Julian kissed his hair and sighed. "We've just got to be smartest."
Chapter 18
The parlour was chaos when they all got downstairs, everyone's clothing restored to rights and Miss Alice set to watching over Winterson for now. Her pulse had stayed strong and steady for ten minutes, enough for Geoff to feel comfortable that she was unlikely to crash again.
Thus, it was the three of them that arrived to find everyone talking over everyone else, demanding fresh cups, and generally driving poor Chudleigh to the brink.
"She's going to be all right," said Geoff, coming over to where Chudleigh was beset by both servants and guests. "Alex and Julian helped."
"I guess all that help I've been doing at hospitals and with healing potions has sunk in," said Alex wryly. "Julian identified the poison, it wasn't the snake again, thankfully."
"It wasn't?" said Chudleigh, relieved.
"Magical baneberry," said Julian. "Not rare, but not common, either. Someone must've come prepared."
"We haven't got any on the grounds, anyway," said the butler, Rowlinson. "Not that anyone could get outside, anyway. The doors are still blocked by snow."
"Will we be able to fix that for tomorrow?" asked Chudleigh, ignoring the nobles trying to get his attention for now and focusing on the practical.
"Yes, once luncheon is served we'll have the manpower. They've already gotten paths out to the animals, too, and we haven't lost a single chicken." Rowlinson looked very pleased with himself about that.
"I'll let you get back to work, then." Chudleigh relaxed a little more. "Rowlinson can handle everything work-related for now," he added, looking at the two other servants waiting for his attention.
They nodded and all three moved off, heads together, while Chudleigh finally turned his attention to the other nobles.
Alex let Julian tug him away to an unoccupied corner with two chairs, leaving Geoff to support his boyfriend while they made their escape.
"That is so many demands," said Alex tiredly, tucking his feet between and around Julian's so their legs twined together. It was probably rude of them to be so cosy in public, but he didn't even care just then. "I'm going to expire before lunch at this rate."
"You will not, Geoff would never let you," teased Julian, shifting until they were comfortably ensconced. "We'll just hide here until food, and not worry about all the other panic."
Chudleigh got the room's attention and announced, "Lady Winterson will live, thanks to the help of our good doctor." He wisely didn't mention Alex and Julian's part in it, especially given that they were investigating as well. "Luncheon will beserved in the dining room in ten minutes or so, if you could all move there."
Alex and Julian waited until the room was mostly empty to join them, watching as people filed out in twos and fours, gossiping all the while.
"I have literally no idea which of the five remaining suspects it could be," said Alex tiredly. "Wait, four if Smithson wasn't in here."
"He was not," said a voice to Alex's elbow, which turned out to be Rowlinson. "You are my two hearty eaters, correct?"
"That's us," said Alex. "Even more so now that we've done more magic."
"I'll lead you to your seats, then, if no one's taken them." Rowlinson stepped ahead, clearly expecting them to follow, which Alex did eagerly now that he had direction and the promise of a nice big meal.
Julian followed, sending him amusement over his hunger, with an underlying feeling of Julian's own hunger to go with it. They were sat to the left of the head of the table where no one had yet dared, with Geoff and Chudleigh settling into their spots, too.
"It seems like everything starting to calm down?" Julian inquired politely, and Alex took note of Chudleigh's drawn face and the bags under his eyes. He'd likely been up late dealing with everything from buried chickens to downed phones.
"Now that she's not another death, yes," said Chudleigh tiredly. "The household is adapting admirably. I'll have to arrange bonuses for everyone."
"They'll have earned them," agreed Alex.
"I'm just glad I came now," said Geoff. "I was going to try to find an excuse not to, sorry, love, but there's just so many snotty comments one man can take."
Lucas chuckled. "I'm glad you're here, and not just for the medical emergencies," he said, twining their fingers together and kissing the back of Geoff's hand. "You've been a rock."
"I'm glad this isn't putting a wedge between you two," said Alex, and Julian elbowed him mentally.
Alex poked back guiltily.
