by Amy Crook
"Thank you," he said to the waiter, taking a curious sip of his own champagne. It was, expectedly, very good quality, and tickled his nose pleasantly, but he didn't want to drink too much on an empty stomach.
He ate one of the warm quiches, which were just one big bite or two small ones, defiantly choosing the former option. His mother was just sitting up to disapprove when someone approached the table that put James and Jacques on full alert.
"Benedict, how surprising to see you in properly fashionable attire," said Willoughby, standing a pace back from the table in deference to the scowling Guardians. "And who is this lovely young lady, one of your sisters?"
Alex just barely managed not to roll his eyes when his mother giggled and put out a hand. "Lady Philomena Benedict, his mother," she said.
Willoughby stepped forward to kiss her hand politely. "Charmed."
"Mother and I were discussing the Courtship, of course," said Alex. "How are you faring with your scheduling difficulties?" One of the things that Alex had found out during his gossip session with Flora was that Willoughby really was inundated with relatives, all of whom wanted a piece of his time and to be seen supporting the Courtship. Ironically, they were constantly interfering with his schedule, which everyone felt was hurting the man's chances at making it another round, despite his early favourable position.
"Julian is very kind about it. I'm here now with my cousins," replied Willoughby, gesturing to a table in the middle that was overflowing with laughter and fashionable people, half a dozen at least having the same champagne brunch as most of the people present, though theirs had a bit more variety due to the size of their party. "They were meant to leave yesterday, but then Mina wanted to see the symphony tonight, and so they've delayed their departure... Again."
Alex felt a stab of sympathy for the man, glancing over at his mother. "Well, hopefully they've at least had some good advice for you."
"They've all had advice, anyway," said Willoughby, charmingly wry with just the sort of 'we're all in it together' charm that Alex had never mastered at school or since. "I won't intrude any further, but it seemed rude not to stop by."
"And size up the competition," said Alex, but he was smiling as he said it. "I'll be seeing you soon enough, anyway."
"Very soon," said Willoughby, and something about the way he said it made the hairs stand up on Alex's neck. Unfortunately, it was too loud and crowded with magic in the restaurant for Alex to hear much of anything and be sure it was coming from Willoughby, especially once the man rejoined his family.
"Well, he was quite charming," said Mother. "One of the other top contenders, as I recall, too."
"Yes, the one who isn't dead," said Alex, heartily tired of the entire conversation. "One of the reasons I'm under the protection of the Guardians, as you recall."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," she said, nibbling at her food.
Alex snorted. "Yes, Mother," he replied, not at all repentant about the snark in his tone this time. He also shamelessly ate about two-thirds of the little quiches, then took the last croissant as well. If she wanted more, she could always order it.
"You do have an enviable metabolism," she said instead, sipping her tea and apparently content with a bit of fruit and bread, for the most part, though she did claim a few of the quiches.
Alex chuckled. "Magic burns calories," he said, just to watch her wince. His brothers and sisters had grown used to his magical talents, but his mother never quite warmed to the idea of her baby boy as a common working mage.
That actually gave him a few minutes of blessed quiet while they both ate, his mother going through two more glasses of champagne with the rest of her food, and Alex refusing a refill, instead concentrating on coffee and water. Once their dishes were taken and they were both left just with their drinks, Alex smiled at his mother with what he hoped looked sincere.
"Did you have a suggestion for my next gift, Mother?" he asked. "I can't stay out all afternoon shopping, I'm supposed to be resting my leg."
His mother pouted, but she seemed to have realised already that she'd gotten about as much cooperation as she was going to get out of her black sheep son. "I thought you should get him something romantic," she said. "Saveur might do something custom for you, especially if you mention it's for the Courtship."
"I'm sure he's been inundated with sweets," said Alex, though the idea had some merit. He knew Julian liked warm things, and he remembered the cider on the sideboard, probably made from estate-grown apples. "Although, maybe something from the Benedict estate... What's been exceptional the past few years?"
