Fortunately for Julian, Lady Johanna was more than willing to keep prodding them into conversation.
"Now, Julian, you and your husband haven't been to any of the big parties this year, why is that?" she asked, fluttering over her cup of tea.
Julian sighed internally but plastered on a smooth smile. "We're just not very social, and work has been very busy. Winter has afforded us a little time for visiting family, and when Chudleigh asked us to come to his house-rewarming party, we decided to indulge him."
"Julian and Alex are good friends of ours," said Geoff, saving him from the stares. "We've been up to their cottage a few times, and me by myself for potions lessons as well."
Julian beamed. "That's right, Dr. Geoff and I share lessons sometimes, when Alex can make time to teach us."
"Oh, you've a magical talent?" asked Gallowglass.
"Yes, I've got a thing for plants, and it's been expanding into regular magic some as well, especially healing," said Julian, figuring this was pretty much common knowledge among those in the know. "Alex is the Charmer of the Way, of course, and we're both Guardians."
"Oh, now what all does that involve?" asked Applewhite, avidly curious now that there was magic.
"It's hard to describe," said Julian. "We keep watch and make sure no one goes through our Way or disturbs the area around it. Our Co-Guardian on the other side is making up for our absence for these few days, but we can't get away often because we need to be on hand should anything happen."
"What's on the other side?" asked Gallowglass.
"Elven lands," said Julian. "Unlike the Queen's Way, no one really can get permission to use ours because of the remote location, so we just Guard it against incursion." He paused to take a bite of something savoury and rich, and then added, "We did have an escapee from the Summerlands making trouble just a few weeks ago."
"Oh?" said Groundstone, trying to sound bored and failing completely. Apparently magic was the way to this group's heart.
Julian proceeded to tell the tale of their thieving squirrel between bites of food and sips of tea, making sure to emphasise the magical nature of both the stolen items and their methods of recovery. He was vague about the specifics on anything, other than Baegu Tróibl, who he felt deserved every bit of shaming.
There was a lot of laughter, and then someone else started to tell a little story about magic, and Julian was left to eat as much as he could get away with. It turned out to be enough to be going on with, though he might send down to the kitchens for a snack before dinner, given the overall light nature of the tea foods. Spinach puffs and watercress sandwiches might be delicious, but they weren't nearly as sustaining as he was used to.
Lady Johanna proved adept at keeping the conversation moving along now that she had a topic everyone was willing to be interested in, so the tales of magic flowed along with the tea right until every last crumb was eaten and only their cups remained.
Chudleigh made an appearance, standing between Julian and Gallowglass, one hand on the back of each chair and a grin on his face. "I see everyone's getting on here, good, good!"
"Lady Johanna has been invaluable," said Julian. "We'd all have stared at our teacups if it wasn't for her."
"Oh, well, I'm just doing my best," said Applewhite, fluttering again and blushing happily.
"Well done you. I'll have to get a dance later to thank you properly," said Chudleigh, which was actually a pretty nice offer as a dance with the host was always a social coup.
"I expect Julian and I would've managed something, but no one else wants to talk about greenhouses for an hour," said Dr. Geoff.
Chudleigh moved over to his chair and gave him a fond, chaste kiss. "My darling, you can make even rerooting seedlings sound exciting sometimes."
"Oh, how are the feverfew seedlings coming along?" asked Julian immediately, getting a wry laugh from the group.
"Quite well. I'll update you later when there's no one else to be bored by us," said Geoff good-naturedly.
Julian grinned back, unrepentant. "We'll have to corner you to schedule another lesson sometime, too."
"Perhaps another weekend visit," said Chudleigh, which made Julian blink and grin in surprise.
"Definitely another weekend visit," said Julian. "I forgot your time had all freed up, despite being at a party about that exact thing."
Chudleigh chuckled and gave Geoff's shoulders a squeeze. "Speaking of which, time to go do my duty to another table."
He moved off, and everyone's teacups were refilled one last time, as people were starting to get up and drift over to other tables now that Chudleigh had opened up the possibility. Julian sipped at his cup contentedly, knowing his prickly husband would come find him soon enough.
After that, it would be up to them to seek out their cats, who were currently hiding somewhere secretive, if their bond-feel was any indication. There hadn't really been much to their taste in the tea foods, but that wouldn't stop them from stealing if something caught their eye.
Alys would stop them, but she wasn't here, and they were clearly keen to take advantage.
