Chapter 2
Alex considered himself to be patient and understanding, at least when compared to his fellow elves.
He had been in situations where he’d made life-and-death decisions, walked the edge of right and wrong, and survived some terrible situations, but somehow, dealing with Ben Redbourn, the Dark Earl of Crofton, pressed anxiety buttons he didn’t know existed.
“Excuse me, my lord, I may be misinterpreting your request, but I thought you wanted a quiet celebration.”
Ben grinned. He was pleased with himself, his partly exposed incisors a sure sign of his excitement. “Oh, that will be for the proposal. Ashley would kill me if there were a crowd present when I popped the question. No, I’m talking about the party to celebrate once he says yes.”
“And you’re sure Senior Warlock Niven will say yes?”
Ben tutted. “I know you’re annoyed when you start using proper titles. Come on, Alex. Where is your sense of occasion?”
“Need I remind Your Lordship that I’m your secretary, not an events planner?”
“You’re being an old sour puss.” Ben bounced on the balls of his feet, smiling his most charismatic smile.
Ben was an attractive man with sandy-blond hair and expressive eyes. He often got what he wanted because of his looks. His vampiric thrall also helped, but neither would work on Alex.
“No, I am merely stating a fact.”
“Are you really telling me you’ll be willing to hand over all the organisation and oversight of one of the most important events of my tenure as Dark Earl? I mean, I could ask Ashley to see if there would be administrative support available from the Warlock Ruling Committee if you’d prefer.”
There were times when he forgot that to become a Dark Earl meant the vampire who inhabited the position had beaten several equally manipulative and morally corrupt bastards to the role.
“Warlocks have their place, and you’re of course welcome to outsource your event.”
Ben raised an eyebrow. “Come now, Alex. Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
He huffed. He would be better off capitulating now rather than having to fix everything at the last minute. “Very well. What sort of numbers are we looking at? A hundred?”
“Oh, closer to three, I think. Maybe four. We’re not talking a sit-down banquet, and I’m sure between you and Karl you could enchant the terraces for extra space without having to worry about the weather.”
Ben’s demon valet was more than capable of handling a localised weather system. “Rain is one thing, daylight is another. Or are we going to ignore that aspect?”
“You’re putting barriers in place when there’s no reason.
No part of the event needs to start before sunset.
Those guests who don’t have an issue with the sun would be welcome to arrive earlier, but this is a party, and the best parties happen at night, whether they’re being thrown by a vampire or not. ”
“How soon are you looking to do this?” He knew he wouldn’t like the answer, but from his interactions with Ben, he was a spontaneous man, and once he’d decided on something, little could stop him.
“A couple of weeks. I do have to propose first, and then make sure we aren’t clashing with anyone else’s big bash. I wouldn’t want to put people in a difficult position of having to choose.”
He didn’t think for a second Ben would care if someone had to make an excuse as long as they made the right decision and attended his party.
Alex had devised much more complicated logistics; he’d commanded elf battalions and crack militia units, so this shouldn’t be a problem. But more warning would’ve been nice.
“The full moon is in two weeks. Not the best omen for a celebration, but if that’s the date you want.”
Ben sucked his teeth. “No, best not. Ashley often witters on about the right phase of the moon for the projects he’s working on.”
“Then let’s aim for a month.” Alex conjured a notepad and jotted down a few details. “I take it you already have a guest list in mind?”
“Yes, well, sort of.” Ben reached over to his desk and handed him a scribbled note.
Alex scanned the page, squinting as he deciphered the scrawl. “This is not so much a guest list as a collection of families and institutions.”
“I thought it was a good starting point. You can fill in the blanks as well as anyone.”
Alex’s eyelid twitched. Once upon a time, he’d have killed someone for less. “Fine. I’ll use this as a basis and have the potential guest list for your approval in a day or two.”
“I knew I could count on you. Now, the proposal, I’ve been speaking to Jack, and he’s given me a few ideas.”
Jack Webb was Ashley’s best friend, and in theory, the ideal source of inspiration for Ben to tap into for the perfect proposal. “And?”
“Apparently, he loves lavender roses and fireworks.”
“Not a combination I’d have naturally put together…”
“I’m thinking dinner, his favourite food, roses on the table, and then I would take him to the roof, and you could let off a firework display that asked him to marry me.”
