Free Moonlight Wishes In Time by Bess McBride

brother. Need I be concerned?”
    With a hand on his mother’s door, William cocked his head and gave her a small half -smile.
    “I am not sure, my dear . Perhaps,” he murmured, his smile broadening despite his best intentions to remain grave. Interspersed with moments of gravity at the implication of Miss Crockwell’s presence were moments when he felt an unexpected giddiness. He supposed it was from lack of sleep.
    They stepped into the room to see their mother seated on the settee in an alert manner.
    “Good morning, Mother. What do you suppose our Will is about this morning?” Sylvie mumbled as she shuffled across the room, kissed her mother’s cheek and settled next to her in a corner of the settee.
    “I have no idea, dear . We so rarely have these ‘family’ meetings and almost never at this hour.” Mrs. Sinclair turned a pointed look toward the Ormolu clock on the mantle.
    William ignored her look and leaned against the mantle , regarding the women of his family. Fully aware he was making matters worse by prevaricating, he was uncertain as to how to proceed.
    “Well, William?” his mother prompted . “What is it? I admit to being quite intrigued, although somewhat concerned about the frown upon your brow. Somehow, I feel that you cannot have felicitous news to impart.”
    William made a conscious effort to smooth his brow .
    “I apologize for intruding upon you both so early this morning . If I felt the matter could wait, I would certainly have allowed you to take breakfast before approaching you, but as it is, I think I need your immediate assistance.”
    “Whatever is wrong, William ? The matter sounds urgent.” Sylvie straightened and leaned forward, her mother’s blue eyes mirrored on her own face.
    William regarded the two women on the settee, so alike in appearance and temperament . Intelligent and gracious with impeccable manners, as befitted their station and training. His sister possessed a natural kindness, which his mother shared—albeit with somewhat more reserve.
    He drew in a deep breath, depending on their graciousness.
    “Last night, I stepped outside and took a short stroll in the garden.”
    “To which I expressed my displeasure ,” Mrs. Sinclair murmured.
    “Yes, I am afraid I needed some air, Mother . The dinner parties can be so…stifling at times.”
    “The caged bird sings,” she responded with a sardonic half -smile.
    “Go on, William,” Sylvie urged . “You went outside…” she prompted.
    “I found myself wishing on the moon …” He paused and raised a hand to his mouth to cough slightly, wishing he had left that detail out as his mother’s eyebrows quirked once again and her smile widened.
    “Ah, the moon ,” Mrs. Sinclair interjected in a faintly acerbic manner.
    “William ! How sweet!” Sylvie chuckled.
    “Yes, well, that is beside the point,” he added hastily . “As I was saying, I was in the garden for only a few moments. When I turned to return to the house, I stumbled over something—a fairly large something.” A vision of pink fluff brought an involuntary twitch to his lips.
    “Well, what was it, Will?” Sylvie prompted.
    “A woman.” A gasp and a rustle of silk wrappers warned him to hurry through his explanation before the expected barrage of questions came his way. He clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace, avoiding their eyes for the moment. “I am not yet sure how she came to be there, but she had fainted. I picked her up and brought her into the kitchen, where Mrs. White saw to her until I was able to return after the dinner party to see if she would require a doctor.”
    “William!” his mother predictably remonstrated . “This is most irregular. You should have sent for a doctor at once.”
    William paused and faced his mother .
    “I doubt you would say that had you been in my situation, Mother . You see, she was in her…em…well, she was in her sleeping garments.”
    “Out on the lawn ? Our lawn? Surely you