Chapter Eleven #2
They approached an elegant woman of an age with the baroness, silver streaking her light-brown hair. “Elizabeth, may I present Miss Catherine Childs?” She then turned back to Kitty. “Miss Childs, this is my dear friend Elizabeth, the Dowager Marchioness of Boxwood.”
Kitty dropped into a curtsy and then smiled at the dowager. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
“And you, Miss Childs,” Lady Boxwood returned, a twinkle in her eyes. “May I present my longtime neighbor and friend, Mr. Owen Davies?” She gestured towards the gentleman next to her.
Before Kitty could continue with the pleasantries, a throat cleared. She turned to the doorway just as the footman announced, “Mr. Oliver Linfield and Mr. Timothy Linfield.”
Two identical men stepped into the room.
Kitty blinked twice, but the image before her did not change.
Oliver and Tim not only resembled each other, they appeared identical.
They each wore a black jacket with matching trousers and a royal blue waistcoat.
Their cravats were exact copies of each other, and their hair appeared to have been recently trimmed into the same style.
The only difference was that one sported a green stickpin in his mathematical knot, and the other a red.
“It is a game they have played since childhood,” Lady Sampson explained. “Though I believe this is their first time since their late father passed away.”
“Can anyone tell them apart?” Lady Boxwood asked, her eyes still studying the identical figures before her.
“Their mother and sisters usually can, but even they have been fooled a time or two.” The baroness looked over to where Arabella sat next to her mother-in-law. “To my knowledge, only Mr. Timothy’s wife has never lost the game.”
“Lords, ladies, and gentlemen,” the brother with the green stickpin stepped forward with a big smile. “We invite you to join us for an evening of frivolity.”
That must be Tim.
The second brother stepped forward. “Or not. It is up to you.” He sounded just like Tim as well.
“A few ground rules before we start.” Now the first brother sounded like Oliver.
“No asking questions that only one of us would know.” The twin with the red stickpin instructed in the same cadence and tone.
The brother with the green stickpin then returned to sounding like Tim. “Meaning no questions about the estate or the church.”
They then spoke together. “And no asking Mrs. Arabella Linfield for help.”
“Once you are confident you can tell us apart,” the twin with the red stickpin now sounded just like Tim.
Then the other finished his thought in the same voice, “Please place your guess in the basin Lady Sampson has so thoughtfully provided.” He gestured to where a large bowl sat on a sideboard, a stack of paper and a quill sitting next to it.
After the men finished explaining the game, Lord Sampson invited everyone to join him in the dining room. It was not a large party, only sixteen place settings on the table, and the Linfield twins were the center of everything.
Throughout dinner, the game continued. People disregarded the normal patterns of dinner companions to converse with both men, and to discuss their opinions openly with other guests.
Mr. Joseph Aldridge even broke the rules and attempted to ask about Blackthorne Park, but only received a “tsk, tsk” in response from the brother in the green stickpin.
Both brothers switched personas so fluidly that it was fascinating to watch. One moment the one would sound like Oliver, and the next moment they would switch. And yet, Kitty was sure that Oliver wore the red stickpin. There was just something about him.
After the women went through, Kitty crossed the drawing room to where Arabella sat on a sofa. Tim’s wife had been eerily quiet all evening, merely smiling whenever someone addressed her. Without preamble, Kitty’s friend declared, “I will not give you a hint.”
“I would never ask,” Kitty replied, “but I was hoping you would confirm a theory.” Arabella raised a single brow, and Kitty clarified. “Not about tonight. It is about why you are never fooled.”
“What is your theory?” Arabella patted the cushion next to her. “Tim claims it is black magic.”
“I suppose that is one theory.” Kitty chuckled softly. “But somehow, I do not believe that is the reason.”
The men came through, interrupting their conversation. Kitty had been expecting a few more minutes. Some gentlemen kept to the dining room and their Port for an hour or more after dinner. But she supposed the game only made sense with everyone in the same room.
Arabella watched both twins for a moment as they performed for the guests across the room. “I’ve never actually known how I tell them apart. I simply know Tim when I see him.”
“Not by the way he looks or acts,” Kitty paused, hoping she was not treading into too personal of territory, “but by the way he looks at you.” When Arabella did not reply, Kitty continued, “You share a connection with your husband that you can sense, even if you cannot explain it.”
Arabella nodded as if she agreed, but then turned back to Kitty. “And how did I tell them apart as a child?”
That was a valid question, but Kitty’s memory struck on the answer almost immediately. “According to Lady Diana, you’ve been courting since you were ten years old.”
Arabella laughed loud enough that several other guests turned to look at them. Lowering her voice, she leaned towards Kitty. “There is some truth to that.”
With nothing else to add to the conversation, the two women settled onto the sofa and watched the men perform.
Each brother seeming to switch roles seamlessly.
And yet, they gave themselves away to anyone truly paying attention.
Each time the brother with the green stickpin looked in their direction, his eyes met Arabella’s.
While the brother with red looked towards Kitty herself, making her heart flip.
“I think you may be onto something.” Arabella spoke so softly Kitty could barely hear her. “But I have a question of my own.”
“Yes?” Kitty replied, never taking her eyes off Oliver.
“Can you tell them apart?”
Kitty chewed her lip as Oliver met her eyes and smiled before looking away. “I believe I can.”