"Oh, the pears are all that's in season now, but they are exquisite," she replied. "You could have Victor send some to the chocolatier to make you something special?"
Alex chuckled. "Yes, all right, I'll arrange it," he said, texting Victor a request to load Jones up with some pears on Monday. He was pleased when Victor texted back a few other suggestions, and Alex agreed to all of them. A small variety of House Benedict sweets would be just the thing to follow up Jacques' Opera cake. "Thank you, Mother," he said, and this time he really meant it.
She preened, and paid the check while someone sent for the coats. "I'm going to stay downtown shopping, I'll have Bradford drop me off at the couturier and take you home, I need a few new things now that it's growing cold."
"You always keep to the height of fashion," said Alex, his Mother on one arm and cane in the other hand as they made their way back out of the restaurant. It was a bit absurd, but he felt better buttoned up in his coat, most of the awful blue suit hidden under warm black cashmere.
"And you always ignore it," she replied, but it was almost bantering.
They went through the dance with the Guardians and the car, and then they were off and there was just the usual goodbyes to endure before she left them to it. Bradford left the partition up as they drove back to Alex's flat, which was a relief to both of them, Alex was sure.
"So, that's your mother," said James.
Alex laughed. "Yes, that is my mother."
Jacques had a look of faint disbelief on his face, as though he wasn't quite sure she'd been real, but he laughed with them when James said, "Well, I can see where you got your flair for the dramatic."
CHAPTER 24
In Which More Clues are Found and Chocolate is Consumed
Alex was very happy to be back home and back in his pyjamas, choosing a pair in black silk to help blot out all the awful blue. He even put away all his accessories, the still-pristine cravat hung up to get the wrinkles out and the ridiculous yellow diamonds away in his jewel-safe. He flopped onto the sofa with a sigh. "You guys are wonderful, I can't believe you didn't laugh at that suit."
"It's very fashionable," said James, face mostly straight.
"The blue really brings out your eyes," said Jacques, cracking up at the end and taking James with him.
"Ah, you were just saving it for when we were alone. I see now," said Alex. "I suppose this means you don't want your own share of Benedict pears, fresh herbs and cheeses to cook with?"
Jacques sat up and looked eager. "Really?"
Alex grinned, "Yes, really, I told Victor you were a bit of a gourmet and he's sending over a whole box of stuff from the estate."
"Did you get ahold of anyone at Saveur?" asked James curiously.
"I didn't yet, I thought I'd call tomorrow once we had the stuff. The head chef or whoever isn't likely to be in on Sunday." Alex lay himself out over the sofa, feeling worn thin from his mother's visit.
Jacques got up and went into the kitchen. "You need more food," he said, "and I want drinking chocolate to make up for having to deal with that crowd."
"What was up with Willoughby, anyway?" asked Alex. "Was he really harmless?"
"Seemed like it," said James. "He didn't try to plant anything on or take anything from your mother, anyway."
"He was sizing us up, though, wondering if I was going to let her take over my Courtship and if that would be good or bad
for him," said Alex wryly. Then he called out to Jacques, "Thank you for whatever you're doing in there!"
Jacques laughed. "You're welcome, I'm making you a bacon sandwich and we're going to have cake and chocolate and be decadent."
Alex was completely fine with that plan, though he did find a blanket to snuggle under. "More gin, or something else?"
James grinned. "More gun cleaning, I only got one of them done."
"You promised to do mine, too," said Jacques, coming back out to hand the weapons in question over. "You did all the knives, though, right?"
"Everything but the guns, you know I like to save them for last." James took them and pulled out the cleaning kit he'd hidden under the table, unrolling it in a practiced motion.
For a moment they really did seem more like lovers than partners, their closeness and mingled magics giving Alex a twinge of envy he wasn't used to having. He wouldn't have the same sort of partner in Julian, but he'd have something else, someone to support and care for him while he protected and supported them right back.
