“Aiden!” Julianna greeted him excitedly as she descended the stairs. No, she floated. Julianna possessed hidden wings and Aiden, besotted fool that he was, believed she floated everywhere she went. Her raven-black hair was artfully swept up, and her pale cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her figure was so incredibly thin that she appeared almost fragile, and yet this slender frame housed an incredibly strong will. She had the spirit of a warrior within her and the face of an angel with brilliant blue eyes.
Forgetting the grim-faced butler, Aiden briskly walked toward her, meeting her halfway across the foyer. “Lovely Lady Varik.”
“I knew you’d be right on time.”
He permitted a small chuckle. “Only because I’m sure you saw me sitting in my carriage in front of your house.”
She giggled softly. “You’re not afraid of them, are you?”
“A wise man always recognizes when he’s outnumbered.”
“But you’ve arrived with excellent reinforcements. These flowers are gorgeous,” Julianna said, reaching for the bouquet.
“Not nearly as gorgeous as the lady receiving them,” Aiden murmured, and he meant every word of it. Julianna was a ray of sunlight. His own personal sun brightening his long, gloomy existence. He watched as she cradled the flowers in both arms as if she were holding a newborn, her face glowing with happiness.
“They are perfect, Aiden. Just perfect.” She turned toward the butler, her expression becoming serious. “Carter, could you see these put into water and placed in my chambers? I want them to be the last thing I see when I fall asleep and the first thing I see when I wake.”
Carter accepted the flowers with the same care Julianna was showing. “Of course, my lady. As you wish.”
The butler disappeared into the house and Julianna turned to him, her smiling growing as her eyes fell on the large box under his arm. “More gifts?”
“Mind you, I’m not trying to buy their affections, but I thought it could help to convince them that I’m not all bad.”
Julianna closed the distance between them, placing her hand on his free arm. She cuddled up against him and released a happy sigh that hugged his heart. “Oh, my darling Aiden. I know you have nothing to fear. They will love you.”
Aiden could only smile and pray that she was right. He’d survived more centuries than he cared to remember. Fought in bloody battles, been scorched by the sun time and again, been sure that he would not survive to see another sunset, and none of it felt as terrifying as climbing the stairs with her. Any future and happiness he might have with Julianna hinged on these next few moments.
At the top of the stairs, she brought him over to a pair of doors. On the other side, he could hear the soft tinkle of piano keys being played, along with a pair of raised voices in argument. She placed her hands on the handles but paused, sighing loudly.
“Obviously, not the first impression we were trying for,” she muttered under her breath, and Aiden bit his bottom lip to hold back his smile.
She threw open the doors and they stepped inside in time to see two little boys wrestling in the middle of the room while an older boy was sitting at the piano, playing. The youngest of the four was sitting on the floor, leaning against the piano bench.
“Rafe! Bel! What are you doing?” Julianna demanded sharply.
The two wrestling boys parted and pushed to their feet. One looked up at his mother with wide, tear-filled eyes while the other stood apart, his expression mutinous as he glared at his brother. No…his twin. They had many similarities, but it was clear they were both the same age.
Aiden’s heart pounded as he took in all four boys with their thick black hair and sharp blue eyes. Little replicas of their beautiful mother. But it wasn’t just in their looks. There was a riveting intelligence in each pair of eyes, a stunning sharpness that warned Aiden there would be no pulling any tricks on them. She’d told him she had children, but she’d given him no details beyond that. Yet, there had been something in her look, or maybe her voice, that hinted to him they were her entire world.
“Mother, Rafe said he was going to smash my new telescope!” the one who was likely Bel cried. He stood straight, his slender shoulders painfully tensed while he roughly wiped tears from his eyes.
“He said he was going to name the first planet he discovered after Mrs. Pitts’s dog!” Rafe argued, his small body positively trembling with indignation.
“Rafe, really!” Julianna said with exasperation. “You know Bel can name a planet whatever he wants if he discovers one. If you want to name a planet something else, you’ll just have to discover one too. Now apologize.”
Bel sucked on his bottom lip as he stared at his twin, his heart in his eyes. Rafe’s shoulders slumped in an instant before he crossed the short distance between them and wrapped his arms tightly around him.
“So sorry, Bel. You know I’d never hurt your telescope,” Rafe mumbled.
Bel didn’t hesitate to hug him back. “It’s okay. I’ll help you find your own planet, Rafe.”
“A comet. I want to name a comet after Mother,” Rafe replied, and Aiden swore he melted into a puddle right there in the music room. He had no defense against them.
The oldest child slipped down from the piano bench and walked over to them, holding the hand of the youngest. His inquisitive gaze remained locked on Aiden while he kept his body positioned between himself and the little one. So protective.
“Aiden, I would like to introduce you to my sons,” Julianna began. She motioned to the tallest, who looked to be maybe thirteen or fourteen. “This is Marcus, my oldest son, and Winter, my youngest, is with him.” Her youngest couldn’t have been more than six or seven. He was a small, slender child with a wary look in his large eyes. Both children bowed politely, and Aiden returned it before he extended his hand to Marcus, and then Winter.
“It is an honor to meet you, Master Marcus, Master Winter,” Aiden said.
“My lord,” Marcus answered firmly, holding his gaze. If he didn’t know better, he’d believe the boy was sizing him up, maybe even warning him to proceed cautiously.
“And these two troublemakers are my twins, Rafe and Beltran,” Julianna continued.
Aiden repeated the bow and shook the boys’ hands. They were possibly eleven or twelve years of age.
“Boys, this is my dear friend, Lord Aiden Martin.”
“Lord Martin, what’s in the box?” Winter asked boldly, knocking a chuckle from Aiden’s lips.
Aiden looked over at Julianna for permission, and she smirked as she said, “He has generously brought you a surprise, but I think we should first give him the surprise you’ve prepared.”
The older boys quickly hurried to the other side of the room, Marcus hopping up on the piano bench. But Winter remained in front of his mother, his hands behind his back.
“May I go first, Mother? Please.”
Julianna gently touched his cheek, smiling warmly at him. “Of course, darling.”
While Winter scurried over to a box on a small table, Julianna led Aiden to a nearby settee to sit. When they were settled, Winter stood in the center of the room with a flute raised to his lips. He looked to his mother, who gave an encouraging nod before he played his first note. It was a simple song, but his notes were sharp and clear, the dance of his small fingers so perfect. Aiden was in awe of the child. To stand there so composed, playing for the intimate audience, one of them a complete stranger.