"Yes, it's a small miracle," said Geoff. "I swear, he got skinnier there for a while during your Courtship, and there wasn't much to lose."
"You always were a beanpole," teased Lucas. "Terrible for any sort of sport, really."
"My aim is improving these days, anyway," said Alex, just a little dangerously.
The women drifted away, having forgone the treats and used that as an excuse, though no sooner was the server gone, another person approached them.
"Chudleigh, you're hardly mingling," said the woman, Tsukiko Nonami-Finklewick. Her husband, Lord Ronald Nonami-Finklewick, was over with a group of women being apparently charming. The Asian woman didn't appear to care, though of course peerage learned to hide their feelings quite young.
"I'm having a little break with some friends," said Lucas. "Do you know everyone here?"
There followed some introductions, which she seemed as disinterested in as everything else, though Alex politely kissed her hand when presented. "You've chosen so many of us boring married couples, there won't be as much gossip this time."
As Alex had no idea what last time had brought, he kept his mouth shut, though he sent Julian a little burst of confused humour, and got a poke back through the bond that made him smile to himself as he contentedly ate the very good hors d'oeuvres.
"I wanted to celebrate the house, not cause a scandal," chided Lucas, though it was still with the good humour he put into everything. "You'll have fun, anyway, there's at least two people here you can talk pottery with, including Chilcott here."
"Oh? I didn't know you were interested in pottery," said Tsukiko.
"Oh, yes, it's quite a hobby of mine, though mostly English pottery. I do dabble in things from the Far East, but I'mnot nearly so knowledgable there." Whitby looked delighted, however, and Grover amused and resigned.
"Well, we will have to chat later. I'm always happy to discuss my hobby with someone who also enjoys it." She glanced over the party guests and her eyes landed on an unassuming little man. "Jared Walthrop also shares our passion, though he's often too busy climbing ladders to be distracted by cups."
"He won't have too much luck here," said Geoff, amused. "I'm pretty sure our Viscounts are the highest rank at the party, and they hardly care about that sort of thing."
"It's true, the titles were thrust upon us," said Alex dramatically.
Julian poked him through the bond again.
"They don't often come up, honestly. We aren't active in the social set the way some are." Julian looked earnest and sweet, and Alex gave him a poke right back and got effervescent humour in return.
They were all playing a part this weekend, even if the most important bit was as Lucas and Geoff's friends.
"I know them from my work as a doctor," said Geoff cheerfully, watching Tsukiko's eyes flicker and tense at the mention of work, though she relaxed at doctor. The gentry often allowed such people as part of their number, if only for the entertainment value. Not to mention the value of having a doctor on hand should a hunting party go awry.
"Are you often ill?" she asked, eyes hungry for gossip.
"We consult with the Agency, where he's their resident doctor," said Alex. "I'm afraid he's mostly treated me for magical exhaustion and the occasional work-related injury."
"If you weren't so healthy at your baseline, you'd never survive the things you put yourself through," scolded Geoff good-naturedly.
Alex shrugged. "Thus, the food," he said, shoving his last spinach puff in his mouth and crunching it obnoxiously.
Tsukiko actually flinched a little, and Julian poked him to remind him that this was not the right crowd to appreciate him being boorish for fun.
Alex looked sheepish as he finished chewing and swallowed. "Sorry, I'm poorly trained."
Tsukiko sniffed back a little smile. "Perhaps your husband ought to see to that."
"I do what I can," said Julian with a little shrug. "He got a bit feral while he was out being a professional."
Geoff snorted a little laugh at that, and Lucas, too, let out a chuckle. "The training takes time and effort, I've heard," said Geoff.
"You do fine," said Lucas. "You always had perfect manners with me."
"I'm much worse than Geoff," admitted Alex, who was still being amused at the idea of himself as a feral mage.
Geoff sighed. "You're not as bad as you used to be, anyway."
