Chapter 31
"Straight inside as ordered," said Julian, shivering just inside the doorway as he got his shoes off and stowed away in the little cupboard there. Coat next, and then he scooted out of the way of the other three people trying to do the same.
"I'm going to love eating food I don't have to check for poison," said Alex. "And tea!"
"I desperately need tea," agreed Julian, flopping on their loveseat despite still wearing the fancy clothes required even there at the end of Chudleigh's little party.
Jacques set down the kitten basket, which opened of its own accord and sent kittens streaking in three directions, clearly done with confinement and disinterested in anything but exploring.
"Go change and ye'll get a full meal," said Alys from the kitchen.
Julian yelped as his bottom got a small shock, but he was laughing as he got up and headed upstairs instead of protesting.
It was a comfort to use their safety-charmed iron stairs and feel the familiar magic thrumming through the whole household.
Their rooms were just as they'd left them, trunk already somehow in place, though not yet unpacked.
They wouldn't need any of the outfits in there for casual friend time with the Guardians, so they changed into cosy hanging out clothes.
Alex even wore jeans along with his thick woollen socks, his new favourite hand-knit pair that were a Solstice gift from one of Julian's aunties.
They both had warm sweaters, too, with Julian in autumnal gold and Alex in black, sleeves pushed up immediately, as was his way.
Horace rode Julian's shoulder as they padded down in sock feet to find the Guardians had also changed, even quicker than the two of them, and were chatting with Nat and Alys while their meal floated out on trays and in serving dishes that settled onto the coffee table between them.
Horace decided to go visit some of his plant friends, flying up around the skylight and then alighting in several spots around the room to tell Julian how they were doing.
Each plant gave Horace different information than they'd tell Julian, which he found fascinating and informative, especially when one of the ones near the top seemed like it was a little lonely.
"Gonna have to give that plant up there a friend, I guess," said Julian, looking up to where the string of pearls looked perfectly healthy. "Horace says it's lonely."
"That's adorable," said Alex, snuggling up on the loveseat and kissing his hair. "Can it be in the same pot or do we have to mess with the system already?"
"I think I can sneak another succulent in that pot, as long as I'm diligent about overcrowding. There is a lot of space for them all to grow." Julian kissed the curve of Alex's jaw, then turned his attention to the tray that floated up somewhat pointedly.
"I didn't know plants could get lonely," said James, though most of his attention was on his own food, and Jacques was ignoring them entirely.
There was tea, of course, their favourite Assam as strong as they could want.
Alys had made phyllo dough cups with brie and caramelised onions, and another set with the same brie but pear and honey instead.
The crunchy, one-bite treats were absolutely delicious for how simple they were, and Julian hoped for her sake that she hadn't spent too long on the dough, as they vanished quickly.
Everything was on its own plates, and when one plate emptied, another would take its place.
Next on the tray was a dish of ginger-glazed carrots, sweet and just a little spicy.
She hadn't made them a salad today; instead there were crispy brussels sprouts with smoky bacon and a sweet maple glaze.
Accompanying those two was a pile of asparagus spears in a rich Béarnaise sauce that Julian shamelessly ate with his fingers, licking the sauce off and grinning.
Once those were eaten, a larger plate arrived with mashed potatoes, two thick steaks, and yet more of the yellow Béarnaise.
Julian dug in, glad for the magic that kept the tray steady as he cut into the tender steaks and sighing happily over the perfect mix of rare meat and browned outer crust. The mash was the perfect pairing, rich with butter and full of tasty lumps of perfectly-seasoned potato.
"You're spoiling us rotten and we love it," said Alex.
"Ye've been poisoned," said Alys tartly. "It's best to be sure you're properly fed up so you recover completely."
Julian breathed in and felt the magic of the Source filling him up just as much as the food. He'd missed that power, and he could tell that Alex, too, was drinking it in as much as the dark, sweet tea they both loved.
"This is really good, Alys," said Julian, still making headway on the main course knowing there might be yet more afterward. "Don't tell Chudleigh, but you're much better than his chef."
"He's perfectly fine," said Alex, "just really basic."
"I felt like it was a strain on his creativity every time he had to feed us," said Julian. "Though I did like the game pies. I can't say I'd mind that, but I suspect we haven't got anything we'd need to hunt in our bit of forest."
"Nah, th'locals keep populations in check," said Nat. "Wee folk like a bit o' pigeon pie from time to time as well."
"I think ours was pheasant or grouse," said Julian, "but the spirit is the same."
