"Are they here yet?" He looked behind him to see his younger brother by the door, looking unsure. This was very unlike the lad. In fact, for the last few days he had seemed almost melancholy about the house. His older brother had tried to cheer him up and spend as much time as possible with the boy, much to his father's displeasure.

"No. Not yet. Come sit with me?" He patted the ornate couch and smiled as his brother lit up with joy. The lad verily bounded in to sit next to him.

"What are you doing?" Low asked when he was finally sat and arranged on the seat. He had thought the man was reading, but now that he looked there was no book.

"Nothing. I was staring into space. I am rather bored." Derry admitted with a slight blush. The younger laughed at this and leaned against him companionably.

"I shall keep you company then, shall I?" Low said innocently, blinking his thick lashes up at his brother. Derry shifted in his seat and looked away.

"Honestly boy. I swear you do this on purpose." He grumbled to the empty room. The boy next to him just watched on in bewilderment. It was not the first time the elder had said something he did not follow, and he thought it might not be the last either.

"Margery's curtains are going up right as we speak. Did you know that? I daresay father was mystified as to why she wanted to change them." He responded instead. It was easier to change the subject than answer something he did not comprehend.

"Yes, I saw them come in. They are actually a nice shade of green if I do say." Derry replied without missing a beat.

"Yes they are. Do you think I would look good in a jacket that colour?" Low asked, still leaning in and watching him closely. Derry pursed his lips and then shook his head.

"No, you should get a blue one." He suggested. Low scrunched his face a little and thought it over.

"Really? Don't you think that would be boring?" He sniffed and rubbed his nose, the movement jostling Derry as he did. His brother smiled down at his childish gesture and knocked him about a bit back.

"Depends on which fabric you choose I suppose. Blue matches your eyes though, so you should definitely get a blue one." He replied firmly. Low looked up in surprise at the comment but did not have time to reply before they heard a clattering of a carriage pulling up to the house. Both of their attentions were drawn to the window as they heard the commotion outside.

"My lords, your guests have arrived." A footman called from the door.

"Shall we go greet them then?" Derry said with a grin. Low grinned back and tagged along in the shadows to see the show. He had not quite prepared himself for what was coming through the front door though. Followed by a rather large parade of people and chests was a rather ...bright set of siblings.

The boy was small and completely covered in the colour purple. Not a dark shade but the most vivid lavender that any of them had seen. It was unrelentingly used on his jacket, his trousers, his cravat and even his shoes. Not to be outdone at all, the small girl accompanying him was completely covered in the colour yellow.

It was not a shy colour yellow to complement though, but the brightest sunflower shade. Such that it was an unfortunate contrast to her brother's garb and any who gazed upon them were immediately desiring to cringe. If it were not for the pleasant smiles upon both of their faces and the gentlest of polite manners, it would have been hard to accept such a gauche pair into the home.

Low was hard pressed not to snicker outright at the ridiculous sense of fashion, and Margery was forced to channel her giggles into a rather pleasant hostesses' cheerfulness. Derry was used to such loud presentations from the two and merely greeted them as old friends do, with understanding and humour.

"Lorder! How are you my dear friend? I say, this place is positively medieval chap. It fair gives me the shivers. Do say you will give me a tour and tell me of all the ghosts." The small boy copped a short bow and then clasped hands with Derry as he grinned up at the taller man. Low noticed he held on for a trice too long before turning to follow everyone into the parlour the two brothers had just left.

"Of course Trent. As you say. I am afraid it is far more impressive in looks than fact, but if you wish to take a tour with me than I shall not refuse. Before all that though, let me introduce my family in the front parlour." He waved the two in to stand in front of the group that now gathered.

"Wait! Let me guess. This is that darling child you spoke of, your younger brother Low?" He stepped forward to clasp hands with Lowell, who was blushing profusely at the familiar actions.

"Yes indeed. Has he not grown up very well?" Derry replied with a grin. His father frowned at the words and was staring rather rudely at the two being introduced.

"Definitely. A pleasure to finally meet you. I hope you will forgive me, but your elder brother has told me so much about you I feel as though we are already friends." Trent smiled at the innocent, speechless, blushing boy and then moved smoothly to the next. "And this must be the beautiful Duchess Margery."

"Yes you are correct. I was positively inspired by your letter sir, and I am so glad you could join us." She held out her hand to him and he kissed over it with a wink.

