"Brr," said Julian, huddling closer to Alex as they made their way briefly outside and then into the relative warmth of the car.
Alex snuggled his husband and felt very lucky indeed.
Chapter 3
Julian let Jones and the other servants deal with the luggage, since that was their job, tugging Alex towards the gaily decorated front doorway. Chudleigh's household had hung pine swags decorated in ribbons in the family's colours of orange, black, and gold.
"It's very festive," said Julian brightly as they mounted the wide steps.
"That it is," said Alex, giving him a little squeeze where he was still snuggled up close by Alex's side. "I hope the whole place isn't swathed in orange, though."
"Fortunately," said Chudleigh, by the door to greet them as they came in, "I overrode any such familial decorating choices."
"Chudleigh!" said Julian cheerfully, going and giving him a quick hug. "It's so nice to see you, and to know you're finally done renovating!"
Chudleigh laughed and mimed wiping his brow. "I know, it seemed like it would never end for a while there, but we made it!"
"Are you ever going to start calling him Lucas?" asked Geoff, sidling up and tucking himself into Chudleigh's side.
Geoff had evidently let his boyfriend dress him, because he was in as fashionable a suit as anyone could want, complete with cufflinks and tie pin to match, all in warm red-browns and golds that matched his complexion beautifully.
"Aww, Geoff, you know I don't mind," Chudleigh — Lucas — started to say, but Julian interrupted.
"We will right now! I didn't know you wanted us to," said Julian.
"Lucas, huh? I suppose I can get used to that," said Alex with a little smirk. "I suppose we did train you off of our last names ages ago."
"Well, all right, then," said Lucas with a smile. "Anyway, you guys are the first here what with the weather and fashionable lateness and all, so Geoff can get you two settled in the parlour with hot drinks."
"Sounds good," said Julian happily. "Oh, Alys sent something over, Jones will know which thing goes to the kitchen for later."
"I'm sure my people will take care of it," said Lucas. "They're very good at their jobs, or nothing would ever get done here."
They shared a moment of perfect understanding for the value of good help, whether brownies or humans, and then Geoff led them all off into a bigger parlour with a huge fireplace, a number of conversational groupings for the furniture, and a bar laden with hot drinks and small snacks.
Geoff ladled them both hot ciders personally, despite the servant behind the bar whose job it actually was. "Don't worry,Smithson, I won't steal your job all night, just with these two. They're friends of mine as much as Lucas'."
"Yes, sir," said Smithson, but there was a twinkle in his eye. "Good to see someone will be here for you."
That had the feeling of a previous conversation, so Julian let it go, instead smiling warmly. "I'm Julian and this is my husband, Alex. Alex knew Geoff first, but Lucas was at my Courtship."
"Oh, I remember that," said Smithson, comfortable being talked to as a person, which made Julian like Lucas even more. "He was disappointed not to win you, but not heartbroken or anything. Just lonely for a while, until he met Dr. Tamlinson, here."
"We introduced them," said Alex proudly. "They were both lonely, and good men who deserved someone good in their lives."
"That they do, sir," said Smithson, very pleased looking. "We've been happy to host Dr. Tamlinson a number of times, though he's refused to move out here. Sir will be allowed to move back to the city soon, however, which I think bodes well for their future."
Julian giggled happily at Geoff's exasperated look, though he was also pink and pleased underneath that. "Don't be sad they want him to keep you, it's much better than the servants wanting to be rid of you."
"Yeah, you're right," said Geoff with a shy grin. "I might let him move me in, once he's in the city, honestly." He began to drift closer to the fireplace, where Julian would be nice and warm, though Julian's temperature issues had mostly been cured nowthat he was getting sufficient food and magic both into his system.
"I know," said Alex, like the brat he was. "You want to nest with him just as badly as Julian and I ever did."
"You'll be happy, and if you're not, you'll come cry on our guest bed awhile." Julian gave him a little half-hug that made Geoff grin.
"I suppose that's true," said Geoff, posting them up by the fire like a good host.
Atop the mantel, in lieu of a painting, there was a huge glass box full of greenery, sticks, and a lounging snake whose violet colour seemed to shift with the light. "Is that an Iridescent Western Viper?" asked Alex, curious as ever.
