Thomas stood there watching me, looking for some sort of reaction.  But wait, he said he's not Thomas?  I did not know what to say or do.  I felt my breath quaver, "If this is some kind of joke . . . "

            "I'm sorry," he whispered reaching towards me, "it's not a joke and I meant to tell you earlier . . . "

            "Tell me what?" I shouted, swatting his hand away.  My hands were trembling and I was feeling slightly dizzy.

            "Margaret, my name is Isaac," he breathed, "Thomas and I, we're twins."

            I felt my legs begin to give and I tried to stumble back towards the chair, "No, you're just playing a cruel joke," I gasped.  He caught me and helped me to sit.

            "I never meant for this to happen . . . " he knelt beside me, still holding my hand gently, "I never come here, but I wanted to see Leah."

            "Leah knows?" I asked shakily.

            "She's the only one," he smiled, "she's the only family I have here." He looked at me solemnly, "I should start from the beginning . . . Thomas is the oldest son, so he held the favor with our mother."

            "But if you really are twins," I interrupted still trying to decide if he was in earnest.

            "We are," he laughed, "but the eldest son inherits, you see.  Now it never bothered me really, I knew no better and was a content child.  As we grew though, Thomas was used to getting his way and he could not be bested.  Shortly after Leah arrived his temper took a turn," he breathed out as if he was relieved to finally be telling his tale. I could only sit and listen, trying to understand. "I think we were about nine when it happened . . . we were practicing our fencing in this very room and I got the upper hand on him for once," he smiled at me like it was a good memory, "but Thomas . . . " his smile faltered into an awkward laugh.

            "Brothers do scuffle though," I implied, "with three brothers I can assure you of that."

            "Will you please just listen, darling?"  He pulled off his jacket and began rolling up his sleeve, "Thomas retaliated after our match and . . . " he showed me his arm, a scar beginning on his wrist just below the thumb ran for several inches along his skin.

            I gasped and moved closer, letting my fingers gently glide over the smooth tissue, "Your brother did this?"

            "Yes," he blinked, "and there were other occasions . . . but Thomas always pleaded that I brought it on myself or that he was only trying to protect himself from me. So before our eleventh birthday I was sent to live with an aunt and uncle. I did not see or hear from my family since." He looked off into the distance and I could feel the tears welling in my eyes as he told his story. "Then two years ago I received a letter from Leah and we began an exchange. She had never forgotten about me although my brother and my parents had told everyone they lost me and I was written off for dead." I found myself grasping his hand in mine, "We agreed to meet next time she came to London, and so we have had our little trips to the gallery or in the park."

            "You are the friend that keeps her out," I said coming to the realization.

            "Yes," he laughed, "I guess you can say that . . . and the day that you arrived was the first time she convinced me to come see her paintings. I was impressed with her skill and we got carried away talking about art and I could not make my escape without being noticed."

            "So it was you that I first met?"

            "I'm afraid so," he tilted his head and bit his lip, "and that was to be the end of our meetings."

            "Your interest was not genuine then?" I questioned feeling self conscious.

            "Quite the opposite," his hands enveloped mine, "but I was not supposed to be here. And then on the day that Leah and I planned to meet at the gallery, there you were."

            I found myself stifling a laugh as I remembered, "That painting of the dog . . . "

            "Yes, that dreadfully endearing thing," he pushed a stray hair behind my ear and let his hand linger against my neck, "I think I was lost to you that day." He let out a breath and continued, "after that, I just had to see you again and Leah was quite complicit in helping me."

            "She has proven to be your conspirator on several occasions," I nodded. 

            The door to the Practice Room swung open and caught our attention.  I was awestruck when Thomas, the other Thomas, stumbled through the doorway.  Leah urged him further into the room and she quickly closed the door behind her.  She looked as us with a careful grin, "I have everything you asked for."  I watched as Leah handed Thomas . . . I mean Isaac the book of fairy tales that had been in my room.  After that she gave her other brother a glare before she moved back towards the door, I wasn't sure if she was there to listen for possible intruders or to make sure that none of us tried to escape.

