"Mum used to say we were the same soul split in two and walking around on four legs. It seems unnatural being born together and then dying apart." Melodie Ramone, After Forever Ends

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XIII.

Perrie was surprised to hear the knock on her bedroom door so soon after she had rung the bell for a maid to help her change. But a moment later, her mother entered her bedroom.

"Mama," remarked Perrie.

"Perrie," said Grace softly. "Did you enjoy your trip to London?"

"You don't like London, do you?" Perrie replied quietly.

Grace briefly shook her head, before she said, "Ashwood will always be my home, but London certainly has its diversions. But will you answer my question?"

Of course, Perrie had enjoyed travelling with her grandmother. She had enjoyed seeing her aunt again and reuniting with the branches of the Beresfords and Denhams who lived in the city. She had even enjoyed choosing her the prettiest fabric in Belle's shop so that it could be transformed into a ballgown for her. But what it all meant was a terribly daunting thing.

"I'm frightened, Mama," Perrie whispered. To feel so frightened felt so completely foreign to Perrie. She was so used to her stubborn sense of determination whenever she approached anything. But then, she supposed, she had always had the knowledge that she would return home at the end of everything, and she would be safe, and all would be well.

Perrie felt little. She hated to feel this way, and she could and would blame Joe for it as he reminded her of her height every chance he got. But if she were thinking truthfully, she simply just felt like a small girl in and amongst a flurry of beautiful, elegant ladies, who were far more prepared than she was.

Grace sighed sympathetically as she crossed the room to Perrie and pulled her into a tight embrace. Perrie melted into her mother's arms and revelled in the feeling of Grace rubbing her hand soothingly across her back. "Are you frightened of the Season? Are you concerned for what it will entail?"

Perrie merely nodded.

"Oh, darling. You needn't worry."

"How are you to know, Mama? You never had a Season. You were never paraded like that. Didn't you and Papa know you were going to marry each other when you were children?"

"It was a little more complicated than that," Grace murmured. "But yes, you are right about me never having a Season. But what I mean when I say that you need not worry is that you may attend next year without an ounce of pressure." She pulled away so that she could look upon Perrie's face intently. "You need not fret about what your grandmother says. Take no heed of how she complains about Aunt Susanna's age when she wed. You have time and you have a choice. If you choose not to wed next year, then you can return home quite happily. And if you choose to delay your debut by another year if you do not feel ready, then you certainly know your father will approve." She laughed lightly.

Perrie appreciated hearing that more than she could express, even though she had subconsciously known that there would have been no expectations upon her from either of her parents. But there was a small part of her, a tiny part of her mind that told her that her parents ought to have expected more from her. Perhaps then she would not feel so ridiculous when she imagined herself in and amongst the marvels of London society.

All Perrie could envision was that she would make an extraordinary fool of herself by saying something inappropriate or behaving in some unladylike manner. And then all she would hear would be something that sounded like, 'What a silly little imp.'

"Will Mr Parish come to London for the Season?" Perrie suddenly asked.

"My, you two are certainly curious about one another," Grace remarked.

Perrie immediately frowned. "What?"

Grace shook her head dismissively. "Papa told me that Mr Parish was wondering about you yesterday is all."

Perrie's eyes darkened. Why? What had he planned? She instinctively flicked her eyes around her bedroom in search of a hidden guillotine. Her head snapped back to her mother. "Well, will he?" she pressed.

"I do not know," replied Grace. "I suppose when his father arrives, we might discuss that. The Viscount may choose to escort Mr Parish's elder brother to London for the Season should he be in a position to find a wife. Perhaps Mr Parish will accompany them."

Perrie almost turned green at the thought of Joe being present in London when she had to fumble her way through her debut. Grandmamma had spent the last several days explaining to Perrie all the details of how she would be presented on her first night before the queen. She would have to curtsey and be observed by all as they assessed her stock.

But then, Perrie thought, what if Joe met someone in London and married her. Would that take him away from Ashwood? Would she be rid of him? Perrie's next thought was that she couldn't imagine any sane woman putting up with a man as vexing as Joe Parish. The man confessed something serious, confided in her, and then proceeded to behave like a rotten baboon the next minute.

Perrie would need to remember to call him a rotten baboon the next time she saw him. It frustrated her greatly. Perrie had been so apologetic. She had felt dreadful. She had seen pain within Joe, and she had done her best to set aside their differences and to make amends for whatever role she had played. And Joe could not be a normal person long enough before reverting to his usual evil ways.

"I certainly hope his father and brother are more tolerable than he is," Perrie muttered distastefully.

"Oh, Perrie."

***

Perrie's bedroom remained free from guillotines, and any other death machines. She made certain to call him a rotten baboon at dinner that evening, and Joe promptly replied that he imagined that even a monkey would be taller than her.

But there was something different about him. Perrie could not quite put her finger on it, but as she sat across from Joe Parish, she could see that he was not quite his usual insufferably smug self. There was an intensity about his gaze and a stiffness about his shoulders. Perrie could not help but stare at him as she tried to determine what was different, and each time that Joe caught her looking, he frowned at her dismissively.

