Mr.Grant chuckled, a low-throated rumble that seemed to shake the entire house.
“I think,” Temple said, “the best course of action is to leave him to the children.”
Mrs.Grant slapped her oldest son’s shoulder.“Oh, that’s too terrible.”But she gave a wicked grin and followed Temple, Diana, and the dog into the dining room, where they began to set the table for dinner.
“No servants for that?”Apollo asked without quite moving his lips.
Sybil kissed his cheek.“Not during family dinners.Mama likes things just so.You’ll have to help next time, but for tonight, you’re a guest.”
“Ex-cell-ent… And tell me, when will they stop staring at us?”He pointed at the six Grant siblings of various ages who still occupied the entry hall.Two young men and a boy of about three years of age, a numerical fact Apollo pulled from his memory because he couldn’t make an estimate based on observation.All small children were simply… small.And messy.This small child stood legs apart and arms crossed, eyes narrowed at the center of a group of three young women, two of whom looked like Sybil and one who shared Temple’s darker coloring.They seemed polite, eager, hands folded in front of them.Quite suspicious.He rather doubted any sisters of Sybils were as innocent as these three seemed.
Finally, the oldest of the young men came forward.He looked like a small copy of Temple with dark hair and silver eyes, but slighter of build and more playful.
“Good evening, cadet,” he said.“I hope you know your place in the ranks.”
Apollo looked to Sybil, who only laughed.
“What are your orders, general?”the young man asked Sybil.
“Stand down, Hesperus” she said, giving a salute.
The young man, Hesperus apparently, scowled.“You’re no fun.I see things haven’t changed at all during my time in Germany.You’re still ruling with an iron fist.”
Apollo lifted a brow, bristling.“And you’re lucky she’s benevolent.What was your name again… Hesperriwinkle?”
“Apollo,” Sybil hissed, “you said you’d be nice.”
For a moment, Apollo and Hesperus stared at one another.The boy was taking his measure, and the next few seconds would decide Apollo’s fate.
Hesperus backed down.“Welcome to the family, lieutenant.”
Apollo grinned.
Hesperus wagged a finger at him.“But only a second lieutenant.Ajax still outranks you.”
Apollo snapped a salute, and the Grant siblings followed him, marching single file, into another room.
“That could have gone better.”Sybil released a heavy breath.
Apollo kissed her knuckles, the only bit of her he’d kiss as long as they were between these walls.“I just needed to show them where I stand.”
“And where’s that?”
“Next to you.”
Her cheeks rushed pink, and she bit her lip to keep from splitting her face wide with a smile.“Oh.Well, that’s lovely.”
He loved how he could fluster her even by saying things to her he’d already said a thousand times.
You’re beautiful.
You’re brilliant
I love you.
“Shall we join the others?”she asked.
He nodded and held out his arm, and once she hooked hers through it, he said, “Tell me everything I need to know for success.”
