Leo glanced around the room. “I haven’t the faintest idea. Sometime before noon, I would hazard a guess.”
Ivana stretched her arms above her head, the soft curve of her breasts rising up to meet his greedy gaze. “I don’t know about you, but I hardly slept a wink. My mind kept replaying various scenarios. Will the children look the same? Will they remember me?”
“Of course they will remember you.” He caressed her cheek, gave a mischievous grin when his hand drifted lower. “Perhaps you need to find a way to occupy your mind, an activity to make you forget your fears.”
From her sinful smile, he knew she was just as eager as he to partake in a little vigorous exercise. “Is there ever a morning when you are not in an amorous mood?”
Leo thought for a moment. “No. Not since meeting you.”
“As your wife, I believe it is my duty to oblige.”
“Good Lord, you know how to dampen a man’s ardour.” He felt soft fingers circle his throbbing cock. “Then again, I find I quite like your approach.”
Two hours later, while the sun shone brightly in the sky, Leo and Ivana stood in the hall of their townhouse in Cavendish Square.
“I still get nervous at the thought of stepping outside,” she said as she tied the ribbons on her bonnet.
Leo nodded in acquiesce. “After years of hiding in the shadows, I think we will never feel completely at ease in the sun.”
“What do you think they will say when they see us?” Ivana clapped her hands, her excitement evident on her face.
“I have no idea,” he chuckled. “Perhaps swoon in shock.”
Leo opened the front door. They hovered on the threshold, let the rays of light infuse their being.
“Well, I cannot hear sizzling. That is always a good sign.” Leo offered his arm, and Ivana hugged it tight. “Shall we go and surprise our friends?”
“Yes, my love.” Ivana nodded confidently. “Let us go and share our good fortune.”
They decided to walk the half mile to Portman Square. After years of living in the dark, they took every opportunity to feel the sun warm their skin. Once there, they discovered that Elliot, Grace, and the children had joined Alexander, Evelyn and their children in the park for a picnic.
After a twenty minute stroll around the park, they noticed their friends sitting on the grass, nibbling on food laid out on a blanket. The children were running around, laughing and giggling and Leo knew the sight would bring a tear to Ivana’s eye.
“They all look so happy, Leo,” she said, her voice sounding a little shaky. “I feel as though my heart is about to burst from my chest.”
Indeed, he felt the same way too. To see the sun beating down upon his brothers’ smiling faces was perhaps one of the most splendid things he had ever witnessed.
As they crept closer, Frederick glanced in their direction. He stopped and stared before his eyes grew wide and round.
“Frau Lockwood. Frau Lockwood,” he cried as he charged towards them.
Ivana picked up the hem of her skirt and rushed towards the boy, scooping him up in her arms and hugging him tight.
Elliot and Alexander jumped up from the grass. They stared at Leo for the longest time and then they too ran towards him, picking him up and cheering loudly.
Despite numerous frowns and complaints from passersby, no one cared. In their excitement, they all ended up in a heap on the grass.
“Please tell me I am not dreaming,” Elliot said, gasping for breath.
“No. You’re not dreaming.” Leo could feel his smile stretching from ear to ear. “It only took me two blasted years to replicate Talliano’s elixir. I doubt there is a rat alive in all of Bavaria.” He turned to Alexander. “You’ll be pleased to know I am now an expert in deciphering illegible Latin.”
“You should have known he would not give up so easily,” Ivana added before being swamped by the children’s eagerness to embrace her.
Elliot’s gaze drifted over him. “Did you suffer as we did?”
Leo shivered as the memory surfaced. “Once my most recent batch had proved successful, Ivana took it first. I managed to compel her to sleep.”
“I begged him to take it before me, but he would not listen,” Ivana said.