Lord, he was rude. Perrie had quickly firmed in her assumption that should Joe Parish travel to London next April, he would be very unsuccessful in finding a wife.

"Perrie, what a thing to say!" her mother cried.

Perrie gasped as she suddenly realised that the attention of the entire dining table was on her. Had she just said that out loud? Her eyes quickly returned to the steely glare of Joe's brown eyes.

Her cheeks flushed scarlet.

Joe's eyes narrowed, and a small smirk appeared as he enjoyed Perrie's embarrassed squirming. "That was very unkind of you, Lady Perrie," he uttered tauntingly.

"Perrie, you ought to apologise," urged Grace.

Joe's smirk widened into a pleasurable smile, and Perrie clenched her teeth.

"I was wrong, Mr Parish. You would certainly find a lovely bride in London," Perrie replied tersely, "and she would certainly put up with you provided that she was blind and desperate." Perrie could not help herself. Her tongue had a mind of its own when it came to Joe Parish, and he knew it.

To the surprise of the table, but not Perrie, Joe laughed. Out of the corner of her eye, Perrie saw her father throw back his head with a sigh, and she could hear her siblings joining in on Joe's laughter. Grace attempted to make peace again by urging Perrie to apologise, and Cecily merely collected her glass of wine and took a long sip.

"Go on then, Mr Parish. Get it over with! What's a few more grey hairs," Adam groaned.

"I'll have it stated for the record that she started this one," Joe announced, before he turned his attention back to Perrie. "Did you find a dress in the end? I wasn't aware they made ballgowns in toddler sizes."

"Yes, I did," spat back Perrie. "And I'll have you know I met the perfect woman for you. She's covered in fur and speaks exclusively monkey. You will fit right in with her family."

"I met the perfect man for you, as well. He's about the size of my forearm, and answers to Harold the Garden Gnome."

Perrie hissed sharply. Joe seemed to find pure joy in her irritation, and whatever had been plaguing him seemed to temporarily disappear as he focussed his attention on teasing Perrie. "Why are you so insufferable?" she demanded to know. "Everything about you annoys me."

"Do you yield, my lady?" he taunted, his smile widening.

"I hope your family take you back with them!" Perrie huffed. "But I would not blame them if they found you as horrid as I do."

Joe's smile vanished and his eye twitched. Perrie could see the breath that had caught itself in Joe's throat. "I'll say a prayer tonight for the future Mr Little Imp Beresford," he snapped. "May he be blind, desperate, and deaf."

***

Perrie couldn't stomach the sight of Joe for the next few days, and actively avoided him at all costs. It wasn't hard to do so as he had taken to having a supper tray in his bedroom rather than dining with the family.

If Perrie had cared at all, she would have wondered why. But she did not care.

If he had any heart at all, he probably was stewing on his guilt for all the poison he had thrown at Perrie at the last dinner. Certainly, she had returned the poison with equal measure, but Perrie was not going to feel guilty when Joe clearly did not care. She had carried enough guilt the last time he had not been right.

If she cared, she would have wondered what had triggered his mood that evening, but again, she did not. Not at all. Not one bit. She spent not one minute on any of the days that followed wondering what had been on Joe's mind that night.

Perrie decided to go out riding early the following week, the week of the ball. Mainly because she hated being cooped up indoors pretending to read in the library just so she didn't happen to run into Joe should he be in one of the hallways.

Perrie ordinarily would have taken a maid as an escort, or at least Lily, but she had no asked permission to go. Mama was visiting with her Grandmamma Denham and Papa was obviously engaged with the antichrist.

She loved to ride, and once she had convinced the Ashwood groom that she did in fact have the duke's permission, she took off across the Ashwood grounds and sucked in deep breaths of the fresh summer air. Perrie was not at all certain where she was going to end up. She knew that she could have journeyed to visit her Uncle Jem, but she found herself travelling towards the pond, and the Beresford family tomb.

Perrie had not yet returned to the pond that summer, and it was certainly high time that she did. It was a warm day, and Perrie would have ordinarily swum, though her mother did not allow swimming alone. She would obey that rule.

Perrie slowed her horse's gallop to a walk as the pond came into view, and she smiled for only a brief moment before she spotted another figure down by the water, a horse tied to a tree nearby.

A scowl filled Perrie's face immediately when she realised just who was standing there. Had Papa allowed him to come down to the pond to swim? Was this God letting her know that now was the right time to drown him? He was not looking at her, but Perrie would have known those pretentious shoulders and floppy blond hair anywhere.

Perhaps it was a cruel joke, but Perrie believed he deserved it. She decided to sneak up on him from the left. He would not hear her. Perhaps he would jump with such a fright that he would fall into the water himself and she would not be blamed for him drowning.

Perrie fixed her horse's reins to a nearby tree and then began to walk as delicately as she could across the grassy stretch between the trees and the pond. Joe merely stood calmly facing the water.

Perrie was twenty feet from him, ten, and then five, walking as silently as she could manage. And then she stood on a twig, and it made a quiet snap underfoot. Perrie was quite certain that Joe would not have been able to hear it from his left, but he did, and he turned around suddenly.

