Chapter 10 #2
Once Frederick's bowl was empty and everyone had their roles, another wave of servants came out with champagne, though Alex and Julian both refused for now.
On some invisible cue that Alex missed, everyone began to mingle and chat, eyes mostly coyly down, though people glanced up to look at conversation partners politely.
It was a matter of minutes before the first woman, Adelina Halliwell, fell down in a swoon and declared loudly, "Oh, I have been slain!"
Everyone politely clapped at her, and then went back to their conversations, while a maid led Miss Halliwell off to the drawing room.
She would soon be joined by several others, including Julian who made a production of fainting into Alex's arms and declaring himself faithful unto the last. Each death performance got polite applause, and so far the 'detective' had not managed to accuse a single person. Their murderer was subtle, apparently.
Alex felt adrift without his Julian, and he let himself wander toward Dr. Geoff, who disappointed him by 'dying' dramatically before Alex could get to him.
"Ah-ha! I accuse you, Lord McGuinness!" said the person presumably playing the detective, Jefferson Smythe-Darbyshire.
"No, no, I am innocent!" said Quentin cheerfully, flashing his 'guest' paper. "You must try again!"
"Curses!" said Smythe-Darbyshire with a rueful grin. "Two more tries!"
The game would be a little different now that the killer knew who the detective was, but really it was all an excuse for people to chat with each other in their own, chosen groups.
Chudleigh came up next to Alex and looked out over the thinned-out crowd. "Not many people you know left," he said, perceptive for once.
"I'll have to look everyone in the eye until I can go to paradise with Julian," said Alex wryly. "You did force me to meet a number of these people, as is your duty as host." Winterson was in the ballroom still, and Tsukiko, though not her husband.
"Everyone's been very understanding about the weather," said Chudleigh, "but it'll be interesting keeping everyone occupied tomorrow."
"Well, you do have a couple of actual entertainers to call on," reminded Alex. "You can set up the artist early, and pay them a bonus for the extra hours, not to mention moving the illusionist's show to whenever it's needed to fill time."
Chudleigh chuckled. "I suppose I can, at that. I'm so used to the idea that these things must go a certain way that I forgot that's not really true. I'm not trying to impress any of the great dames of society, so I don't have to care about the rules."
Alex grinned over and bumped shoulders. "You know I never care about the rules, and Gallowglass and McGuinness will enjoy whatever you do as long as there's some kind of drinks available."
"The bar is open in the drawing room," assured Chudleigh. "And if we overflow, the den is also well-stocked."
"Well, then, we'll make our own fun," assured Alex. "In other news, your house sounds lovely now. All the wards are in harmony and the blessing is deep and strong."
"I can't ever thank you enough for helping me find a priest," said Chudleigh, quite sincerely, Alex thought.
Father Stephen hadn't had the time, but one of his colleagues that was a fan of their contributions to the Temples had come out and done a good job blessing and warding the house and grounds with Alex, even in the chill of autumn.
The refurbishments on the outside were all done by then, just interior finishing to do, so they'd managed to squeak it in before winter properly settled in.
Alex and his toes had been grateful to beat the snow.
"Part of the job, really," said Alex. Chudleigh had paid properly for the warding, unlike Mary Margaret, and Alex did in fact consider it part of his job to make sure the priest was someone he could work with. "Nothing worse than trying to do a two-person job with an idiot."
Chudleigh laughed and slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "I suppose so," he agreed, and then let himself be called away while Alex searched faces in hopes of a wink.
He was pleasantly surprised when the sweet Lady Applewhite winked at him, and he got to fall to his knees and then over with great drama, saying, "No! I have been brought down!"
The maid who helped him up was grinning. "It's fun seeing you all trying to act," she said, leading Alex off to the drawing room and his husband.
"It's fun to be silly sometimes," said Alex. "Thanks."
"Bar's open, and he's got cider and mulled wine back there, if you want," she said, gesturing to where Smithson was once again manning a bar.
"I don't suppose you could see to stealing me some snacks for us?" asked Alex, trying to look thin and piteous.
She laughed, as intended. "Oh, you. We heard about your magic stomachs. It's no problem. There's plenty of some things left over from dinner, so I'll have them send in a couple of plates."
"You're a lifesaver," said Alex, going to the bar to get himself some cider. The sugar would help, too, but they were far enough from the Source to feel a steady small drain that wasn't being replenished the way he was used to. He'd have to make sure the fairy cats were fine, too.
At least it would make a convenient excuse to leave, if they weren't. If they could leave, given the blizzard.
Alex sent his senses out over the fields and grounds and all he could really hear was muffling snow, swirling and piling and making everything impassable.
Well, there were always naps.