“I can’t imagine why,” his brother said with a wry smile as they made their way down to the dining room.
It wasn’t as if Caspian had been solely focused on arriving home in time for dinner…but he might have done his best to leave early enough to make it in time. Even if that required an earlier wake-up than he’d wanted.
It was all worth it when he walked into the dining room and saw the food laid out on the table, the smell of a home-cooked meal filling him with nostalgia and anticipation. “It’s almost like Cook knew I was coming home,” he said, taking in the roast chicken, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and more that covered the table. “This is a bounty.”
“Just for you, my darling,” his mother said as she walked past him toward her seat.
Lord Rendon leaped into action, pulling out his wife’s seat with a proud smile.
“Thank you, my love,” his mother said.
Caspian smiled at his parents. He wanted a love like theirs—though where he was going to find it, he wasn’t sure. Women weren’t exactly lining up to marry one of the king’s guards, even if he was nobility. But his parents had been an example of true love for most of his life, and he couldn’t wait to find a love like theirs.
Maybe then, he would finally be the best thing in someone’s life. Not just one of three brothers, of four children, of a thousand guards, but the best thing in someone’s life.
He sat down next to his sister as his other brother came in, his footsteps loud against the wooden floor.
He was home for once. That was a surprise.
“Caspian,” Gideon exclaimed, rushing over and grabbing him in a hug from behind. “What are you doing here, you sorry sight for sore eyes?”
Caspian grinned and clapped his brother’s shoulder. “Couldn’t wait to get back to Mother and Liliana,” he said. “Could’ve avoided you, though.”
“I’m wounded,” Gideon said with a grin as he sat down next to Caspian, and they began serving themselves from the platters of food laid across the table.
His mother had long since insisted that when it was only the family, they were not to be served, instead asking the servants to lay out the food for them to serve themselves. It was more private, and the family enjoyed eating by themselves without servants constantly bustling around.
Caspian enjoyed the time with his family where he could just be himself, instead of feeling like he had to represent the Rendon family, even to the servants in their home.
“So what is your plan, Caspian?” his oldest brother asked. “Do you plan to stick around for a while? Or are you just here for a week?”
Caspian shrugged. “We don’t have to let them know if we’re coming back for a couple of months, so I have time to wait and see what I want to do. For now, I plan to get fat and lazy.”
“On Father’s dime?” his brother suggested with a smirk.
“Absolutely. What’s the point of going home to visit your parents if you don’t take full advantage?”
Liliana grabbed his sleeve. “Will you spend time with me while you’re here?” she asked.
He smiled down at his little sister. She was a complete surprise, nearly fifteen years his junior, and was absolutely spoiled, loved, and adored.
“Of course I will,” he said, smiling down at her. “You can’t expect me not to spend time with my favorite sister while I’m in town.”
She giggled. “I’m your only sister.”
“That you know about,” he said. “Didn’t Mother and Father tell you about the secret sister that we have?”
Lady Rendon shook her head. “Don’t lie to your sister, Caspian. She’ll probably think you’re telling the truth.”
“It would be fun to have a sister,” Liliana said with a big grin.
“That’s not happening, sweetheart. You are more than enough trouble for all of us combined.” Lord Rendon shook his fork at his youngest, a merry gleam in his eyes.
“I’m not trouble,” Liliana retorted, “I’m perfect. You always tell me that.”
Everyone laughed, and Caspian reached over and ruffled his sister’s hair. “Yes, you are, Little Bit,” he said. “Yes, you are.”
He dug back into his food but had only managed a few more bites before his father turned to him.
