Chapter 34
They were safely ensconced in the back of the limo an hour later, with Jones saying, "I got everything done but Saveur and the place that has the flour she likes."
"So just one errand on our way home," said Alex. "That's not so bad."
"I'm just happy to be going to Saveur when no one wants to kill you," said Jacques. "I'm almost out of chocolate again."
"Greedy Guardians," teased Julian. "I am of course envious of whatever treats of yours they got that we didn't."
"You get a lot of treats they don't," said Jacques with a chuckle. "I wouldn't worry too much."
"Did you text ahead?" asked James, leaning over to look at Jacques' phone where he was poking at it.
"Yeah, she gave me her number for future orders, and I wanted her to know we'd be there with these two for Alys' pickup." Jacques put his phone away and then shoved James' face back with a palm. "Nosy."
"I'm supposed to be all up in your face," said James, unrepentant. "We're partners."
"You just want to know if I got the kind you like," said Jacques.
"That, too," said James. "And I saw you did, so now I'm content."
Julian giggled, and Alex snorted a laugh. "You two are absurd."
"But deadly," said James with a dorky grin.
Alex laughed outright that time. "We're Guardians, too, now! Just not as pokey as you two."
"Guardians Less Pokey," intoned Julian.
Everyone was laughing as they pulled up behind Saveur.
Someone was already waiting by the door to let them in and lead them to her tasting room, which was remarkably similar to the 'nice' interrogation room at the agency with its oval table and half-dozen chairs.
Ellen was waiting with some hot chocolate and a very rare treat indeed, fresh chocolate lava cakes.
"Between Alys and Jacques' orders, I figured you guys had earned a special treat," she said, sitting to have one of her own when all the treats were passed out. "Also, I wanted one."
"Thank you," said Alex, digging in with real enthusiasm. Alys made her own, but Saveur's were even more chocolatey and decadent, whereas Alys added flavours to lighten up the dense treat.
Both were delicious, but variety was even better.
"This is so good," said Julian, beaming. "It's just like the chocolatiest chocolate ever to chocolate, but warm in my mouth."
"You two are always so sweet," said Ellen with a grin.
"It's a really good recipe," said Jacques. "Worthy of the praise."
James made a wordless sound of yummy agreement, mouth full of the delicious cake.
Everyone concentrated on their food like hungry goblins for a few minutes, the room comfortably quiet as they all shared the experience of warm cake and gooey middle.
Pauline came by with lemon waters for everyone at one point and got a chorus of thanks, but otherwise no one bothered to disturb the moment until they all started finishing up and leaning back to sip water and bergamot hot chocolate.
"This is one of my favourites of yours," said James, sipping again with a happy look on his face.
"It's very well-liked," said Ellen. "We swap out some of them, but this one is too popular to ever discontinue."
"Good for me," said James with a little grin.
"I'd like to do a little shopping on top of what Alys is getting," said Alex, "mostly for some gifts to have sent to people. Is chocolate appropriate to say, 'sorry I couldn't save your husband'?"
Julian snorted. "She'll probably appreciate it, even if it isn't. And really, it's not like you want to get a reputation for being appropriate."
"I do not, it's true," agreed Alex. "So, a nice somber gift box for Tsukiko Nonami-Finklewick, something more cheering for Lucas Chudleigh and another for Dr. Geoff Tamlinson at the Agency. Anyone else?"
"We should send a little something to Miss Winterson, and maybe Alice and Smithson up at the Chudleigh house?" Julian was thinking about it. "Chocolates won't be seen as too gauche, and Chudleigh would never deny someone a treat."
"Plus some of those persimmon slices for the way home," added Alex, looking smug.
"Nothing for Lapointe?" asked Jacques.
Alex huffed. "She's just doing her job, but yeah, some flowery something for Lapointe and something not-flowery for her boytoy."
"I know what she and Thomas like," said Ellen. She had brought out her phone and was making notes. "Will I be delivering all of these for the usual fee?"
"Yes, please," said Julian sweetly. "That way no one can guilt us into including them next time."
Everyone laughed at that, and they spent the next little while drinking and catching up on how Ellen's business was doing, as well as telling a very abridged version of the poisoner gossip.
It would be all over anyway, with so many people involved, so Alex wasn't worried about being scolded for giving her a more accurate perspective.
Especially since he was sending Lapointe chocolates.
"So," said Julian, once their cocoas were all drunk, "what new things do you have to sell me?"
Ellen laughed and led them out to the cases where her season and weather sets were still going strong, and there were a few of the very popular Solstice sets still in stock, as well.
"I haven't decided what to do for after Solstice, to be honest," she said, giving them each a free sample of a truffle.
"You should do mood truffles," said Alex, sighing over the joyful brightness of cranberry and spice with just a hint of winter fir. "Spice for anger, something rain-soppy for sadness, that kind of thing."
"Well, not soppy," said Ellen, "but that's a fair idea. I might save it for the spring and do something more cheering for winter, though."
"Well, everyone's full up on winter everything right now," said Julian, "so what about early spring? A floral, some berries, that kind of thing. Expand on the coming season and get people who are heartily tired of the snow."
"And of the spice mix that comes with it, though that's not me," said Jacques, finishing off his own gingerbread truffle. "You could do that for four seasons, really, summer in spring and on to the next, making anticipation into flavours."
"Oh, now that is clever," said Ellen, taking more notes. "I should have known you all would have fun ideas for me."
"That's why you asked," said Alex. "I also think it would be fun to do some unusual flavours, like a savoury set with those cheese truffles."
"I've been poking at that sort of idea," said Ellen, "but it's going to be a very delicate balance."
"Well, you only need four to make a set, really," said Julian.
"That's true, and there's always bacon and chocolate to make a second one," said Jacques. "That's a tried and true combo."
"Yes, I've been considering it, but it's so done," she said with a sigh. "Well, it'll go in the development pile and we'll see what comes of it. I like this expanded seasons idea, it gives me a starting point and some ideas of where to go next."
"We like it, too," said Alex. "Your berry truffles are always divine, and I know you'll think of something else amazing to hit that spring note."
"You're good for my ego," said Ellen with a pleased laugh.
After that they got down to business, ordering florals for Lapointe and seasons for Thomas, an assortment in a tasteful gift box for Lady Nonami-Finklewick, and more cheerful ones for Chudleigh and Geoff.
They sent Solstice boxes to the two servants and then a larger box of Benedict and St. Albans truffles to the main household as a treat for everyone.
Once that was paid up, along with Alys' orders and Jacques' big blocks of chocolate, they all piled into the car with their goodies and shared around the persimmon slices, including Jones in their treats, of course.
The next stop was quick and easy, no one having to get out but Jones, and soon enough they were headed back towards home.