"An absolute pleasure madam, I assure you. Even a summons from the king himself could not keep me from your doorstep." He continued down the line with his smile firmly in place and bowed before the Duke. "And this is... your grandfather?"

"His father." Was the growling reply from the man in question as the other two tried to hide their astonishment and then humour.

"Oh! My apologies my good Duke sir." Trent bowed even lower in front of him, with a rather unfortunate red look to his face. The duke merely rolled his eyes and ignored them as his sister curtsied to each in turn. He left abruptly after the introductions, claiming business of some sort in a rather hurried way. A silence descended on the remaining occupants.

"Good lord. Bit of a stick in the mud that." Trent said cheekily. The other four snickered a little and the strange silence was broken. They sat comfortably in the chairs and on the ornate couch to chat.

"He can't help it. He's old." Marge said flippantly. Low looked at her in surprise.

"Marge!" He sputtered. She just laughed at him and shook her head.

"What? It's true. Just because I married him doesn't mean I have to defend him. He was being rude just because they are Derry's friends. Never you two mind him. I think you are positively charming." She smiled at their guests and the girl blushed under the praise with a pleased smile.

"Thank you, your grace." She replied in a whisper thin voice. She did not talk much, but her brother more than made up for it.

"I think I will have to write to all our friends in the neighbourhood and have a little soiree in honour of your arrival. That way you can be included in all the festivities too. I would not hear of leaving you behind at the maison." She clapped her hands excitedly, yet again causing a blush to the sister.

"Lovely. I daresay this visit is turning out to be the best of ideas, eh sister?" Trent crowed. It seemed the two were just the same sort of people, both up for the gossip and mischief of the week, and they bowed their heads together for scheming. Lord Low took the opportunity to go to the sister with his brother and have a few words.

"Sorry about him." She pursed her lips up at Lord Derry, who laughed and shook his head.

"He never changes. May I introduce my brother, Lord Lowell. Low, this is Miss Agatha Henry." He waved to the shorter man and the two exchanged a greeting.

"Please to meet you. You may call me Lord Low." The younger boy bowed over her gloved hand. She smiled and curtsied correctly.

"Of course, you may call me Miss Aggs. Miss Henry sounds awful." Agatha replied artlessly. Low blinked at the girl dressed all in yellow and raised a brow at Derry, who was unfortunately doing all he could to hold back a laugh.

"Derry! Derry dear, will you be a darling and show these two to their rooms?" Marge said with a grin. Lord Derry bowed to her and offered his arm to the Miss.

"Of course, stepmother. I should be pleased to. Are you tired after your long journey?" He asked politely to the miss on his arm. She mumbled something only he could hear as they exited the room. Trent followed with a thoughtful air and crafty look in his eyes, watching the gaze that followed Derry with interest.

Lord Low on the other hand, was trying desperately to decide how he felt at the moment. His spirits, which had been momentarily lifted by the extravagant arrival of their guests, were now sunk into the floor boards again. It was so odd for him to feel so much like a boat tossed on the lake in a storm with his emotions.

He did not pay attention at all to his stepmother as she nattered on about that night's dinner plans for the six of them. Though he heard her hope that his father would bow out and lock himself into his study or something. Instead his thoughts were more bent on the three that were currently on their way up the stairs.

Was his brother in love with Trent? He had said he only had liking for other boys, but was this one such boy? If it wasn't, then he thought he might feel rather relieved at the result, but he was not sure why. If it was though... he felt a pang in his chest at the sudden thought. If it was. Why did even the thought of those three words sting so?

Shouldn't he be happy for his brother? I mean, if the boy was just like him and liked him back... then that was good, right? He gulped. Perhaps it was just because he had only recently gotten his brother back into his life that he was loathe to part with him. They had so much catching up to do with the two of them. There was so much he wanted to say... and do.

Thoughts back to their conversation days ago came to mind and brought a furious blush to his cheeks. He raised a shaky hand to his forehead and ran it through his hair in frustration. He shook away the thoughts that were straying to dangerous waters. He looked back through the door that the three left through and debated with himself.

"Are you alright, Low?" Margery asked with a worried look on her face. Low was brought back to his surroundings and smiled sickly at her.

"Er, just a bit of headache. I might go have a lay down for a bit." He replied as he got up from his seat. He was rubbing the back of his neck and dragging his feet a little as he walked from the room, and that seemed to support his claims.

In truth, his head was spinning... just not from a headache, yet.

2004