Chapter 23
Horace was waiting for them impatiently when they returned, clearly not having consented to being left behind despite being asleep in the cat bed. He chirped and flapped and scolded them, and Alex scooped him up and kissed his little forehead.
"We're sorry, we were called away suddenly to see to Miss Winterson, who's awake," said Julian, while Alex continued to pet him.
Horace let out a happy chirrup at that, and then hopped over from Alex to Julian to get a double share of apology pets.
Alex chuckled and crawled back into bed, careful not to upset the tray as he explored it for leftovers.
He reheated the remaining tea and split it between their two cups.
Julian could barely feel the tiny drain on their magics, which were intertwined intimately now, even more so than usual.
Alex drank that down and then ate the last of the petit fours, leaving the two tartlets that were Julian's favourites for his husband.
"We should probably ring for more food," said Alex, staring at the decimated tray.
Julian couldn't help but laugh. "I'd disagree, but I'm still starving," he said. He went over to eat the tarts and tea, and then flopped with Alex once the tray was set aside on the floor by the door. "Do we even know how to call for more?"
"Good question," said Alex. "I was going to text Lucas and hope he forgave me."
"Good answer," said Julian, curling into him sweetly. "You do that and I'll dial Lapointe for us."
Alex sighed, but agreed to the division of labour and opened his texts.
Julian got out his own phone and dialled up their favourite agent, amused when Thomas answered her phone instead.
"We're in the middle of dinner," said Thomas, "is that okay?"
"It'll be a quick one," said Julian. "First off, Miss Winterson is awake and has stated quite firmly that she doesn't think Smithson did it, which we'd already concluded but was nice of her.
Secondly, James and Jacques want to come out tomorrow, so please text them when there's roads fit to be traveled. "
"How are they getting there?" asked Thomas. "We'll have baby agents and no room."
"I don't know, maybe they'll call Jones," said Julian. "I should call Jones and see if they have or if he wants to offer."
"Jones can drive well enough even on barely-cleared roads," said Thomas, sounding relieved. "We're trying to avoid clogging them up with accidents before they're even all cleared."
"Fair," said Julian. "Go eat, and we'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," agreed Thomas, ringing off much more politely than Lapointe ever did.
Julian chuckled and then leaned in to kiss his husband. "So, my love, what's the answer for our poor stomachs?"
"After expressing some disbelief, he's agreed to send up a second tray of tea, and also gave me Smithson's number for future requests." Alex sounded smug about that. "He was glad that Winterson's awake, but I think he's still inundated with whiny nobles."
"At least we're politely whiny," said Julian, pulling him in for another kiss. Horace hopped onto Alex's head and started preening his hair, making them both laugh as they pulled apart.
"Feeling neglected, love?" said Alex. He and Julian got properly cuddled up in the bed to wait for their tray, and Julian snuggled Horace in such a way that they could both pet their spoiled bird.
The cats had gone back into their basket for a proper nap again, tired as their humans were because of distance and snow.
Julian was already yearning pathetically for home, so he got out his phone again after a long, quiet cuddle, and texted Alys about James and Jacques coming to visit.
She assured them that the driveway would be clear for them, plows or no, and the rest of the roads were someone else's responsibility.
Alex promised to check that it was safe before leaving.
"Call or text Jones?" said Julian, checking the time and seeing that it was creeping up on six. It felt much later to him, and he was absolutely going to miss out on any festivities such as dancing that Chudleigh could be browbeaten into arranging.
"Let's text, that way he can ignore us if he's driving," said Alex.
They did so, and got a quick answer that the Guardians had already been in contact, and he'd be the one checking on the roads so they need to simply recuperate.
They reassured him that Julian hadn't even been poisoned, and Alex was already doing much better, and then tucked their phones away just as another knock sounded at the door.
"If that's not Smithson I may scream," said Alex, as Julian slipped out of bed and went to answer it.
Fortunately it was indeed a second round of tea, some slightly messier examples of the perfect foods of before along with two more pots of tea, one of which Smithson said was mint instead of black tea because the cook insisted.
"Thank you for helping us," said Alex, "especially after we all but accused you of murder."
He shrugged. "You ain't accusing me now, sirs, and that's the important part."
"That's a good point," said Julian, watching as he pulled the tea strainers again and got the tray properly settled over Alex's long legs. "Still, we appreciate it, and will try not to be too obnoxious in our requests."