Which, he supposed, was an awful like what James and Jacques had, after all.
Just with more kissing.
~ ~ ~
The next morning, Jones arrived with a trunk full of the bounty of the Benedict lands, pears and apples and some late berries, honey and cheese and herbs, vegetables and even some things that were already made like preserves and canned summer peaches. "Mr. Benedict seemed to feel your interest in the family needed ample rewarding," said Jones dryly, setting a fourth wooden crate on the now-full kitchen table.
Alex chuckled, watching Jacques poke through the boxes with absolute delight. "I do feel rewarded, though I'm not sure what to do with this," he said, holding up a jar containing an irritated-looking butterfly fairy.
It made a face at him and sulked.
"I don't know that it would do well here in the city," said James. "Perhaps if you took it out to the St. Albans estate, it would enjoy Julian's fairy flowers?"
"Oh, I bet so," said Alex. He whistled a little tune to get the fairy's attention. "I know where there's a window-box with fairy flowers, are you interested?"
The fairy looked skeptical, then nodded.
Alex nodded back. "I'll make the arrangements, but it might be a day or two, how can I make you more comfortable?"
It huffed and sulked, then poked at the walls of the jar, which was rather close quarters even for the small creature.
"Ah, yes, I'll see what I can do. Milk and honey as well, I presume?" he asked politely. Butterfly fairies didn't make bargains the way the more complex fae did, but they were known to bring good or bad luck to a household, depending on their treatment.
It perked up at that, and Alex grinned. "Will do," he promised, setting the jar on the counter. "You guys figure out what to do with all this, I'm going to go see if I still have that butterfly cage."
"I've never seen one like this, looking like a small person," said Jones, leaning down to peer in the jar.
"Alex's wards force it to abandon its glamour and show its true form," James explained as Alex wandered to his work room. Alex had almost just left the thing outside to fend for itself, but he had a feeling the big city wasn't all the fairy might hope for and he'd have felt guilty if it died. He texted Julian, then unlocked his work room and slipped inside, closing the door after him for a moment of peace and quiet.
The charmed brass butterfly cage was right where Alex remembered it, and he took down the last pot of fairy flowers he'd meant to use in a spell and put them in the cage with a bit of water. Then he sat down in his reading chair and just breathed in the solitude for a short bit of meditation, grounding himself and trying to let go of all the tension that was still coiling through him from his mother's visit. He hated relying on the family for anything, and he was starting to feel like each day pushed him further into their debt. He let that go as much as he could, and he was feeling on a more even keel by the time he limped back out, glad his door was merely spell-locked so he didn't have to fumble with keys, cane and cage.
They'd managed to find places for most of the food and Jacques was making them a little treat of glazed pears to go with their tea, plus cheese and bread from the estate. The little fairy had a mint-leaf coated in honey in its jar now, and it lit up when it saw the flowers in the cage.
"All right, in you go, and if you try to fly away I'll let the wards push you out into the city," said Alex. He opened the cage door, then the jar, and was relieved when the fairy flew from one to the other in as straight a line as any butterfly might manage. Alex closed the door, and smiled softly to see the fairy settled happily in the plant, smiling as it nibbled at its sweet treat.
"If we could bring another one, it might be happy just like that," commented Jones. "I think it'd get lonely by itself, though."
Alex chuckled, sitting and accepting a cup of tea from James with thanks. "I'm not sure I could keep the plant alive that long, though I suppose I could make another of those green thumb charms. I actually got this one for ingredients, though, it would need to be properly re-potted and whatnot."
"You can always offer," said Jacques. He was just serving up four dishes of the pears, and Alex busied himself getting some bread and cheese to keep from watching like a hungry dog after bacon.
