by Editor
“We?” Molly asked wide-eyed. “Serina just needs to try it on and make sure it’s perfect. Why don’t you head to the kitchen, you know, just oversee the chef’s progress, so to speak.”
Raven dashed out the door without so much as a word or a glance back.
“Just don’t touch anything,” Molly called after her.
“Everyone’s a blimey court jester ’round here,” Raven yelled back.
****
Payton arranged for dinner in his favorite room within the manor, the atrium. The odd-shaped room held five walls. A black granite fireplace, tall enough to walk into occupied the only solid wall. A mirror etched with tiny flowers, matched the brass embossed ceiling tile. The remaining walls held French doors that led out to the veranda overlooking the lake. The room’s showpiece was a glistening chandelier of fine leaded crystal. Payton had been told the light dated back to 1815 when Napoleon fled France and sought refuge on one of England’s islands. Napoleon had brought it as a gift of thanks for the shelter.
Candles and sconces scattered across the room, brought the walls to life as the shadows of the approaching night danced across them. Payton arranged a large vase of white lilies and bluebells to grace the oval mahogany table.
Six place settings awaited their dinner guests. As each person entered the room, Payton filled a glass with bubbling spirits and escorted them to their seat. When everyone had been seated, one empty place remained.
“We’re missing one seat, Payton. You are most welcome and expected to join us this evening.” Lucian said as he grabbed the bottle from Payton. He filled Payton a glass.
Appalled, Payton grabbed at the bottle and tugged it away from Lucian. “The last seat, my Lord, is for your cousin. Word came earlier he would arrive by dusk. I thank you for the invitation, but who would serve you if I join you? ’Tis most inappropriate.”
Lucian looked at Raven. “I don’t know, I think we’re all pretty capable of getting our own plates, right? You need to know, I’ve never been comfortable having others doing things for me that I’m more than capable of doing myself. I just can’t cook. And it’s only right you share this meal you’ve prepared for us, with us. And if you’re to be part of our family then you’ll dine with us. Fair enough?” Lucian snatched the bottle back with a smirk.
“Yes, Sir. And thank you.” Payton held up his glass to Lucian and Serina and toasted them. “There is nothing more noble than two people willing to give their lives to one another, to share their home to delight their family and friends and confound their enemies. Remember, if you put your marital problems on the back burner, they surely will boil over.”
“Thank you, Payton.” Lucian shook his head with a grin before he asked, “Does it always come back to food with you?”
“That it does, Sir. If I could quote a person I admire? ‘A man’s gotta eat and then there’s dessert!’” Payton glanced at Raven and gave her a quick wink.
Serina leaned into Lucian and whispered, “His hearing is exceptional. We weren’t even in his kitchen the evening you said that to me.”
“Payton, one last thing—stop calling me Sir.”
“Yes, Sir, I mean Lord St. James.”
Lucian shrugged his shoulders. “Baby steps.”
The rest of the night went smoothly. The six of them devoured fish and chips, fried to a golden perfection. It wasn’t what Payton had planned by any means to serve, but then he hadn’t planned on Raven sabotaging his beef Wellington either. He had asked her to watch the stove for just one minute, while he ran to get burgundy for his sauce. When he returned flames engulfed his entrée giving the term “blackened” an entirely new meaning.
No one said anything to Raven about dinner. For once, everyone behaved...well almost everyone.
Duncan remarked, “Raven, just because it’s called beef Wellington doesn’t mean it has to be well done, overly done, burnt-to-a crisp-done, Beauty.”
“Oh, Duncan?” Raven smirked before she flung a chip at him. The fried potato smacked his cheek.
Duncan filled his fork with mushy peas, took aim and launched them back at her. Covered in malt vinegar, potato remnants and green vegetables both excused themselves to go change their clothes. Upon returning, the two still snickered like children, provoking each other all over again.
Serina looked around the room at her new family and noticed one chair still vacant. “What do you think happened to your identical cousin, Lucian?” she asked straight-faced.
