Alex grinned over and bumped shoulders. "You know I never care about the rules, and Gallowglass and McGuinness will enjoy whatever you do as long as there's some kind of drinks available."
"The bar is open in the drawing room," assured Chudleigh. "And if we overflow, the den is also well-stocked."
"Well, then, we'll make our own fun," assured Alex. "In other news, your house sounds lovely now. All the wards are in harmony and the blessing is deep and strong."
"I can't ever thank you enough for helping me find a priest," said Chudleigh, quite sincerely, Alex thought.
Father Stephen hadn't had the time, but one of his colleagues that was a fan of their contributions to the Temples had come out and done a good job blessing and warding the house and grounds with Alex, even in the chill of autumn. The refurbishments on the outside were all done by then, just interior finishing to do, so they'd managed to squeak it in before winter properly settled in.
Alex and his toes had been grateful to beat the snow.
"Part of the job, really," said Alex. Chudleigh had paid properly for the warding, unlike Mary Margaret, and Alex did in fact consider it part of his job to make sure the priest was someone he could work with. "Nothing worse than trying to do a two-person job with an idiot."
Chudleigh laughed and slapped him lightly on the shoulder. "I suppose so," he agreed, and then let himself be called away while Alex searched faces in hopes of a wink.
He was pleasantly surprised when the sweet Lady Applewhite winked at him, and he got to fall to his knees and then over with great drama, saying, "No! I have been brought down!"
The maid who helped him up was grinning. "It's fun seeing you all trying to act," she said, leading Alex off to the drawing room and his husband.
"It's fun to be silly sometimes," said Alex. "Thanks."
"Bar's open, and he's got cider and mulled wine back there, if you want," she said, gesturing to where Smithson was once again manning a bar.
"I don't suppose you could see to stealing me some snacks for us?" asked Alex, trying to look thin and piteous.
She laughed, as intended. "Oh, you. We heard about your magic stomachs. It's no problem. There's plenty of some things left over from dinner, so I'll have them send in a couple of plates."
"You're a lifesaver," said Alex, going to the bar to get himself some cider. The sugar would help, too, but they were far enough from the Source to feel a steady small drain that wasn't being replenished the way he was used to. He'd have to make sure the fairy cats were fine, too.
At least it would make a convenient excuse to leave, if they weren't. If they could leave, given the blizzard.
Alex sent his senses out over the fields and grounds and all he could really hear was muffling snow, swirling and piling and making everything impassable.
Well, there were always naps.
Chapter 11
Julian was very grateful when Alex arrived, despite the conversation being perfectly congenial.
"Finally, the murderer managed to take you out," he teased.
Alex shrugged. "It had to happen eventually," he said back, snuggling onto the settee that Julian had claimed somewhat rudely by sitting in the middle.
No one had objected, as there was plenty of seating so far, and now that there were two people occupying it together, no one could.
"Our detective, Lord Smythe-Darbyshire, made one guess but got it wrong, so either way the game will be up soon and Chudleigh will be in here urging us all into groups for charades or twenty questions or something," said Alex, sipping his excellent spiced cider. That, at least, was a traditional winter food he'd take any way he could get it, and this very ordinary choice of spices was perfectly fine as a vehicle for sugar.
"Oh, I do love charades," said Halliwell, who'd been the first out. "I'd kill for a proper cuppa, though."
"Can Smithson not supply you?" asked Julian, looking up to the well-stocked bar and spying a kettle among the rest.
"Who? Oh, the bartender? I suppose he might," she said, getting up to ask. When it was discovered he was making a pot, several others requested cups, making it well worth his effort.
"I got a maid to arrange for us to get some extra food," said Alex quietly. He kissed Julian's ear, too, since it was right there.
Julian giggled and kissed his cheek. "I knew I married you for a reason."
"I like to think there were a few reasons," said Alex, feeling safer here with Julian in their own little world, if only for a moment.