Jacques took pity and gave Alex the first serving anyway, and Alex laughed. "Not fooling anyone, I guess," he said, spooning up a bit of soft pear in spiced caramel sauce. He blew on it to cool the sugar, and then took a little taste when he couldn't resist another second. "Oh, my," he said, breathing in through his mouth to cool the delicious sweet just a little more. "You are a god among men, Jacques."
They all laughed, and after a bit more judicious cooling there were compliments all around. Alex took a moment to make up a saucer containing milk, more honey, and a little slice of the sweet-glazed pear and put it in the cage for the fairy, who was curled up looking almost drunk on sugar already. It giggled and fluttered down to perch on the edge of the saucer and slurp at the cool milk, wings gently opening and closing.
"I wonder if I should keep you," said Alex softly, but the fairy was too busy drinking to respond.
Alex went back to his treat, and they left soon after, feeling properly fortified for his morning PT. There was a small box of food in the trunk, including a tiny cooler of soft cheese, all ready to go to Saveur and their afternoon appointment with the chef. Alex had called earlier, and been given every assurance that his custom was most welcome indeed.
"It's weird, being back to using my posh privilege to get my way instead of just annoying people until they give in," said Alex, idly toying with his cane.
James laughed. "Now you have to find other excuses to annoy people," he teased, though he kept his eyes on the outside of the car. It had been quiet for too many days, and they were all starting to get paranoid about the next attack.
Physical therapy went as it always did, painfully and exhausting both physical and magical resources, with a terrible-tasting potion at the end washed down by vending-machine tea that wasn't actually all that much better. The one good thing was that the ache today felt more muscular than injury-related, and the doctor assured him that he would be back to full form in another week, as long as he didn't strain anything.
"All right, where do we want lunch?" asked Alex, feeling a bit pathetic as he curled up in the back of the car.
"Didn't you promise to meet Lapointe and Smedley to talk about the case?" asked Jacques pointedly.
Alex sighed. "Yes, all right. Onward to the Agency, Jones!"
"You're tired today, more than usual," said James, giving him a worried look.
"Mother is a very draining experience," said Alex with a wry chuckle. "It always takes me a bit to remind myself that the person in life I need to not disappoint is myself, and I happen to be quite fond of me just as I am."
"All that doubt is hard on the system," said Jacques quietly.
Somehow, Alex knew that he was speaking from
experience, and that made it easier to respond with a smile. "And now you've got a life partner and a very noble purpose, and at least a few friends outside of the Temple circle."
"At least one," said Jacques with a shy smile.
"Oi, at least two!" protested Jones.
This time the laughter really did lift Alex's spirits, and he even managed a smile for the waitress when they made it into the diner with Lapointe and Smedley in tow.
"We were gonna go visit Geoff after this," said Lapointe. "He's at home on bed rest for a few more days, recovering from blood loss and magic exhaustion."
"I think we can all fit in the back of the car," said Alex. "But I've got an appointment at Saveur at two, so we'll have to eat fast and talk about the case on the way."
"Why do you have an appointment with the city's poshest chocolatier?" asked Lapointe.
Alex chuckled. "Why else? Courtship. Why, did you want to come along and get some free samples, Murielle?"
"Well..." Her grin rather gave her away, and the boys all laughed. "If it's not too much trouble."
"Easier to drag you along than not," said Jones, "Otherwise I'll have to drop them off, bring you back here, then go back for them and hope I don't get caught in traffic."
"Does this mean I'm now being roped into chocolate-tasting?" asked Smedley, totally failing to sound put-upon.
"You'll survive somehow," said Alex. Their waitress came and got their orders, which caused a flurry of embarrassed looking at menus. Alex's was easy since he got the same couple of things every time, and he ordered while the rest of them hastily decided on food.
"Coffee all around, I presume?" asked the waitress, scribbling a few more details on her pad.
"Yes, please," said Jones, giving her a shy smile.
She actually smiled back this time, then chuckled and said to Alex, "I saw you in the paper, doing that fancy Courtship thing for that lad."
