Twins of Tenby Hall

Chapter 18

(A Furtherance of Events Which Occur Between Chapter 15 and 16 in Which Miranda is Very Naughty - A Warning for the More Delicate Reader...There is a Kiss Scene)

She found William Kirkley near an entrance of the hedge maze behind the long terrace of townhouses. With a furtive backwards glance, she quickly joined him and they slipped into the maze. They stood a brief moment on the wide grass paths between the tall shrubbery. Here and there lamps were stationed, throwing shadows into corners and flickering light across their faces. Kirkley gently took her hands in his. "I never thought love would come so easily or so strong." He expressed thoughtfully. 

"Cupid's mind is as unpredictable as the weather." She quipped "It was a mighty arrow he struck us with it seems." 

He gave a short laugh "Perhaps! Or perhaps I am lucky he found such an easy target." 

"Not so easy. I am not so effortlessly caught." She pulled her gloved fingers from his grasp with a laugh. 

"No?" He smirked 

"I think you wish for a challenge." She assured with a grin; and picking up her skirts slightly, stepped backward away from him, beckoning him with her eyes. 

"I think you are misled." He stepped towards her. 

She stepped back. He rolled his eyes, smiled obligingly and walked forward. Miranda turned and with a giddy laugh began to run from him, turning deeper into the maze. She looked back as she turned the corner to see he still followed. After a few minutes of allowing him to barely touch her before running again out of his grasp, she turned to see he had disappeared.

She peeked down a few rows and, not seeing him, began to feel some fear creep into her heart that she had become lost and was alone. Panic rose in her as she turned corner after corner, minute after minute, and found not he nor the exit; but then she heard footsteps a short way down the path she was on.

With revived hope Miranda followed the light of a lantern into a cobbled garden square where a statue stood guard. The lantern behind her cast light into the far side of the small square, leaving the corners on her side dark. She smiled knowing he was near and concocted a plan to surprise him when he walked into the square as well. She quickly turned and slipped far into the deep shadows of the corner to her right, running firmly into something tall and solid. 

"Ouf! Oh bother! I was planning to give you a startle but you gave me one instead!" She laughed quietly. He put a finger on her lips and she kept quiet as the figure of a man passed by a pathway leading into the square. Her heart thumped at the close call.

Once danger passed she was suddenly acutely aware of his arm around her and she realized she was pressed quite tightly against his chest - close enough to feel the embroidery on his velvet waistcoat brushing against her décolletage as she breathed with exertion - her heart thumped again for an entirely different reason. The man didn't return but they stayed in place, neither one wanting to break the embrace. After a moment her left arm, which was trapped at her side, began to feel stiff and she moved to relieve it. He loosened his grip and it seemed he was about to step away from her, much to her dismay; so she wrapped her hands around his upper arms to halt his escape with a quick and urgent hushed plea "No stay!" 

She heard a sharp intake of breath but he stilled, seeming to tell her she must make the next move, so she did; stepping forward to wrap him in an embrace and lay her head against the soft fabric of his shoulder. She noticed, for the first time, he had a scent; comfortingly familiar, masculine, and utterly intoxicating! She breathed deep as his arms slipped around her, pressing her tighter against him and resting his forehead on her shoulder. She relished the feel of him; his strong arms, heart beating on her breast, soft hair caressing her cheek. She let out a happy little sigh and lifted a hand to his head where it lay beside her own, running her fingers through that silky-smooth hair. He made a strangled noise and straightened. "What..." She began. But was silenced as gloved hands touched the sides of her face and his lips pressed softly against her own.