in full bloom, including plants that shouldn’t even be flowering this time of year. Numerous ribbons of every color imaginable hung from the trees, fluttering in the breeze. It was a magical sight, he supposed, but pixies had nothing to do with how it came about. More likely talented gardeners, who had months to prepare, had created the magical, albeit strange, setting for a wedding.
Wesley was quite done with this corner of Cornwall. He couldn’t go anywhere without overhearing superstitious talk about witches in Bocka Morrow, pixies in the gardens, a fortune-telling gypsy at the neighboring estate, or mermaids at the seashore. He’d lived along the coast his entire life and had never heard such rubbish.
It simply wasn’t logical and there was no scientific knowledge to support the existence of magical properties, or the afterlife in a spirited form.
Despite his disagreements with Miss Miranda Vail on all things magical, at least she was no longer obsessed with the notion of ghosts. When they’d been introduced during her first season, she’d seemed more interested in learning about the supposed ghost that haunted the Mayfair mansion than the ball occurring about them and he’d been quick to dismiss her as a feather-brained, odd miss.
However, his opinion had drastically changed over time, and after coming to know her, Wesley found Miranda utterly delightful. For the past three seasons they’d spent hours together and he often called on Miranda and they took drives through Hyde Park, attended the theatre and danced at balls, but she gave him no indication that she thought of him as anything more than a friend. In fact, they’d become the best of friends and confidants. And, had she flirted with him even once, Wesley would have been encouraged to pursue more. Unfortunately, Miranda had offered no such encouragement, much to his disappointment.
As he followed the other guests back to the castle after the ceremony, Wesley made plans for how he’d spend time with Miranda later today, and dance with her this evening, and when he would finally kiss her, only to pause when he noted a path through the trees. He’d walked this area several times over the past week, usually with Miranda, and he was certain he’d not seen it before.
It wasn’t a well-used path by any means, but it was a path nonetheless and curiosity had him following to see where it led until he finally came to a stop in a small clearing.
“Are you following me, Lord Epworth?” Miranda inquired with a tilt of her chin. Her head was angled such that her dark curls brushed against her shoulder.
“I wasn’t.” Wesley had no idea she’d be here, as the last he’d seen of Miranda she and her sisters had their heads together and were whispering as they left the wedding. However, he was far from disappointed in finding her in the clearing. “I simply followed this path to see where it led. Why are you here?”
“Supposedly this is one of the most enchanting places in all of Castle Keyvnor.” Miranda grinned and spread her arms wide and did a turn.
Enchanting, magical…weren’t they the same thing? “What makes it so?” Just because they argued about the existence of magic and he did tease her, there was nothing malicious in his tone or words. They simply held opposite opinions. His was logical and hers was fanciful. It was quite endearing and one of the things he loved about her. Miranda had the ability to imagine, whereas as much as he tried, Wesley simply couldn’t accept what could not be proven.
She pursed her lips and Wesley couldn’t help but admire everything about her, from her mahogany curls to her lavender slippers and everything in between, including her determined grey eyes and full coral lips. She was doubly lovely and desirable at moments such as this when the color was high in her cheeks. Yet, she didn’t answer his question.
Wesley glanced about, noting that they were completely alone in an intimate setting, surrounded by trees, shrubbery and numerous wildflowers and he considered the dangers. Not that he or Miss Miranda could be harmed of course, but if anyone came upon them...
No, that was an excuse he made to himself. In truth, he’d tried to avoid being alone with her because all he’d wanted to do was kiss her but feared one kiss would never be enough and as he fell deeper, she’d reject his suit.
When had he lost confidence in pursuit of a woman? He wasn’t exactly an innocent lad,