They all reared and puffed briefly, but calmed again as their humans closed the door and came in to pet them gently, cooing comfort and praise the way the cats liked best.
"I'll text Lucas so he can warn the staff," said Julian, taking out his phone to do so. Lucas, of course, was happy to let the cats roam the halls all they liked, and they went back and forth a few times to make sure someone would be happy to let them back in their room when they were tired.
"There, you're all set. It's a rest time for us humans, so let us take our jackets and shoes off and you can come cover us in fur."
Alex laughed and stood to do so, taking Julian's coat to hang as well. "They'll mostly be underfoot, I suspect," he said, sending the cats a wave of love that Julian caught the edge of, and followed with his own.
"That's okay, lap cats are good conversation starters," he said. "The spells on this set of suits should keep the hair from sticking, no matter how much they shed on us."
The cats gave them the impression that they were going to take this as a challenge.
Nightshade leapt from the bed to land on Alex's shoulder, grace supported by the magic they were learning to use now that theywere older. Alex's face suggested it was also supported by claws, but at least she'd made the jump.
"I'm coming to you," said Julian, shoes abandoned at the end of the bed as he flopped in it and got comfortable so that Cinnamon and Sage could climb him and demand the petting that was their due.
Alex joined him soon enough, Nightshade jumping down only to immediately colonise his entire chest, fur spreading violet-dark over the embroidery on Alex's waistcoat. They were all growing longer hair now, too, though for the most part they still kept it well-groomed. They did like to be brushed, however, and would sometimes insist the humans spend a good long time going over all three of them until they were satisfied.
"You are so spoiled," cooed Julian, kissing first Cinnamon's cream-and-red forehead, and then Sage's soft lavender greys. The two of them were draped up on Julian's chest with their back ends on the bed so that Julian could use both hands to pet.
They'd been very quick to learn how to get what they wanted, and what things prevented the same.
"All right," said Julian. "Set us some kind of magical timer so we have time to actually freshen up before tea?"
"I don't know when tea is," said Alex. "I mean, specifically today."
Julian huffed. "Pet your cat, then, useless man." He sent a wave of fondness through their bond, getting bubbles of humour and love right back, and settled in for a bit of a rest of his own.
Chapter 6
Their phones chimed a while later with a 15-minute warning for tea. It seemed Chudleigh had made a group text for everyone attending the party, and was using it to keep things moving along.
The cats protested a little, but allowed their humans to get up and wash faces and hands, use the bathroom, and generally get themselves back in order for the tea. They got coats and shoes back on and everything straight and neat, and then ruined it by having the cats drape themselves as decoration.
Nightshade once again rode Alex's shoulder, while Sage occupied his arms. Cinnamon got herself stretched up from the crook of Julian's arm to his shoulder on that same side, though once they were through the door she, too, collapsed into a noodle in his arms.
"You three will be a hit, I bet," said Alex, though he wasn't actually sure. They were technically still kittens, but they were the size of house cats, and not everyone enjoyed feline attentions.
"Be good and don't bother the ones who don't like you," said Julian, poking them each through their bond as though going boop boop boop to their little noses.
There was some yawning and huffing, but in the end they mostly seemed to agree.
Julian and Alex made their way down the front stairs to the room of doors, and then out and over to the parlour. The furnishings had been rearranged in their absence, chairs and couches whisked away and instead five tables, each set for five people, were waiting. There were name cards at the tables, and one of the maids led them to their places.
They were not, sadly, seated together this time.
Apparently, Chudleigh was determined to keep his reputation as a good host and force conversation on them.
Alex's table had a good mix of genders and interests, though Alex had no idea what they'd talk about and hoped not to have to figure it out.
Julian was one table over with Jacqueline Gallowglass, Johanna Applewhite, Horton Groundstone, and Dr. Geoff. It looked to be a slightly more fun group to Alex's eyes, with Gallowglass's spiffing suit and Dr. Geoff, and he tried not to be annoyed he was the one left with boring strangers.
One woman, once seated, immediately began conversation as though she knew she'd be the designated hostess in any smaller gathering. "Who's old Chuds stuck us with today, then? I'm Adelina Halliwell."
"Alex Benedict-St. Albans, and I prefer Alex, please," he said, glad for the chance to get away from being called, well, whatever terrible thing he'd be hearing from others no doubt.
"Margot Knapweed, we met earlier, Alex. I prefer Sir Margot, please." She was the darker of the pair who'd been so cheerful earlier, but something seemed to have put a bit of a bee in her bonnet.
"I'm Ronald Nonami-Finklewick, but my friends call me Wicket, and I'm sure we'll all be good friends," said Tsukiko's flirtatious husband, laying it on a bit thick. Perhaps, Alex thought, he was the bee bothering Margot.
