Consulting Magic Series by Crook Amy

Consulting Magic Series by Crook Amy

Author:Crook, Amy [Crook, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Steampunk
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter 28

In Which Dances Are Danced and a Decision is Made Rather Publicly

As predicted, Julian didn’t try to kiss under the falcon’s beak, and his second set of dances ended with another unhappy Suitor stomping off to the bar. It wasn’t polite to approach him while he was resting with Emmeline, but Alex saw him pull out his phone and show Emmeline. He just hoped it was Jacques’ message and not just gossip sites they were sharing.

Alex ran through the list of Suitors-cum-suspects in his head again, and then let the crowd meander him over toward Archibald Cruther, the cheerful hedgehog. “I’m having a hard enough time not poking anyone with my outfit, you must be going crazy,” said Alex casually.

Cruther laughed, but it was light and happy. “Oh, yes, I’ve had a couple of ladies complain I’ve snagged their dresses,” he said. “Still waiting on your dance, I see.”

Alex chuckled, passing his empty drink off to a waiter and then casually hooking his hand into the pocket with the watch fob. “He’s worth the wait,” said Alex, glancing out to the dance floor so his unfocused expression wouldn’t be too suspicious.

“That he is,” said Cruther, and this time there was a soft quality to his tone that reminded Alex that he wasn’t the only one who might have grown fond of Julian.

Alex shoved the thought away and hummed a soft little note under his breath, letting that and the charm bring Cruther’s magic into focus, but the man had little to hide. His personal magic was quiet and simple, and Alex thought he was perhaps the most un-magical person Alex had ever bothered to listen to. They stood together a moment longer watching Julian with his sister, then drifted apart by mutual consent, neither allies nor enemies.

Alex found himself over with Whitby Chilcott again, and his smile was genuine as he said, “You know, you’ve got an admirer of your own.”

Chilcott blinked, then cocked his head. “I do?” he asked, looking around as if the person in question would suddenly appear.

Alex grinned. “You do, one of our fellows with hopes of being a consort rather than master.”

“Barnes?” said Chilcott, though the tone wasn’t so much shocked as intrigued. “How do you know he fancies me?”

“He told me so,” said Alex. “He’s quite relieved to be done with the Courting business tonight, one way or the other.”

Chilcott’s eyes had found Barnes and his sparkling fountain, where he was talking to Willoughby around the other side of the dance floor. “I shall keep that in mind, should I fail to win our Julian.”

Alex smiled, enjoying the feeling of playing matchmaker, a position he was rarely in. “He seems quite clever, in his way.”

Chilcott chuckled, “Yes, I was sitting closer to him at dinner than you were, we talked a bit. Though of course he was still pretending to Court Julian then.”

“He seems happier now that he can stop with all that,” said Alex. “Perhaps you two can chat while we wait for our turn with Julian.



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