Almost thirteen years after The Sun-Nymph Bride

After a hearty luncheon on the day they arrived in Ormas for the season, Edouard and Pippa ushered their nearly seven-and-a-half-year-old son Thierry and nearly six-year-old daughter Lucila into the art room at Blaine House to spend the afternoon there as a family. Just like Father and Mother had with him and Elise. Since the season Pippa had been carrying Thierry, he and Pippa visited the art room at least once a week with their children when they were in Ormas, telling them tales of the pieces in his art collection along with tales of their grandparents as well as his and Pippa’s courtship.

Her blonde hair streaming behind her, Lucila raced straight to the pedestal with the dancing music-box sculpture then bounced before it like usual. “Papa, tell us again about your first dance with Mama.”

As Thierry raised his pale-blue eyes skyward but silently joined his sister, Edouard and Pippa traded smiles. Despite inheriting the opposite hair colors, their daughter was so like her—radiant, eager, and romantic—while their son was so like him—calm, deliberate, but secretly just as romantic as his sister. The dancing music-box sculpture was their favorite piece in his collection, although they adored the sun-nymph moving painting he’d purchased in Pippa’s honor almost as much.

Still smiling, Edouard clapped then said, “Sonareh,” and a delicate, haunting melody played as the marble couple began dancing. “When I told your mother about how your grandparents adored dancing to the melody of the dancing music-box sculpture, she suggested we dance to it too to honor their love.” He swept Lucila into a waltz and twirled her about the art room like he had with Pippa all those years ago.

As Lucila giggled in his arms, Pippa began dancing with Thierry as well. Pippa said, “I also suggested it because I was already in love with your father, and we couldn’t dance in public since he was in mourning.”

Edouard and Pippa exchanged another smile over their children’s heads. He added, “And I only agreed to her scandalous suggestion because I was in love too.” Although he’d not consciously realized it then.

Pippa beamed at Thierry and Lucila. “Indeed, he almost kissed me at the end of our waltz, except Uncle Dane and Uncle Xavier interrupted us.”

While Thierry grimaced at them kissing, Lucila narrowed her warm-brown eyes and muttered, “So mean.”

Chuckling, Edouard flicked his daughter’s nose while the music faded and they quit dancing. “So prudent. Your mother and I had barely begun courting yet. We required time to realize our love was true before we kissed. I expect you and the gentleman you fall in love with to do the same.” He glanced at Thierry beside Pippa. “And you and your lady also.”

As Lucila huffed, Thierry solemnly nodded and replied, “Of course, Papa. Waiting seems sensible. I don’t want to kiss any girls anyhow.”

While Edouard concealed his smile, Pippa grinned and ruffled Thierry’s chestnut hair then drawled, “I promise one day you shall.”

Lucila snickered then poked her brother. “Kissing, kissing.”

When Thierry growled and shoved Lucila, Edouard sternly eyed them and snapped, “Enough. Do you two want to be sent to your chambers for the rest of the afternoon?”

Both Thierry and Lucila stilled and chorused, “No, Papa.”

Edouard humphed. “Then stand here quietly while your mother and I take a turn about the art room.”

Pippa leaned toward their children. “And no fighting. Else your father shan’t tell you about the sun witch who inspired my moving painting. You’re both old enough now.”

After he reactivated the dancing music-box sculpture and swept Pippa into a waltz, he murmured so the children couldn’t hear, “They could have heard about that sun witch before. I just didn’t think they’d be interested.”

Pippa giggled. “They shall be now. And the promise of an interesting tale shall keep them quiet during our first art room waltz of the season.”

His body stirring like always, Edouard pulled his clever sun nymph fully against him, much closer than he ever could in public despite being married almost thirteen years. “True.”

Humming, Pippa laid her head on his shoulder, and her sweet peach scent enfolded him. As he inhaled and rested his chin on her head, she said, “You know, sometimes I wonder if our naming Thierry after your father and Lucila after my mother are why he’s so like you and she’s like me. I swear the two of them grow more like us every day. Thierry’s ‘waiting seems sensible’ could have come straight from your mouth. With the exact same tone.”

He chuckled and caressed Pippa’s back above her light-amber dress that perfectly matched the sun-charm bracelet he’d given her which she still wore every day. “Except I definitely want to kiss a certain girl. As often as possible.”

Pippa lifted her head and beamed up at him. “Fortunate for you, that girl wants to kiss you just as often.” Then she pulled his head down for a passionate kiss.

Ignoring Thierry’s groans and Lucila’s giggles, Edouard tightened his arms about his adorable wife and kissed her breathless. Dear Goddess, how he loved his sweet sun nymph.