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"Nigel, would you please be so kind as to escort Miranda home?" Lady Rudland asked "Her father seems to have been detained"

Miranda wondered why he winced when she said his naood party?"

"Sed "He's off playing with the saber Billy Evans gave him"

"Not a real one, I hope"

"God help us if it is," Lady Rudland put in "All right, Miranda, let's get you home I believe your cloak is in the next rooed a few seconds later with Miranda's serviceable brown coat

"Shall we be off, Miranda?" The godlike creature held out his hand to her

Miranda shrugged on her coat and placed her hand in his Heaven!

"I will see you on Monday!" Olivia called out "And don't worry about what Fiona said She's just a silly old cow"

"Olivia!"

"Well, she is, Mama I don't want to have her back"

Miranda smiled as she let Olivia's brother lead her down the hall, Olivia's and Lady Rudland's voices slowly fading away "Thank you very el," she said softly

He winced again

"I' you 'htn't I? It's just that Olivia and Winston always refer to you by your given name and I- " She cast miserable eyes toward the floor Only two minutes in his splendid company, and already she'd blundered

He stopped and crouched down so that she could see his face "Don't worry about the 'my lord,' Miranda I'll tell you a secret"

Miranda's eyes widened, and she forgot to breathe

"I despise - I mean, my lord, I mean, whatever you wish to be called You wince every ti had tugged at his heart when he saw this little girl with the too-serious expression playing with his indo little creature, but there was so, soulful brown eyes

"What are you called?" Miranda asked

He sht she ht not answer She just stood there, utterly still save for the blinking of her eyes And then, as if finally reaching a conclusion, she said, "That's a nice nael, don't you think?"

Miranda nodded "Did you choose it? I've often thought that people ought to choose their own na different from what they have"

"And ould you choose?"

"I' plainer, I think People expect so different from a Miranda and are almost always disappointed when they meet me"

"Nonsense," Turner said briskly "You are a perfect Miranda"

She beamed "Thank you, Turner May I call you that?"