"You two are fine, you've no idea what sort of mad things some of these sorts get up to asking for. Never bring a noble anything more flammable than a candle, that one I've learned the hard way." Smithson shot them a cheeky grin.
"Oh, dear," said Julian with a laugh. "Well, it's all fine now, at least."
"Until someone else falls over," said Smithson darkly. "Anyway, I promise I watched this all the way and no one's had a hand near it, so you two eat up and catch our killer, yeah?"
"We will, thank you again," said Alex, pouring their proper tea first. The mint wasn't a terrible idea to help with digestion, Julian thought, just a little disappointing for his caffeine-addicted husband.
Smithson bowed and left, and they set to on their second giant tea in bed, finding that they were both hungry enough to eat as though it was the first.
Once he was much closer to replete, Julian went over to peek into the cat basket. "Are you three getting enough food?"
They sent him sleepy-sated feelings with a hint of 'go away,' so he took that as a good sign.
"They're not putting out much energy," said Alex. "Not much trouble to get into in the rooms, and no way they're going to be let out of here."
That got a little disgruntled feeling that Julian soothed with thoughts of home tomorrow, and their usual places to run and play and make mischief.
Horace also sent them a feeling of excitement for home, though with the storm passed he could go whenever he wanted.
He preferred to go where his humans went when he wasn't being used for messages, though, so he stayed on their shoulders as they polished off every bite of food and sat sipping the last of the mint tea.
"So, four suspects," said Alex.
"Can't leave it be," said Julian with a fond sigh.
"Yes, four suspects. Our affianced Miss Sabrina Periwig, who thinks ghosts did it; the single Miss Adelina Halliwell, who hasn't found much to entice her at this party either; Miss Katherine Berkelshire, who brought a date but doesn't seem too fond of him or anyone else; and of course our darling Baronet, Lady Sylvia Knapweed, the sultry blonde of the pair, who we assume is all for the ladies but might let her eyes stray. "
"Or her hands, if they have that sort of relationship," said Alex. "Either way, no one who would consider either Wicket a prospect, nor Winterson a rival, so it's probably not about romance."
"Unless it is," said Julian. "Some people can get very deluded about flirtations, and jealous of the attention of others."
"They're not cats," said Alex, though he didn't scoff as he might if he was dismissing things outright. "They're all ladies, but none of particular rank, really."
"I mean, a Baronet isn't nothing," said Julian, "but it's not a lot, either."
"It's not enough to get her out of a murder charge, I bet," said Alex. "Wicket was a Baron maybe?"
"Can't remember," said Julian. "He definitely didn't care about his rank, only entertaining the ladies."
"Poor Tsukiko," said Alex with a sigh. "Losing her husband to something so random-seeming."
"I wouldn't let you die alone," said Julian fiercely. "You'd have to drain every bit of my magic, too, before you could leave me."
"Same here," said Alex, a soft little whisper that was sad more than angry. "I can't imagine life without you anymore."
Julian giggled softly. "I remember when you couldn't imagine a life with me."
"Past me was an idiot," said Alex, pulling him close for a kiss. "Let's set this stuff aside and snog."
"Sounds perfect," said Julian. They got the tray put outside and curled up in bed together, dressing gowns shed and attention only for each other.
Julian knew there might be yet another interruption so they couldn't get too worked up, but at the same time he had nothing better to do just now than love his husband.
They twined their legs together, his shorter and Alex's longer, knees bumping gently and then finding their places as though they were made to fit together like this.
Julian curled his hands over Alex's chest and then smoothed them out, stroking his lean body through the silk.
Their kisses were heady and sweet as a good port wine, the perfect digestif to all the food they'd eaten.
Julian was just starting to think they might have time for more when there was a knock at the door and someone called, "There's been another!"
That chilled the mood immediately and they leapt out of bed, Julian answering while Alex swayed at the sudden change in orientation, still a little weak from his own poisoning.
Outside was a small pandemonium mostly centred around one of the open room doors, where Julian could see someone had passed out in front of it.
Dr. Geoff came running before Julian could even gather his wits, while the servant who had roused them tried to corral the unnecessary people back into their rooms.
Berkelshire, Periwig, and Halliwell were all among those milling about, Julian noted, though neither Knapweed had bothered to emerge at the commotion.
"I'm too late," said Geoff darkly, looking for them down the hallway. "It's Camellia. He's gone."