Twins of Tenby Hall

Chapter 9

The hours flew by with boisterous chatter and lively music. Miranda felt entirely out of sorts and utterly conflicted. Mr Westbrook's voice spoke "you take my breath away" over and over in her brain until she felt she might go mad. He was obviously joking. He must have been joking. But he had sounded so serious, eyes so sincere, it had all but stolen her breath away. She occupied her mind, trying to listen to the gossip of her friends, or think of Mr Kirkley to settle her senses. Where was he anyway?

The clock announced twelve o'clock and Miranda noticed Kirkley slip down the corridor that led to the library. Frowning at his suspicious behavior she hurried to follow; but in her rush to catch up to Kirkley, the dim hall mere steps away, she stumbled into someone who moved into her path. 

"Oof! Miss Riley do watch where you are going!" Was the resulting plaintive cry. 

"Ooh Miss Bradshaw, I am sorry! I was just.." 

Miss Bradshaw looked peeked. "Shouldn't you be out dancing?" 

"I..I have a headache, I just need to rest a moment somewhere quiet." 

"Surely you can do that somewhere else." 

"It is my home, I suppose I can rest wherever I wish can I not?" replied she, irritated at Miss Bradshaw's persistence in detaining her. 

"Are you going to the library? That seems an odd place to rest, you should rest in your room, surely that would be more comfortable." Miss Bradshaw resorted to considerate coaxing. 

"Thank you, Miss Bradshaw, for your concern" Miranda smiled a little insincerely, "but I do not need a lengthy nap, I only require a short sit-down in my favorite reading chair. Do hope you are enjoying the ball." and she turned and ventured down the hall. At the library door she looked to see Miss Bradshaw watching quite perplexed – but the girl whipped around and left once Miranda looked at her.

Miranda tentatively stepped in, closing the door quietly behind her. William Kirkley was perched on the edge of an armchair, drumming his slim fingers on the surface of a side table. The moonlight caused his golden hair to shine, giving him an ethereal blue glow. He really was quite beautiful in this light, one would almost call him handsome. He looked up with a smile and a 'hello love' as she walked towards him, then jumped slightly as his eyes met hers and a startled look flashed across his face before hiding quickly behind a mask of charm. 

"Miranda; what brought you here?" 

The lack of light and fog of fancy discouraged her good sense and she thought nothing of this strange reaction to her appearance. Miranda merely raised a brow and responded to his question with only a very little suspicion. "A better question is what brought you here." 

"A hope" she received a joyful smile "that you would see me leave and follow, a foolish romantic notion I thought but.." He rose and came to her, taking her hands in his own "maybe not so foolish...I am so glad you've come, you are even more beautiful in the moonlight." 

Miranda's meager suspicion was promptly forgotten as he caused her cheeks to flush and the now-familiar butterflies to flutter "How could I not follow my prince?" She said with a giggle, entwining their fingers. "I never turn up a nose to mystery and intrigue." 

"Ah yes, I do endeavor to intrigue." laughed he. "Your mystery, however, is solved; I was waiting for you." 

"But is there intrigue, Mr Kirkley? I do not see it." she tried to tease but it came out more real than she intended. 

"Call me Will, Love." he merely smiled, as he ran his fingers up her neck to cup her cheek; then speaking as if to himself, "Never have I felt such a strong and fast affection, how will I bear to leave you tomorrow."