Thanks once again to Tigersman for editing. Also thank you for everyone who favorites and comments on the story. Enjoy reading.
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(Aiden)
Aiden held his father's disapproving gaze. He was lucky that his mother had embraced the surprise betrothal so quickly. His father had been less enthusiastic. It didn't help that Aiden had no knowledge of Meredith's bloodline.
His father sighed and was the first to look away.
"Do your brothers know?"
"Not yet, but I think they won't be as surprised by the news."
Aiden glanced over to where the women were talking, or rather his mother was talking and Meredith was nodding. He smiled at the flustered expression on Meredith's face. His father sighed again and shook his head.
"You are impulsive as ever."
"You expected any less?"
His father didn't answer, instead he turned away from Aiden and went to stand behind his wife. Aiden went to the door and asked the servant standing just outside to bring his brothers here. Aiden left the door open and went to sit on the sofa next to Meredith. She glanced at him as he approached. He smiled at her, trying to convey that things were going well.
As they all listened to his mother go on about wedding plans, his brothers arrived. Aiden stood and went over to them.
"I hear we are in for a surprise," Kaleb said, casting his gaze past Aiden to where the women were seated.
"You heard right. I'm engaged."
Both brothers stared at him, wide-eyed in shock. Aiden laughed and slapped Kaleb on the back.
"Didn't think the day would come, did you?" Aiden chuckled.
"Can't say I was making any bets, but you've known the girl for what? Days? Weeks?" Kaleb asked incredulously.
"A few weeks," Aiden said. Though he was sure it had been little more than two weeks since he had first learned Meredith's name.
Grey looked over his shoulder at the women before speaking.
"Mother seems to like her."
"I think she's just happy there will be another female in the family," Kaleb said.
All three of them nodded simultaneously.
"So what is your betrothed's name?" Kaleb asked.
"Meredith, and before you ask, I don't know her bloodline."
"She's a silver, at least on her mother's side," Grey said.
"I didn't know you kept up with lineages, Grey," Kaleb said.
"When Aiden started showing interest, I thought it would be prudent to know," Grey said.
Aiden raked a hand through his hair.
"Well, not that it matters, but I'm glad one of us knows. At least father will get some questions answered."
His brothers nodded in understanding.
"Anything else I should know?" Aiden asked.
"Her mother eloped with a green. A few years after she was born both parents passed away and she was left to her mother's cousin," Grey recited.
"Ah, I've met her. Pleasant woman," Aiden remarked sarcastically.
"She is also in line for a hefty inheritance from her mother's side. Once she is no longer under her guardian's care," Grey continued.
"And how would you know that?" Kaleb asked.
"Things you hear at a Red's party around intoxicated women," Grey said, gesturing to his ears.
"Amazing things women are privy to," Aiden said.
"Well, you should at least say hello to Meredith, since you've both been introduced before."
His brothers nodded and made their way to Meredith and their parents. Aiden was surprised by how warmly his brothers greeted Meredith. He'd expected them to be polite, but the both of them were treating her as if she were already family.
A bit jealously, Aiden watched as Meredith smiled at his brothers, completely at ease. He felt an absurd need to monopolize her smile. Aiden had never been a jealous man, though he had to admit never having to be. No woman had been worth getting possessive over.
Rejoining his family, Aiden realized all the seats closest to Meredith were occupied. Even his father was engaged in the conversation. Taking a seat opposite to his family, he realized how well Meredith fit into the family. While his mother and brothers all had blonde hair, his father used to be the only dark headed member of the family.
"Aiden, what do you think?"
Not having followed any of the conversation, Aiden fell back to an ambiguous answer.
"Whatever you think is best."
His mother smiled approvingly, but he saw that his brothers knew he hadn't been paying attention. Meredith looked at him disapprovingly as well. He'd have to remember that she wasn't easily fooled.
"Well, since Aiden seems to agree, we will have a large ceremony and invite all the prominent families."
Aiden wanted to smack himself. That must have been the reason behind his brother's knowing looks. He sighed, there was nothing to be done now. He could see that his mother was practically brimming with anticipation. Fortunately for him, it wasn't likely that she would be asking for much involvement from him. If he was lucky, all he would have to do was show up.
"I'm sure you're tired, Meredith. How about we all have a late lunch," Celia said.
All the men had similar expressions of relief. All six of them filed out of the room and made their way downstairs to the dining hall. His brothers flanked Meredith. Aiden was forced to trail behind. It was only slightly amusing that they were paying so much attention to Meredith. He was beginning to suspect that the two of them were planning something, but only had the feeling to go on.
Once they entered the dining hall, Kaleb pulled out Meredith's chair for her. Kaleb and Grey took the seats beside of her while his parents took up their customary seats. Aiden sat next to his mother, across from Meredith.
One of the servants approached the table and poured them all glasses of water as she described the lunch courses. Aiden could hardly focus on anything besides his brothers whispering to Meredith. He took a large swallow from his glass to hide his irritation. From across the table, all three of them simultaneously glanced at him before smiling secretively.
Before he could reach across the table and smack his brothers for deliberately goading him, the food arrived. Aiden chewed his food without really tasting it. His brothers were taking turns cutting and serving Meredith as if she wasn't physically able to do it herself. Aiden contributed little to the overall dinner conversation, distracting himself with ways to get back at his brothers.
(Meredith)
It was incredible how easy it was to agitate Aiden. When she had agreed to tease him with his brothers she had thought there would be more to it than just the two of them being overly attentive. Once lunch was over, Grey offered to show her around the house and grounds. Aiden immediately intervened.
"I can show Meredith around, no need to trouble yourself," Aiden said.
Meredith saw Kaleb wink at her. She smiled, realizing the joke was still playing out and decided to go along with it.
"Actually, I'd like to get to know your brothers a bit better."
She wasn't sure the brothers had heard her as Aiden was quickly dragging her out of the dining room. His brothers laughed as they left the room. Meredith had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter. He pulled her down a hallway into a different room, shutting the door loudly behind him.
Without a word, he pushed her against the wall and dropped his mouth roughly over hers. It was all she could do not to laugh in his face, though his anger would have frightened her if she didn't think it was so funny. He eventually removed his mouth when she couldn't hold back her giggling. She heard him sigh before he started grinning as well.
Meredith fell into a fit of laughter then, with Aiden's arms still braced on either side of her head. Aiden laughed as well, dropping his forehead to his arm. After a long moment, Aiden turned his head, his eyes shadowed in the crook of his arm as he looked at her.
"I guess I'll have to get use to that," he sighed. "But for now . . . I think I'll take a little revenge."
As he spoke, he lifted his head and brought it slowly closer to hers. His gaze slipped down to her mouth. Meredith couldn't look away from the heat in Aiden's eyes as gold began to bleed into the blue. He brushed his mouth against hers, light and slow. Tendrils of heat unfurled within her body accompanied by an intense sense of longing. Suddenly, the door opened to her right.
Meredith would have let out a startled squeak if Aiden hadn't placed his fingers on her lips and motioned for silence. Somehow they were just barely hidden behind the door. Meredith couldn't hear anything besides the beating of her heart. She held her breath, afraid that she would be heard. There was the distinct clink of china from the other side of the door. It sounded as if plates were being carefully placed against each other from the deliberate and slow repetition of the clink.