“You do realise fireworks don’t generally spell out words?”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Alex, are you telling me you can’t,” he waggled his fingers, “make it happen?”
“It’s not simple magic. I would suggest inside fireworks of the pretty but quiet variety. I could conjure them in response to Ashley’s acceptance once you’ve asked. Far fewer things that could go wrong, and if he does say no, the last thing you want are perky fireworks going off.”
Ben pouted. “I suppose. But he’s not going to say no.”
“Of course not. However, keeping proceedings inside would also be more in line with Ashley’s general dislike of flashy gestures.”
Ashley saying no wasn’t likely, but he was a warlock, and warlocks did as they pleased, and Ashley was no different. If he wasn’t in the mood or if Ben had been more annoying than usual, then there was a chance he’d tell Ben where to stick his proposal. Which triggered another question.
“Have you considered a ring?”
“I was going to use the Earl’s ring, but Jack didn’t think Ashley would be a fan as it’s a bit ostentatious.”
For a man who was so intelligent, there were times when Alex thought Ben had been dropped on his head as a baby.
“I don’t think wearing a big sparkly ruby would be the issue.
You need to consider that Ashley is a magic user and would be conscious about any piece of jewellery he might wear.
Something with the history of the Earl’s ring would have a high potential to cause an issue and interfere with his casting. ”
“I’d have thought Jack would have said something,” Ben muttered.
“I imagine he might have thought that obvious.”
Ben looked to be on the verge of sulking. “Then what should I give him?”
“I’m not sure you have to give him anything.
I assume you’ll exchange wedding rings in the vampire tradition, which I recommend be forged from a neutral metal since you also like to brew and you wouldn’t want a potion being ruined, but for the engagement, a gift of a personal nature could be considered sufficient. ”
“Oh, I could give him a cock ring! Although not in front of the guests, I don’t think Ashley would appreciate that.”
Alex knew more than he wanted about his boss’s sex life. He’d walked in on Ben and Ashley all over the house, or cleaned up after they’d finished their activities. “I think you would be better off sourcing that yourself.”
“But what if I wanted something with a magical bent?”
“No.” He would not entertain this conversation further.
“There are plenty of establishments you can source whatever you want, but I will have no part of it. I’m happy to plan both your proposal and the celebration, but I am not procuring your sex toys.
And to be honest, I don’t think Ashley would find it appropriate. ”
If his old battalion could see him now, they’d probably fire a bullet between his eyes to put him out of his misery.
“I’m sure he’d appreciate one a great deal,” Ben said, doubling down.
“Maybe in private.” He cleared his throat. “You should consider Ashley’s family situation as well. Some warlock families have traditional gifts for certain situations.”
“I’ll speak to Jack again,” Ben said, and Alex was relieved he had averted one disaster. “Let’s say a week or so for the proposal, making sure we can get the special guests I’d like there, and the proper bash a month later.”
“I do think it wise to give the paranormal society’s elite as much notice of your party as possible if you expect them to be able to come,” Alex said, although he didn’t think Ben had given his guests’ preferences much consideration.
“A couple of weeks is more than enough. You can have the invites ready to send directly after the proposal. I have no fear we’ll have amazing attendance.
Sebastian is aware and said he’ll try to make it if he can.
If Sebastian Hewel can accommodate this, I don’t see why anyone else would have an excuse not to. ”
Ben was a Dark Earl, society tended to bend to his whims, and Alex should have realised Ben’s expectations for his engagement would’ve been no different.
“I do appreciate that angle. And it was wise for you to avoid the full moon.” Not that Ben had thought to do so off his own bat.
“You made a good point. I appreciate that you always have my back, Alex. But let’s not delay any further. I don’t want this dragging out.”
Given his boss’s huge privilege and poshness, Alex would take the extra two weeks as a major win. “Very well, my lord. I’ll liaise with Mr Vinter and have the initial plan for discussion with you tomorrow.”
“I knew I could depend on you, Alex.”
There were days when he had to remind himself that the alternatives to living at Crofton Hall and being Ben’s secretary were far worse. He would work through a meditation ritual, and if that didn’t help, take his frustration and foul mood out on the chrysanthemums.