"Yes, though I wasn't really in that group of sycophants," she said distastefully. "Merely close to my dear friends, who were unfortunately taken in by his false charm."
"You weren't a fan of the deceased?" asked Alex, sitting up a little straighter and then covering it up badly by refreshing his and Julian's teacups.
Halliwell shrugged. "I'm not a fan of false charm in general," she said. "He was loyal to his wife, despite humiliating her with his flirtatious ways."
Most people would have said that like a good thing, but Julian had a feeling she disagreed. "Did you know him previously?" asked Julian. "Nearly everyone here is new to me."
"We don't move in Chudleigh's circles, really," added Alex, self-deprecating and almost charming himself, as much as he ever was with the ladies, anyway.
"I knew him from previous parties, of course," said Halliwell, though she seemed less prickly this time. "I never approved of the way he got on, is all."
"I can understand that," said Julian. "I'd be upset if I saw Alex flirting with young men like that."
"Not young women?" asked Adelina curiously.
"No, just the men for me," said Alex. "And just my Julian now. He's all I need." Alex turned and sent Julian a wave of fondness through their bond, washing away the anxiety building up between the two of them as they tried to do someone else's job, badly.
"So you got your tea first, because you were first to order," said Alex, after another sip of his own. "Did someone bump you during the incident?"
She huffed a little exasperated laugh. "Yes, yes. Miss Periwig bumped me, but I managed to keep from spilling as the bartender had been smart enough not to fill our cups to the brim."
"Smithson knows his business," said Alex with a nod. "All right, so Miss Periwig bumps you, then what."
"Then I'm busy keeping my tea from spilling, and then having some, when suddenly Wicket is flailing around and, well. You know." She looked down, appropriately sad for an acquaintance, but not broken up really, which was to be expected. "That poor man."
"Murder is such a terrible way to go," said Alex. "At least his end was quick, with the magic and all."
"Oh, that's so," she fluttered, looking distraught for the first time. "I'd prefer not to think of magic or, well. I suppose it's unavoidable, now."
"We'll be able to get the real police in here and they'll figure it out soon," said Alex soothingly.
She did not seem soothed, but she did sip tea and sigh softly. "Is there anything else?"
"Not right now," said Alex.
Julian poked him, amused that he hadn't asked this one if she did it.
Alex poked back. "If we need you again, we'll send a servant," said Alex, and she took her cup with her when she left, cradling the warm, lemony brew in her hands.
"Well," said Alex, once the door was closed again, "She's kind of an asshole, huh?"
Julian was surprised into a laugh. "Alex! People are allowed not to like the deceased."
"You're supposed to pretend, though, I remember that much," said Alex. "She seemed more likely to spit on his grave than mourn."
"Yeah, maybe. We're all off-balance now, it's not like you're singing his praises," said Julian wryly.
The door opened again to admit Miss Periwig, the maid sweeping in to get her a cup and pour for her. The sugar and milk were already out, along with Halliwell's lemon, and Periwig sat with a little twist to her mouth that Julian couldn't interpret.
"I see Miss Adelina has been in, sourpuss that she is," said Periwig. "She acts like we don't know that Wicket's flirtations are all in good fun."
"So everyone knows he's not really trying anything?" asked Alex.
"Definitely," said Periwig. "Have you seen his wife? Now, she'd murder us both if he tried it, I bet."
"Fortunately for her, she was not in the room at the time," said Alex wryly. "It would have been nearly impossible for her to have poisoned his freshly-poured drink."
"Nearly?" asked Julian.