Lucian purposely ignored her. He was not going to justify that comment or acknowledge her crazy claim. Identical cousin! The woman’s insane. “If he’s anything like me, he probably hit one of the pubs on the way over. Paris is quite a journey in short notice.”
“Luce, how long has it been since we’ve seen André?” Raven asked. “I probably won’t even recognize him.”
Everyone except Raven burst into laughter with that comment, seeing their last dinner guest slip into the room where Raven could not. While she stood with her back to the door, trying to figure out what she’d said that seemed so funny, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and hoisted her off her feet. She sent a shrill scream into the air.
“Raven, it’s been way too long since I’ve heard your beautiful voice or your silly comments, or seen the sincerity and innocence your eyes behold. Four years is much too long.” André turned Raven in his arms.
Another scream filled the room, only this time it wasn’t a shriek of horror, but one of joy. Raven threw her arms around André and hugged him as if her life depended on it.
“Oh my sweet, André. I’ve missed you. Bloody ’ell, you’re the spitting image of me Lucian.” Raven cocked her head to one side, studying both men for a moment and then continued, “Although I suppose I just forgot that one little fact. How are you? You’re still beautiful.” Raven glued her lips to his cheek.
Lucian and Duncan approached. Serina stared at the man in total disbelief noting the undeniable resemblance between the two men. They were more than just cousins. Serina knew something was amiss. Her nose twitched sensing something vaguely familiar. Black magic’s fumes scented the air. Hopefully not her mother’s because it had her mother’s stench all over it. Her stomach knotted.
“Lucian, you’re looking dashing as ever and rather fit.” André held out his hand. “Does the beautiful woman at the other end of the table have anything to do with this?”
Serina’s face warmed. Quickly she fanned herself with her napkin.
Lucian pulled the man to him in a warm embrace, with Raven sandwiched between them. “André, this is Serina. And you too, cousin, look quite fit and debonair.”
“Are you two done patting yourselves on the back about your looks? My God, it’s bad enough with just Lucian here but now with the two of you!” Duncan threw his arm around the man and hugged him. “How’s our ponies?”
“Good to see you, Duncan. You are truly the one person I missed. You always seem to keep me in line, and as of late, my line’s been a bit crooked. The little fillies are fine and gaining strength and speed. Next year Saratoga shall be exciting.” André hugged Duncan all the while still holding Raven, and Lucian. “Serina, I would offer my hand to you, but then I would drop our little beauty on her arse if I did so, not that she probably doesn’t deserve it occasionally.”
“That was uncalled for, André. Now put me down—gently.” Raven ran her hands through André’s hair, studying him. She turned a cheek taking in Lucian, like she’d never really seen the two of them before today. “It really is uncanny,” Raven mused. Without a care, she dragged André first to Payton. “Ands, meet our new chef, Payton.”
“Pleasure, Payton. Hope this crew doesn’t scare you off.”
Raven added, “Nothing is scarier than his ex-boss. Luce stole him from our aunt’s club house. He’s an excellent cook.”
“When Ray doesn’t get involved,” Molly snuck in.
“The feisty redhead is Molly. Duncan’s lady.” Raven blew Molly a kiss.
“A chemist, hey? I know the scent well. Very alluring.” André looked back and saw Lucian and Duncan wryly eyeing him. With a shy wink he asked, “What?” He knew both men wondered why he would know of a woman’s perfume. “I love women and they love perfume. ’Tis as easy as one plus one.” André held two fingers to Lucian and in a low voice said, “The answer’s two, Luce,” then bared all his teeth at the other man playfully.
Raven blurted out, “This is perfect.”
André gently kissed Serina’s hand and then let it go. “I should have come sooner, but so much has happened, Lucian. We need to talk after you and your bride return from your honeymoon. Where are you planning on taking this fair maiden?”
