kirkley won a round. "I have prepared an easy one," declared he "calla lily, swan..." He paused for effect with a meaningful smile directed at Miranda Riley "Miss Riley." 

"What?" Westbrook attempted to hold back a look of contempt with little success. 

"Which Miss Riley? Do you not mean both of them?" Edwin Lawrence questioned. 

"Miss Miranda Riley." Mr Kirkley verified, his gaze still on her and she encouraged him by returning his gaze with a coy look from beneath heavy lashes. Isabel and Matthew looked at each other with paralleled expressions of distaste. 

"I believe the answer is meant to be either beauty or grace.." Miss Bradshaw nearly sneered. 

"It is beauty, but grace also applies." Mr Kirkley confirmed, pleased to see Miranda's faint blush of pleasure as she bit her lip to hide a grin. 

Charity Bertram furrowed her brow in confusion muttering to herself "I do not see how it makes sense to single out one sister in this instance, when they are so strikingly similar." 

There was an uncomfortable silence which Miranda and Mr Kirkley seemed unaware of. 

"This is a silly game." huffed Miss Bradshaw. "I am going to circle the lake, who will join me?" No one rose in response. With a stony face she stalked off alone. Mr Westbrook then stood, as did Dunsworth and Mr Lawrence, and the three men strode off together, relieved in their escape. 

"As everyone is now leaving, why do we not go for a walk ourselves Miss Miranda? Miss Isabel, Mrs Bertram, won't you join us?" Mr Kirkley suggested amiably. 

"Oh..I um..would love to but I see Miss Cotton just now and remembered something I wish to speak to her about. Do enjoy your walk you three." She hurried to greet Miss Cotton after a quick smile of apology for her cousin, who looked irritated at the prospect of playing lonely chaperone.

Under a refreshment tent, Isabel and Miss Cotton sat with Westbrook. They spoke at length about London and it's history. At one point Edwin Lawrence joined them, taking a seat on one of the lawn chairs between Matthew and Miss Cotton (who smiled beautifully in greeting) only to shortly after be summoned by a group of men to help solve a debate. Matthew was amused to see a subtle look of annoyance flash across his friends face at being made to abandon his place beside Miss Cotton to join them. During a pause in the conversation Isabel declared "It is a shame to let such a day waste by hiding from it, let us join those who are walking, the cool air off the lake will surely do us good." Her companions agreed and they took to the trails.