His brown eyes flared with surprise as he took in Perrie's sudden appearance, and he stepped back instinctively. "Where did you come from?" he cried.

"Must you always be where I am?" Perrie practically growled. "I cannot even ride to escape you because here you are."

Joe frowned at her with total astonishment. His brows nearly knitted together. He squared his shoulders and stood to his full height, no doubt in an attempt to make her feel like a little imp. "I beg your pardon?"

Joe's tone reeked of superiority beneath an odd formality, and Perrie felt a spark of anger fuel the flame within her belly.

"Do not play coy or high and mighty with me, Mr Parish. You know exactly what I am talking about. Did you come here just to vex me? Do you want me to drown you?"

"I sincerely do not, madam," Joe replied, still sounding terribly astonished at Perrie's words.

"Madam?" Perrie repeated, screwing up her nose at such a title. "I just threatened to drown you. I'd imagine that you'd call me a little imp, or something a little more imaginative than 'madam'. What do I look like, forty?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Joe said shortly, his brows still firmly furrowed.

This had to be a game. He was most certainly toying with her. Perrie took a step towards him, staring up into his dark eyes to search for evidence of a stroke. "What is wrong with you? Have you taken ill?" she demanded to know. "You're behaving more like a stupid baboon today than a rotten one. I'm surprised at you, Mr Parish."

"Surprised at me? Madam, I have never met you before!" Joe declared.

Perrie's eyes narrowed. This was certainly a new game. He was obviously determined to try and make Perrie feel foolish just so that he could drop his façade and tease her at the opportune moment. Well, she would not fall for it. Joe Parish liked to think that he was the best at their battles, but Perrie was not a fool. She rolled her eyes. "You are ridiculous, Mr Parish, and you are quite possibly the bane of my existence. Call me an imp and be done with it so that I can drown you."

Joe put his hands up in front of him and said in a short but firm tone, "Madam, I have never met you before in my life. Though, clearly, I have somehow indirectly caused you offense and I offer you my most sincere apologies. I would ask you to refrain from drowning me, however."

There was not a hint of teasing in Joe's voice, and Perrie felt confusion creeping into her resolve. "Stop it," she demanded. "Joe, stop it now. Or I'll drown you just to spite you."

Joe's expression changed in an instant, and he breathed, "Ah," in a tone of realisation. "I believe I know what has happened here. I believe you must be familiar with my twin brother, Joseph."

Perrie paled, all blood draining from her face as humiliation and embarrassment crept in. Her heart entirely ceased beating in her chest. Oh, dear God. She had just walked up to a perfect stranger, a gentleman, and had insulted him, and she had asked him to call her an 'imp'!

But she could not help but stare up at this man in disbelief. He was Joe! He had Joe's face exactly. He was identical. And yet as soon as Joe's twin had confirmed his identity, Perrie could see that in his air that he was not Joe. There was no teasing about him, no evil smirk or smug tone. He was Joe's mirror image, and yet he was a different man.

And Perrie had humiliated herself in front of him. "Sir, I am dreadfully sorry for the mistaken identity. Oh, goodness me! You must forgive me!"

Joe's twin laughed. "I see my brother has made quite the impression on you, my lady."

"Yes ... he ..."

"Vexes you, it seems."

Perrie's cheeks were crimson red. "Yes, he does."

"I would ask your name, but I know I could not ask a lady such a thing without being introduced to her properly by another." He smiled at her kindly, and it was certainly a startling thing to receive a kind smile from Joe's face. "My father and I are arriving at a place called Ashwood House today. I only went out this morning for some fresh air before we arrive formally. I imagine I am trespassing on Ashwood land as we are quite near the house, as I understand. You don't happen to live there, do you?"

"I ... I do." Perrie nodded helplessly.

Joe's twin smile again. "Good. Then it will not be long until I know your name. Good day, my lady." He bowed his head respectfully, before he turned away from her, and went to collect his horse.

----

I did NOT see that coming. 

Oh wait. Yes I did. Hehehehehe. Here I am cackling to myself as I'm writing Joe and Ed's letters to each other about how they have forgotten what the other looks like all the while knowing that's an inside joke shared between the brothers as they have identical faces hahahahahahaha

But we have met Ed! I wonder what he will make of Perrie after that meeting. And what will Joe think? And what will Perrie think? And what will everyone think? What will Joe's dad think? What will happen? GAHHHHHHHH SO MANY QUESTIONS!!

AND I HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS!!! 

But could you imagine being the second son as a twin? Knowing that had you been born a few minutes earlier, you would have been the heir? Mad, huh?

Fun fact, when I was writing the plan for this story, the scene where Perrie confronts Ed thinking it's Joe was the very first scene I wrote lol. I often do that when writing a story if particular scenes stick out in my head. They might not be identical to my plan when I put them in the story eventually, but they stick pretty close. 

Sigh, welcome to Ashwood, Ed. If you didn't know, it's controlled by a maniacal overlord who enjoys torture, rollercoasters, cliffhangers ... and a lil bit of romance, yah know, just enough to trick the readers into thinking the overlord is human hehehe

Vote and comment my lovelies!! xxx