André never took his eyes from Serina as he spoke to Lucian, which made Serina uncomfortable, sensual and mystified at the same time. A wanton goddess. That, she decided might be a bit over-the-top but still, her lips curled into an unstoppable smile. It was one thing to have the most beautiful male on the planet wedding her in the morning, but then to see an identical replica standing in front of her, with his black eyes scorching her soul and pouring heat over her body like wax from a melted candle was an entirely different story. Again, she realized her thinking might be a bit exaggerated, but she smiled regardless. The idea of two of them moistened her drawers. You need to forget that line of thinking, Serina, or you’ll be divorced before you’re married. Two men at once would most certainly be the sin of the century.
Lucian asked, “What is the grin for, m’lady? I certainly hope you’re not thinking what I think you are.”
Serina watched Lucian as he stood across the room rubbing his fingers over his chin, wearing a grin as evil as she felt at that moment. He knows, dammit! His twinkling eyes held her secret. Instantly, her bottom lip became a target for her top teeth to gnaw.
Lucian shook his head, amused.
Overwhelmed with the wedding, the new family, and the new identical twin/cousin, and her home’s recent destruction, Serina stood and excused herself. “André, ’tis a pleasure to meet you. Raven, sweet dreams. Molly and Duncan, thank you for everything and Payton, sorry I’m bailing on you and not helping clean up. Lucian, would you escort me to my room?”
Once alone in her bedroom with him she said. “I am so sorry.... I don’t know what came over me.”
Lucian nudged Serina against the wall, dragged her hands up over her head and held her there as he kissed her fast and hard with such force she’d have sworn he passed right through her. The kiss stole her breath.
“Remember whose lips just tasted you, just loved you. Never say you’re sorry to me. André and I are actually used to the exact thoughts you just had. You’d be amazed how many women want a set of twins at the same time. Me more than him, of course.”
Serina rolled her eyes.
“Ah—but then we are not twins.”
“Oh, about that, Lucian! I don’t know what to think just yet but I’d bet my powers you two are twins. I don’t know how or why but I’ve never seen cousins resemble each other like identical twins before. Of course, anything is possible. Vampires prove that. Will you tuck me in? I really am tired and want to look like a blushing bride for you tomorrow.” Serina slipped out of Lucian’s hold and patted the bed. “Come sit by me.”
“Keep having thoughts like the ones you just had about André and I and you’ll be blushing again.”
“Lucian…” She tried to sound appalled, but it was a wasted attempt.
“I couldn’t resist that, m’lady.” Once tucked in, Lucian sat on the edge of her bed and brushed her hair. After he braided it, he gave a little tug of her tail to land her in his lap looking up at him. “I would love nothing more than to make love to you now, but for this night only I’ll be the gentleman and wait. Serina, I will call for you in the morning.” He bent down to kiss her goodnight and Serina snaked her arms around him and pulled him down to her.
“Kiss me once more, Lucian. Lay with me ’til I drift off and dream of you, or your twin/cousin, whatever he is.”
“Serina!” Lucian slapped her bottom.
“I owed you that one. Not to worry, my love, it is you and only you I shall spend my dreams with. Until the sunrise, m’lord.”
****
Each with a glass of brandy in hand, Lucian found Duncan and André in the atrium catching up on old times. He listened with reverence about their escapades in Paris the previous year and how they ended up buying the thoroughbreds. Lucian basked in their laughter. Up until then, he hadn’t realized how much he actually missed André. They’d grown together as brothers, learning to ride, hunt, use a bow, and fence. Both were excellent marksmen; neither man better than the other, yet they professed to best the other at every opportunity. Lucian claimed it healthy competition.
“André, tell me of your life these past years. Have you met a woman who can put up with you yet?”
Lucian sat and flung his feet over the arm of the chair. His long, lanky legs hit André’s chair. He tapped his foot purposely, nudging André’s arm.
André growled, “My, what big feet you have.” He laughed when Lucian looked curiously between André’s feet and then back at his own.
“That’s not all that’s big,” Lucian jested.
“Other than your sense of self,” Duncan tossed in.
“Lucian, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I’ve been slaying vampires now for the past few years. It seems someone out there wants me either dead, or undead. I’m not sure which yet, and hope not to find out.”
