made up any excuse. In fact, he should have sent her to the car while he got the candles. She would have been outside and nothing could happen outside. The problem was in here. He thought back to what Figgs had said about a possible intruder.
“ I thought I heard my name.”
“ What?”
Reginald was now ready to do something. Whoever was breaking in knew Miranda’s name. That meant there was an intruder in the house – and not just any intruder. It was one familiar with Miranda. It meant the house had been targeted and not just picked at random. And just because nothing had happened to Figgs didn’t mean Miranda would be as lucky. Sometimes male intruders wanted different sorts of things from women … especially beautiful young women. He’d call the police as soon as they had finished taking inventory. He’d have a thorough search conducted. There were lots of places to hide and he’d make sure each one was checked. He’d have the locks changed for added security. As for today, he doubted very much that the coward would try anything with him here. He hadn’t even when he’d discovered Figgs asleep on the couch.
“ My name – Miranda. I thought I heard someone call it – several times – and then there was this breeze. It touched my hair, and my, my body, but the lights had gone out. The door got stuck and you opened it at the same time I was trying to get out. ”
Reginald decided to tell one more story – this time to spare any harm instead of cause it.
“ Listen to me, the next time that happens, please at least put down any breakable objects before you start stumbling around in the dark. And as for your name being called, why didn’t you answer?”
“ It was you?”
‘ Of course it was me! Who else would be calling out your name? I needed help. Those stairs were dark and I wanted you to hold the torch.”
Reginald felt comfortable in his decision to lie. He couldn’t let Miranda know there was someone else in the house with them. Sometimes a white lie did the trick. He hoped it would in this case.
“ But it didn’t sound like you and …”
“ That’s what happens when you are speaking through 3 tons of stone. Sounds – voices especially – get distorted.
“ But the hand … or breeze … ”
“ Of course, it was a breeze! This is where you say something inappropriately American like, ‘Hmph, imagine a drafty old castle in England!’ I can hear you saying that now.”
“ And the door?”
“ Drafts cause wind currents which cause doors to become stuck. Haven’t you noticed this blasted cold? Do you think it would be this cold if there weren’t drafts? Really, Miranda! I am surprised at you. I thought you were tougher than this.” He paused as if thinking, “Perhaps you should go home? I could drive you and then come back here and finish things up – alone.”
He knew casting aspersions on her maturity would work. Sure enough Miranda rose to the challenge.
“ You’re right, you’re right, you’re right! What can I say? I am a silly-nilly and, no, I’m quite fine and not going home. Here’s your stupid ledger,” she said slamming it into his abdomen rather roughly. She walked over to the Victorian panels and knelt down. “I believe we were going to start here. Now let’s get going while the lights seem to be cooperating.”
Reginald set down the lighted candle on the stone ledge. He took out a handful of candles from his pocket and laid them next to it. He unfolded the jacket from the crook of his arm and held it out towards Miranda.
“ You refused this the first time it was offered. Now I insist.”
Miranda gratefully placed it around her wondering why she’d cavalierly declined the generosity. She wouldn’t this time. Reginald grabbed a pen from his vest pocket and opened the ledger.
“ Well, let’s go, Miranda. I haven’t got all day!” he said winking.
Miranda
“ I thought I heard my name.”
“ What?”
Reginald was now ready to do something. Whoever was breaking in knew Miranda’s name. That meant there was an intruder in the house – and not just any intruder. It was one familiar with Miranda. It meant the house had been targeted and not just picked at random. And just because nothing had happened to Figgs didn’t mean Miranda would be as lucky. Sometimes male intruders wanted different sorts of things from women … especially beautiful young women. He’d call the police as soon as they had finished taking inventory. He’d have a thorough search conducted. There were lots of places to hide and he’d make sure each one was checked. He’d have the locks changed for added security. As for today, he doubted very much that the coward would try anything with him here. He hadn’t even when he’d discovered Figgs asleep on the couch.
“ My name – Miranda. I thought I heard someone call it – several times – and then there was this breeze. It touched my hair, and my, my body, but the lights had gone out. The door got stuck and you opened it at the same time I was trying to get out. ”
Reginald decided to tell one more story – this time to spare any harm instead of cause it.
“ Listen to me, the next time that happens, please at least put down any breakable objects before you start stumbling around in the dark. And as for your name being called, why didn’t you answer?”
“ It was you?”
‘ Of course it was me! Who else would be calling out your name? I needed help. Those stairs were dark and I wanted you to hold the torch.”
Reginald felt comfortable in his decision to lie. He couldn’t let Miranda know there was someone else in the house with them. Sometimes a white lie did the trick. He hoped it would in this case.
“ But it didn’t sound like you and …”
“ That’s what happens when you are speaking through 3 tons of stone. Sounds – voices especially – get distorted.
“ But the hand … or breeze … ”
“ Of course, it was a breeze! This is where you say something inappropriately American like, ‘Hmph, imagine a drafty old castle in England!’ I can hear you saying that now.”
“ And the door?”
“ Drafts cause wind currents which cause doors to become stuck. Haven’t you noticed this blasted cold? Do you think it would be this cold if there weren’t drafts? Really, Miranda! I am surprised at you. I thought you were tougher than this.” He paused as if thinking, “Perhaps you should go home? I could drive you and then come back here and finish things up – alone.”
He knew casting aspersions on her maturity would work. Sure enough Miranda rose to the challenge.
“ You’re right, you’re right, you’re right! What can I say? I am a silly-nilly and, no, I’m quite fine and not going home. Here’s your stupid ledger,” she said slamming it into his abdomen rather roughly. She walked over to the Victorian panels and knelt down. “I believe we were going to start here. Now let’s get going while the lights seem to be cooperating.”
Reginald set down the lighted candle on the stone ledge. He took out a handful of candles from his pocket and laid them next to it. He unfolded the jacket from the crook of his arm and held it out towards Miranda.
“ You refused this the first time it was offered. Now I insist.”
Miranda gratefully placed it around her wondering why she’d cavalierly declined the generosity. She wouldn’t this time. Reginald grabbed a pen from his vest pocket and opened the ledger.
“ Well, let’s go, Miranda. I haven’t got all day!” he said winking.
Miranda