"What are you thinking about so intently?" asked Alex, coming up behind him and taking up his free hand for a kiss.
Julian chuckled. "Our cats are stalking someone for their food, but I've no idea who or where. Perhaps the kitchens?"
Alex's gaze went inward, and then he, too, chuckled. "Yes, I'd guess they're stalking something in there. We'd best get them fedtheir dinner and some treats, or they'll be underfoot at the wrong time and somehow manage to steal a whole roast or something."
"They're bold enough," said Julian. He stood, turned to the remaining group, Groundstone having already left for more appreciative audiences, and said, "You've all been lovely company, thank you." He even gave a little bow.
"You're very welcome," said Lady Johanna with a high-pitched giggle.
"We'll have to find ourselves talking about gardens again soon," said Gallowglass, with evident sincerity.
"I'd love to," said Julian. He hooked his arm in Alex's and gave Geoff a little wave, which he returned, and let Alex lead him off toward the servants' entrance.
They had cats to retrieve.
Chapter 8
The kittens decided that they'd had enough adventure, once they'd been caught in the kitchen and then had their supper spoiled with some off-cuts from the roast that the cook gave them. They ate in the room while Alex and Julian got cleaned up for dinner, and then piled into their basket to nap safely in the magic-filled air there.
Chudleigh's wasn't near a Source of any kind, so the magic was thin here for creatures like their fairy cats.
They'd pushed plenty of power into the basket's weavings before they left, though, hoping that would keep the cats from flagging too much during the weekend. As long as they weren't entirely snowed in, Jones would arrive on Monday morning to get all of them, and they'd go back to the Source to recover from the lack of magic and surfeit of socialisation both.
And by they, Alex meant himself as much as the cats.
Horace emerged from the wardrobe where their coats had been stashed with a sleepy series of chirps, looking warmer if not any less tired.
"Did you want to come to dinner, pretty bird?" asked Julian, holding a hand up for him to alight. "You can get energy off me or Alex that way and we can show you off."
Horace chirped that he did indeed want that, then snuggled up against Julian's neck, making him shiver from the cool metal.
"Don't chill my husband too much," said Alex with a chuckle. They were both in their shirtsleeves still, cuffs undone and dinner jackets still hanging, waistcoats waiting to be donned. Alex was avoiding the full regalia himself, although Gerard's suit cuts were surprisingly comfortable for their formality, especially this most recent set. He'd have to dress for dinner three times, which mean both new jackets and one of his old ones, which seemed like an excessive number of things to bring for a single weekend.
Alex came over for a few gratuitous kisses, but the clock on Horace's breast told him it was time to get moving.
"At least I have you to do my cravats," he said, finding the cufflinks that matched this suit and the tie pin as well, then coming over to do Julian's, too. Dinner would be full formal, so Julian was wearing his heirloom amber cubes, while Alex had sparkling tanzanite, the tie pin done in the shape of a songbird to match his waistcoat's embroidery.
They both got fully done up, waistcoats and watches, collars and cravats and evening jackets, which fairly sang with spells to keep them looking perfect under any circumstances. No mere trunk storage could defeat Gerard's tailor's anti-wrinkle charms, and no spilled wine would get past the anti-stain charms, so Alex tried to relax as he felt cat hair gently falling away despite the girls' best efforts earlier.
Alex gave Horace a little kiss when he came over to ride Alex's shoulder. "Perhaps we can use you to distract people from my terrible social skills."
"My feral husband," said Julian softly, giving him a kiss. "That's the best description of your relationship to noble manners that I've ever heard."
Alex huffed but didn't protest, since he kind of agreed. They kissed again, and then Horace chirruped and a knock sounded at the door, one of the many servants they hadn't managed to actually meet ready to lead them down to the dining room.
"What's your name?" asked Alex, as they got the door shut and headed down.
"Sir?" said the person, which he thought was probably male just from the uniform, though he wasn't positive. Chudleigh wasn't too strict with making the maids wear skirts, especially those in positions where pants were more practical.
"He's trying to be friendly," said Julian. "He's bad at it, but he's trying."
"Oh." They laughed. "It's Grant, sir, Grant Wiggins."
"Nice to meet you," said Alex sheepishly. "I'm pretty sure you know who we are, but you can call us Alex and Julian if you like."
"And of course Horace," said Julian, pointing to the bird.
Grant actually stopped and made a happy noise of surprise. "Oh, you've got a mechanical bird! What a cutie." He reached a finger up to Horace, stopping short of touching, so Horace rubbed his beak and cheek against it like a cat.
