Miss Simpkins' School: Miranda by Raven McAllan Page B

met her just reward.”
    Miranda? Molly knew Ash had mentioned her as a godparent, but surely if Charles had married her, he would have said Miranda, Charles’ wife? Molly blinked away the film of water that covered her eyes, and ignored the chilly goose bumps that covered her body. She couldn’t think of Charles like that. Like what, she didn’t put into words, even to herself. He was unattainable, and she had to keep that thought uppermost in her mind.
    The horses tossed their heads, and made their bits jangle. Molly remembered Ash’s diktat and flicked the reins to urge them to walk slowly up the lane. Obviously, they didn’t prescribe to Ash’s five minutes and then walk. Two minutes was quite enough in their minds. She could only hope there was somewhere to turn them later on.
    She hadn’t got more than a few yards before Ash hailed her to wait. “I have her. It seems for once it wasn’t mischief but sheer bad fortune.” He approached the phaeton, a young lady of around eighteen years in his arms.
    To Molly’s disgust, her first emotion was one of relief. She might not know Charles as well as she thought, but there was no way he’d marry someone nigh on twenty years younger than him. Then the girl opened her eyes. Molly was sure her gasp could be heard back in the village. Charles’ eyes stared at her.
    “Who are you?” The girl struggled in Ash’s arms. “Uncle Ash, I can walk. It was stupid of me, but Merry has never been spooked by a pheasant before. So, are you going to introduce me to your...” She paused before continuing in an insolent manner, “Companion?” Her skin was sun-kissed and darker than most young ladies thought acceptable, and her voice was sweet and held a hint of accent. Italian maybe? It would account for her skin tone. Even though she had a good ear for things like that, Molly decided she’d need to hear more.
    Ash’s expression was rigid. His eyes flashed, and if Molly hadn’t looked closely, she wouldn’t have seen the anger there. The smile that flashed over his face was not pleasant, and Molly shivered again, as he almost flung his burden into the phaeton. Molly moved over toward the middle of the seat. It would be a tight squeeze, but they would manage.
    “Well?” Now Molly thought she heard a note of pleading there. “Uncle Ash?”
    “No,” he said.

Chapter Two
    Well, that went all askew. Drat it, I need to speak to her. If she is who I think she is... Miranda pondered why Ash looked so annoyed, and replayed her words back in her mind. She groaned.
    “Ah, sorry that didn’t quite come out as expected. It sounded disrespectful, and it wasn’t intended to be. I’m...” I’m what? “I’m a little shaken up .” I need to keep my mind on the task in hand. It is my future at stake.
    Ash narrowed his eyes, and finally, just as Miranda thought she’d scream and own up to anything to break the silence, he nodded. “You should have been spanked more when you were a child.”
    Miranda giggled. Not when I was a child, but now? Oh yes, please. But not by my father or uncle.
    “Minx.” Ashley turned toward the other lady in the phaeton, who, Miranda saw, had gained the color she’d lost when Miranda had called Ashley ‘uncle.’ It was something to think about later.
    “My dear, can you drive the phaeton to the house? I have every faith in your ability. No.” He held his hand up at Miranda, who shut her mouth in a hurry. “Not you, you are shaken up.”
    His tone brooked no refusal. Miranda would have protested except she was sadly aware his words were true.
    “You can give directions.”
    She nodded.
    The elegant lady in the velvet traveling dress grinned. An urchin grin that lit up her face. “I am touched you have faith in my ability, Ash.”
    He gave a short laugh, and the softening of his features surprised Miranda. Not love like he showed every time he looked at his wife, but affection, surely? Miranda began to speculate. Was this the person she hoped?