"We get enough variety here, anyway," said Alex. "We haven't had steaks in a while, I guess you got the butcher to send some over?"
"Aye, we figured you'd need some good red meat," said Alys. "Th'delivery boy took back cookies for hisself an' his master both for the favour."
"Well, I'll be able to do pickups for you tomorrow," said Jones. "Alex and his lot will be in the Agency for ages."
"It's true, I'm afraid," said Alex. "We promised Lapointe to go in and give statements so we could come home faster."
"Just as long as ye sleep here, ye should be better tomorrow," said Nat, giving them both a squinty once-over.
"I will not sleep here," said Jones with a chuckle. "What time do you want me, anyway?"
They ate steak and made a tentative schedule for Jones, with Alex adding a trip to Saveur after the Agency as a balm to everyone's souls, and also a chance to send a consolation gift to Chudleigh and Geoff that they'd appreciate.
He didn't know Lady Herbert well enough to be obliged to send anything her way, but he thought that they might find a suitable donation to make in lieu of the flowers she'd be undoubtedly inundated with.
"Jones will have to stay for dinner," said Julian firmly, when they were talking about who all was coming to eat. "I suspect we'll get Murielle and Thomas, too, but only for the meal."
"Thomas' giant monster truck can handle the roads just fine," said Jones. "They'll be able to come along whenever they're ready and get fed accordingly."
"Ye know I'll make sure yer friends are taken care of," said Alys, sounding surprisingly cheerful, the way she did when they were giving her extra work she could complain about later.
"I don't think they'll stay the night," said Alex, "but if they do, we'll sleep up in the nest while James and Jacques take ours."
"We're really here to gossip about the Way, anyway," said James.
"And cook," said Jacques with a grin. "I still should go tomorrow, but Alys and I will cook something the day after, if we're still welcome."
"You're always welcome," said Julian warmly.
"Seriously, you guys are never anything but help," added Alex.
James chuckled. "You haven't always said that, but I believe it now."
Jacques beamed and said, "I love getting to hang out here without risk of serious mortal danger, and I'll repay you by making you food and also forcing you to do some knife practice."
"Yeah, there will definitely be knife practice," said James.
"Nooooooo," whined Julian, mostly faking it, though it was definitely not his favourite way to pass the time. "I haven't had to stab anyone in months!"
"That's not as reassuring as you think it is," said Jacques dryly.
Alex snorted. "I'll do it if only because then he has to. I like you self-rescuing, my love." He pulled Julian into a little kiss before going back to his food.
"It's fine," said Julian with a little huff. "I hate it but it's fine."
"That's the spirit," said Jacques with a laugh.
They were nearly done with the steaks and mash, and Julian could spot some suspicious movement in the kitchen, though Alys was pretending to have nothing to do with it.
"You'll message ahead to Saveur, right?" said Julian instead of letting himself comment on the proximity of dessert. "So we can stop in and they'll be expecting us."
"Of course. That way I can get an order in," said Alys. "Nat's got a stop or two for Jones as well, we'll give him a list, don't worry."
"We're very well taken care of since you came," said Alex. "We never worry."
"Well," said Julian, "not about that. The poison thing was very worrisome."
One by one their food was finished and trays drifted back to the kitchen until they were left with nothing but their cups of tea and each other. Julian relaxed into Alex's side, getting an arm around himself for his efforts. James and Jacques sat back in their chairs, too.
"So," said Nat, in a tone that brooked no argument, "tell us about this whole murder nonsense."
Everyone sighed, but Julian started up the thread of it.
He was rewarded when huge bowls of bread pudding and ice cream on trays came floating out of the kitchen, and soon enough they were eating while they told the tale.
It seemed like so much when they talked about it all together, murder after murder, but they made sure to give credit to Chudleigh for at least trying to keep people from putting themselves in harm's way.
The bread pudding was studded with wine-poached pears and brandy-soaked raisins, spiced to perfection and so rich it was almost savoury. The ice cream was a cool, simple vanilla that went beautifully with the warm pudding and the tale-telling both.
"And so we finally got cut loose after that, since she'd given herself away," said Julian, just as he finished the last bite.
"I'm not sure I can bill for it, given that I didn't accomplish much more than irritating a bunch of nobles," said Alex with a chuckle.
"I'm just happy you survived it at all," said Julian, giving him a poke. "You didn't see yourself all pale and barely breathing with the belladonna."
Alex kissed his hair and snuggled him close, both of their trays floating away again and leaving them empty-handed this time.
"So," said James, reaching into his pocket and producing a deck with a grin. "Cards?"