"I'm happy to see you two supporting each other," corrected Julian pointedly.
Chudleigh gave another tired laugh. "It's fine, I'm growing used to Alex's ways. I know he means well, and it's not like I don't agree."
"I'm glad, too," said Geoff. "I'd hate to be at this party and on the outs with my Lucas."
"The vultures might descend on you both," said Alex. "Well, anyway, we'll go check on Miss Winterson later, she should be awake by the time lunch is over."
"And then what?" asked Chudleigh.
"Mingling and listening for more poison, probably," said Alex, quietly enough that he might not be overheard. "More interviews won't do me any good, I have no idea what happened this time."
"And everyone will have a different tale now that there wasn't a single reliable witness," added Julian. "We know what we saw the first time, but there's no one that was paying attention to the whole affair this time around, not even the victim."
Lucas smirked. "Not going for more alone time with all the young ladies?" he asked.
"Ugh," said Alex.
They were interrupted by lunch, a nice hearty meal of chicken salad sandwiches, warm cheesy potatoes, and green beans with crispy onions. Alex and Julian's plates were piled high, and Geoff had more than Chudleigh this time, the servants having decided that he, too, looked like he needed feeding up.
Alex approved, and dug in. The chicken salad had a simple, creamy dressing, crispy celery, and sweet apples in with generous chunks of chicken, and was delicious presented on thick wheat bread that was still soft and probably this morning's bake. Alex had no idea how they kept producing all this food with the other chaos, but there was plenty for all the guests and, he suspected, the staff as well.
The cheesy potatoes had herbs layered into them that almost reminded him of Alys, though the cheese sauce wasn't as perfectly smooth as she'd have managed. They were nicely browned on top, probably baked after being assembled, and had a wonderfully savoury feel compared to the light sweetness of the chicken salad. The green beans were clearly canned butprobably by the household, and had been cooked and seasoned well before bringing them out for guests.
Alex sighed and took a long drink of the water that was all they had for this meal, feeling like he might survive the afternoon after all.
"They're not going to stop bringing me tea, are they?" asked Alex, after a horrible idea hit him.
"No, no," said Chudleigh, "but it's by request only for now. They'll figure something out for later, I suppose."
"How is Lady Darlington holding up?" asked Julian, after a few moments of everyone eating silently.
"She's hiding in her rooms, mostly. She'll have to stay to speak with the police, but I hear she's had her husbands things packed away so she doesn't have to deal with them," said Chudleigh, eyes distant. "Rowlinson assigned Gracie to attend her for now, so she'll be given food in her rooms."
Conversation died again in favour of food; no one sat next to Geoff, and Julian had Jefferson Smythe-Darbyshire and his wife on his left. They were talking amongst themselves, mostly plans for getting their car to pick them up a day early as far as Alex bothered to listen. He mostly concentrated on eating, the food fresh and enticing to his starving body.
He wasn't sure when he'd grown quite so dependent on the Source for keeping himself going, but he was going to have to work on that. They couldn't be at the house all the time, nor could they rely on not having to work any larger magics while they were away.
Of course, it could also just be the winter, and the snow muffling everything. Not a lot of magic about in nature to be tapped, and the earth slumbering with its own magics buried deep this time of year.
He'd have to talk to Julian about it when they were alone.
"Do you think this lot would play charades at this point, or should I just let them run wild?" asked Chudleigh, looking out over the long table, everyone sat in little groups of friends and talking as much as eating.
"Just ask them," said Julian gently. "And do set up the card tables. You can put them in the ballroom if you have to, since you'll want the parlour clear for the servants to set up tea in a few hours."
"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten," said Chudleigh, brightening. "Everyone here likes some sort of cards, we'll put tables up in the den. That way anyone who wants cards can hide in there, and anyone who wants to gossip can stay in here until it's time to clean up for tea."
"There you are, then," said Geoff, patting Chudleigh's arm.
Alex wrinkled his nose. "They're grown adults, Lucas, you can trust them... well. No, I suppose you can't, can you? Who knows what other mischief our poisoner might get into."
"I wonder why Miss Winterson," said Julian, staring off into the distance. "She wasn't hurting anyone, either."
"Maybe harmlessness offends our murderer's sensibilities," said Geoff with a dark chuckle. "They also hate puppies and babies."
"Who doesn't hate babies," said Alex dryly. "They're all squishy and they smell weird."
"Alex, you're terrible," chided Julian, giving him a poke through their bond again. "You don't mind them once they get old enough to enjoy magic tricks."