            "I supposed you're telling her your good twin, bad twin sob story," Thomas sighed as he fell onto the sofa.  "Just so you know, I'm the bad one," he leered at me.

            I sat there staring at them, back and forth.  At first glance they were nearly identical but as I gave it time I could see the differences.  The one kneeling beside me, he was the one I knew and cared for, it was obvious when seeing them together.  My Thomas looked at me with love, tenderness and compassion.  When I looked to the brother on the sofa, he winked and kissed the air.  I felt my skin crawl and  so I moved closer to mine and kept my hands intertwined with his.

            "Isaac?" I smiled, "It will take some time getting used to calling you that . . . but what do we do now?"

            He turned to Thomas, "We need to come to an understanding . . . right now."

            "About?" he said in a teasing tone as he stretched across the sofa as if he was playing a game.

            "You know about what," Isaac growled getting to his feet, "the same thing I've been after you for weeks now!"  I looked up at him, I finally understood.  Every time he left, he was trying to find Thomas and reach some sort of compromise.

            "Oh yes," he purred, "how you want my bride, my inheritance . . . my life."

            "I only want Margaret," Isaac countered, "you can have everything else."

            Thomas sat up, a queer smile crossed his face, "Or I can have it all.  I rather like her," he nodded at me, "she's got some fight in her."  He pulled back his collar, showing Isaac the scratch that I gave him earlier.

            Isaac grabbed him and pulled him to his feet, "What did you do?" he asked through gritted teeth.

            I jumped up and tried to get between them, "It was only a kiss," I shrieked, "a terrible kiss!"

            "Oh, it was more than just a kiss," Thomas goaded.  I turned to him and he was smiling, just as Isaac's fist hit his chin.  He fell back laughing, "Maybe I'm not the only bad one."

            "Stop it, both of you!" Leah cried.

            Isaac looked at his sister and then me, he took a deep breath, "I only want Margaret.  If there was a way for me to have her in my own name, I would.  But as it is, she's engaged to you."  He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Now tell me . . . what can I offer to get you to leave us be until we're married?"

            "It's not that simple, Isaac," Thomas cackled, "See, I have a life outside of this house, away from Mother.  A life I rather like."  He looked me over for a moment, "As for the girl, you can have her.  I've got something more enticing waiting for me . . . "

            "Then what do you want to stay away from here until we're settled?" 

            "Bring me a weekly stipend and I won't have to come back," Thomas volunteered, "barring any . . . "

            "Fine," Isaac cut him off.  "I will bring you your stipend, but you stay away from this house.  You stay away from Margaret."  He stood in front of me, protectively.

            "Well okay then," Thomas smiled easily and rubbed his hands together, "Give me what I need and I'll be off."

            "Let me get it," Isaac said and turned to me, "I'll be gone but a moment . . . unless you want to come with me?"

            "I'll be fine," I nodded, "Leah's here."  With that Isaac left the room and I turned back to Thomas.  The easy smile still plastered on his face, "If I'm right, we've met three times?"

            "I'll take your word for it, I have more exciting pursuits than keeping track of how many times we've met."  I watched him ease back into the sofa, I believe he expected me to be taken with his rakish act.

            "Tell me why . . . or how you could hurt your own brother like that . . . to the point he was cast out of the family?"

            Thomas shook his head with a laugh, "There's more to it than whatever pretty story he wove for you.  Besides it wasn't my decision . . . just like it wasn't my decision to lock you into a marriage with me . . . or him."

            "You're detestable," I spat.

            "And you're naive," he jested, "But I'll tell you something, little girl.  I am free and enjoying every minute of my life.  London is full of games, drink and women and there is no reason why I should not have my fill.  I'll leave you and my brother to play doe-eyed lovers and please my parents.  But when the time comes, I will be Lord Edgehill.  I will inherit . . . and all he'll have is you."