Grant let out a delighted squeak and then turned back to the hall. "That's right charming, that is."
"Horace is a good bird," said Alex warmly, and then they were in the dining room with its table set for far, far too many people.
"Do you think it's by rank or broken up?" asked Julian, peering curiously.
"Lord Chudleigh broke it all up," said Grant. "You're here," he added, gesturing to where Julian's name card was sitting. "And you're over here, sir," he added, leading Alex around the table to a spot just slightly too far down to talk to each other, but still in easy sight. Alex was up nearer to Chudleigh, which felt ironic as Julian was both more titled and had known their host longer.
It's possible Alex didn't really understand the logic of these things.
More and more people were being led in, and Alex was pleased to find Jacqueline Gallowglass to his left to balance the flighty Renee Winterson to his right. They were both single, which was interesting given that Alex was very attached, but they had Leslie Winston-Smythe across from Lady Winterson, and Quentin McGuinness across from Lady Gallowglass, not that Alex suspected she was much interested in men, nor he in settling down.
Across from Alex sat the somewhat imposing Tsukiko Nonami-Finklewick in full Japanese finery, looking untouchable with her perfect makeup and posture.
He had no idea how he was expected to entertain her, but he'd do his best and hope the other gentlemen would also do their parts.
Alex spotted Grant bringing more people down, and smiled to himself, putting a hand up to Horace and then bringing the birddown for petting. Lady Darlington cocked her head and asked curiously, "Where did you get such a remarkable bird?"
Horace arched and preened under the attention and petting both.
"Oh, I made him at uni," said Alex. "He's my greatest creation, really. When he began carrying correspondence to Julian, he really came to life from Julian's unique magic waking up all his dormant spell-pathways."
He'd almost had them, and then he could see them getting lost at the magic bits at the end. Ah, well.
"What does he do?" asked Winston-Smythe.
"Oh, he's a letter bird, he carries correspondence inside his hollow body," said Alex, lifting him up so they could see the light shining through the filigree of Horace's frame. "His physical parts are all interlocked mechanically, but he mostly runs on magic."
"Wasn't there a bird like that at that dreadful Courtship?" asked Gallowglass, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Horace saved Julian at his Courtship," said Alex fondly. "That's how he got his silver parts, there was some damage and I repaired him in a different metal to give some pattern to his plumage.
Horace posed and showed off his lovely silver-and-brass wings, and pretended to preen the metal feathers with his silver beak.
Alex kissed his little brass head fondly. "He's really Julian's pet now, but he chose to accompany me to dinner, probably because I need more help with the conversation."
Lady Winterson giggled at that. "Nonsense, you're doing fine."
"Can he fly in this weather?" asked Tsukiko.
Alex shook his head. "I wouldn't ask it of him, no."
Horace chirruped a protest, but Alex ignored it in favour of bringing the bird back to his chest for petting.
"It's a real blizzard out there now," said McGuinness. "No hunting for us this whole weekend, I suspect, more's the pity. There's always good game in Chudleigh's woods."
Alex wondered if Chudleigh seeded the woods, or just didn't hunt them out too much during the year, and then decided he really didn't care. "I wonder what he'll find for us to do tomorrow instead?"
"I hear he's got a couple of hired people," said Winston-Smythe. "Some kind of artist and an illusionist. Someone for you to talk shop with, I suppose."
"Perhaps," said Alex, unbothered by the barb. "I don't do a lot of illusions, just little things to amuse my friends."
Anticipating the next question, he summoned a single green-gold butterfly and sent it fluttering over the table to where Julian sat in his own conversations, watching as it turned blue-violet once it landed on Julian's hand. Julian leaned down and blew onit gently, and Alex had it turn into a little swirl of sparks and then vanish.
He had no idea how anyone had reacted but Julian, as the magic and his husband had taken up his full attention.
All the guests must have been seated, anyway, as food began to arrive, water and wine poured, and the business of dinner began in earnest. The first course was all bite-sized treats again, a cheese puff with a surprise of herbs, a miniature venison sausage wrapped in puff pastry, and a savoury mushroom and caramelised onion tart crusted on top with a different kind of cheese. Alex transferred Horace to his shoulder once the servers were all done, eyeing the food hungrily.
Alex took his cues from those around him as to how to eat them, finding both Gallowglass and McGuinness ate them whole, while Lady Winterson, Lady Darlington, and even Winston-Smythe took smaller bites.
