"We're sorry, we were called away suddenly to see to Miss Winterson, who's awake," said Julian, while Alex continued to pet him.
Horace let out a happy chirrup at that, and then hopped over from Alex to Julian to get a double share of apology pets.
Alex chuckled and crawled back into bed, careful not to upset the tray as he explored it for leftovers. He reheated the remaining tea and split it between their two cups. Julian could barely feel the tiny drain on their magics, which were intertwined intimately now, even more so than usual. Alex drank that down and then ate the last of the petit fours, leaving the two tartlets that were Julian's favourites for his husband.
"We should probably ring for more food," said Alex, staring at the decimated tray.
Julian couldn't help but laugh. "I'd disagree, but I'm still starving," he said. He went over to eat the tarts and tea, and thenflopped with Alex once the tray was set aside on the floor by the door. "Do we even know how to call for more?"
"Good question," said Alex. "I was going to text Lucas and hope he forgave me."
"Good answer," said Julian, curling into him sweetly. "You do that and I'll dial Lapointe for us."
Alex sighed, but agreed to the division of labour and opened his texts.
Julian got out his own phone and dialled up their favourite agent, amused when Thomas answered her phone instead.
"We're in the middle of dinner," said Thomas, "is that okay?"
"It'll be a quick one," said Julian. "First off, Miss Winterson is awake and has stated quite firmly that she doesn't think Smithson did it, which we'd already concluded but was nice of her. Secondly, James and Jacques want to come out tomorrow, so please text them when there's roads fit to be traveled."
"How are they getting there?" asked Thomas. "We'll have baby agents and no room."
"I don't know, maybe they'll call Jones," said Julian. "I should call Jones and see if they have or if he wants to offer."
"Jones can drive well enough even on barely-cleared roads," said Thomas, sounding relieved. "We're trying to avoid clogging them up with accidents before they're even all cleared."
"Fair," said Julian. "Go eat, and we'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," agreed Thomas, ringing off much more politely than Lapointe ever did.
Julian chuckled and then leaned in to kiss his husband. "So, my love, what's the answer for our poor stomachs?"
"After expressing some disbelief, he's agreed to send up a second tray of tea, and also gave me Smithson's number for future requests." Alex sounded smug about that. "He was glad that Winterson's awake, but I think he's still inundated with whiny nobles."
"At least we're politely whiny," said Julian, pulling him in for another kiss. Horace hopped onto Alex's head and started preening his hair, making them both laugh as they pulled apart.
"Feeling neglected, love?" said Alex. He and Julian got properly cuddled up in the bed to wait for their tray, and Julian snuggled Horace in such a way that they could both pet their spoiled bird.
The cats had gone back into their basket for a proper nap again, tired as their humans were because of distance and snow.
Julian was already yearning pathetically for home, so he got out his phone again after a long, quiet cuddle, and texted Alys about James and Jacques coming to visit.
She assured them that the driveway would be clear for them, plows or no, and the rest of the roads were someone else's responsibility.
Alex promised to check that it was safe before leaving.
"Call or text Jones?" said Julian, checking the time and seeing that it was creeping up on six. It felt much later to him, and he was absolutely going to miss out on any festivities such as dancing that Chudleigh could be browbeaten into arranging.
"Let's text, that way he can ignore us if he's driving," said Alex.
They did so, and got a quick answer that the Guardians had already been in contact, and he'd be the one checking on the roads so they need to simply recuperate. They reassured him that Julian hadn't even been poisoned, and Alex was already doing much better, and then tucked their phones away just as another knock sounded at the door.
"If that's not Smithson I may scream," said Alex, as Julian slipped out of bed and went to answer it.
Fortunately it was indeed a second round of tea, some slightly messier examples of the perfect foods of before along with two more pots of tea, one of which Smithson said was mint instead of black tea because the cook insisted.
"Thank you for helping us," said Alex, "especially after we all but accused you of murder."