Lucian sat up, processing the information while he rubbed the stubble on his jaw. “Try me. Raven and I were attacked this past month and all but killed. Serina saved us. She’s a doctor. Did I mention that to you before?” Lucian beamed with schoolboy pride.
“Oh, Lucian, how she has you strung like a puppet.” André turned his attention to Duncan. “Is he always this bad?”
“More so, usually. I never thought I’d see it with mine eyes, but the boy’s beyond words.”
“What can I say?” Lucian shrugged his shoulders.
André tapped his fingers on the table repetitively. “Maybe together we could find out who is behind these attempts on our lives. We will finish this conversation when you and Serina return from your honeymoon. You never answered me before. Where will you go?”
“Virginia Falls in Surrey. The falls are beautiful this time of year, and there are some hot springs too. Remember the cabin?”
André laughed. “Remember stealing your parent’s clothes from the rocks by the springs?”
“Do I? I couldn’t sit straight for a week when father caught us. Mother laughed ridiculously, but he was upset. He screamed, ‘A woman’s pride is worth your heart.’ Funny, I finally understand that now. Will you be staying long with us?”
“If you’ll have me—”
Lucian cut André off, “Of course. We want you back home with us. We should never have been separated. I never understood mother’s decision, but I’m grateful you’ve returned. And you never answered me. Is there no woman yet?”
“Too many to choose from.” André went quiet deciding on whether or not to tell his tale of woe. With both Lucian and Duncan bent over in their seats awaiting an answer, André opened up. “Four years back there was a woman, an insanely, bold blond.” André visibly blushed thinking of her.
Duncan smirked. “Oh, I’ve seen that look before.”
Lucian cut in, “Yes, old man, on you at dinner tonight, beside Molly.”
“I noticed it too, Luce.” André raised a brow to Duncan and continued, “My lady disappeared right from under me. I searched for an endless year. A detective I’d hired gave clues to her
whereabouts with none ever panning out. Lousy detective if you ask me. Went by the name of Holmes. Sherlock, I believe.”
Duncan burst out laughing. “Ands, he’s fictional. ’Tis no wonder you never found your lassie.”
“I just wanted to see if you were paying attention. I met her at a train station in a tiny hamlet after Raven’s attack. Had a torrid affair with the woman and left my heart in her hands. I told her I’d return in a fortnight, but when I did she disappeared. I received one letter from her a few months later asking me to join her in Paris. I was there, in her empty hotel. However, I did encounter an over abundance of vampires waiting for me on every corner. I’ve lost count of how many kills I’ve made, but I’ve become rather proficient with my new career...Fell head-over-heels in love with her. And four years later nothing has changed. If I saw her tonight, I’d ask her to marry me.” And if she was already married? She wouldn’t be. He knew it deep in his heart that she felt the same way he did. André rolled his eyes towards Lucian, a smirk covering his face. “Laugh and we’ll duel here and now, I swear.” André turned to Duncan. “So—old man, see you’ve gone and found yourself a pretty lady as well. Saw you at dinner holding hands with her under the table.”
Duncan studied the two men in an entirely new light, as if he’d never really seen them before today even though he’d spent his entire life with them.
“My, my Ands, you don’t miss a thing. Then, you never did. Molly is Serina’s neighbor.” Duncan continued to eye the men oddly. First one then the next and blurted out, “Holy God, you two are identical. I never noticed it as much when you were growing up, you know with awkward growth spurts, weight gain—Lucian, and pimples—André, and the dreadful haircuts Raven gave each of you, but it is undeniable now.” Duncan grabbed one hand of each of the men and flipped their hands over, palms up.
Lucian accused, “You’re hanging around my fiancé too much, old man.”
Duncan ignored him. “Did you know Scotland Yard is working on a new way of detecting crimes and who-done-its, so to speak? They say each of us has our set of fingerprints, unlike anyone else’s. There’s this detective, Sherlock…”