question. The second, not the first. Still waiting for an answer on the first.”
“I have no doubt that she did something to incur your ire. Knowing you as I do, I strongly suspect you’re justified in your feelings.”
“I am. Be sure and tell Olivia you like the donuts. She thrives on compliments.”
“I will.”
Lunch at John David’s house was a big success. He was real gentry. The house would’ve been a major tourist attraction if it was on the map and charged admission. The size of the place must have aggravated his feelings of loneliness and I felt sad for him all over again.
There was an oil painting of a person that had to be John David holding the bridle of a dapple-gray jumper. There wasn’t a plaque with a year, but there was no mistaking that the painting was old.
He gave us a tour of the premises and showed us into one of the dining rooms. The table was set for dinner with a head of state. I’d seen why he’d laughed when I’d asked if he had enough place settings. On the tour, between the immense kitchen and various dining rooms was a butler’s pantry the size of a two-car garage. The walls were lined with breakfront cabinets with glass doors that displayed collections of china, crystal, and every manner of silver tray, bowl, platter, and compote.
If someone hadn’t been keeping up with the polishing, he would’ve had to hire a temporary service to get the tarnish off in three days.
Everyone left except Keir and Esmerelda, who were riding with me. Esmerelda had brought along a tote with supplies for sealing the hobknobbit. She laughed when I called it her bag of tricks.
On the way back to Hallow Hill, I said, “I really hope this breaks the ice, finally, for John David. All creatures need to be with others. Well, except for Howard Hughes. But he’s dead. See what happens when you’re alone?” I was babbling, but I wanted Esmerelda’s reassurance and didn’t want to ask for it outright.
“He’s going to be fine,” she said from the backseat. “Magic kind are standoffish. But now we know him.”
I felt relief on John David’s behalf. He was going to be okay.
I fell into a routine that agreed with me so much I felt, in some ways, like life had begun when I’d arrived in Hallow Hill.
After breakfast, I stopped by the shop to see what had arrived overnight. Sometimes pieces were ready for sale. Sometimes they needed refurbishing. In some ways, those were preferable because it added to my sense of purpose. I suppose I’d always liked making things better, for people, for things, but that had gotten lost in the daily grind of trying to keep my ex happy. Dolan was either the genius Maggie had once described or else he used magic to repair things. Either way, there was no arguing with results.
After looking in on the night’s haul, I walked with Lochlan and the wolfdogs, as I’d begun calling them. As fall progressed, I bundled more to remain comfortable even in the crisp breezes encountered at the top of the hill, but Lochlan always seemed comfortable in any clothing, in any weather.
We talked in-depth about the cases I was considering. At times he would tell me about similar situations in the past and how they’d been resolved.
“So, would you consider these precedents?” I asked.
“Certainly, they are precedents, but that’s not to mean that your decision is guided by what’s gone before. Each new magistrate is appropriate for the time. Things change.”
On weekdays, I had people in for lunch. On weekends I had lunch at the pub.
On returning home, I’d nap for a bit and then return to poring over the files.
My original intention, for Keir to be an occasional sleepover guest was forgotten when he walked me home from supper every night and slipped inside before I closed the door.
Sometimes we made love on the rug in front of the fireplace amid briefs spread everywhere. “Watch the glasses! I don’t want to be the first magistrate to soak files with wine.”
Sometimes we made love in the big, beautiful bed. “I used to make fun of people saying stupid stuff in movies like, ‘I wish we could just stay here forever’.”
“But now that doesn’t sound so stupid?” Kier asked. I nodded, my cheek rubbing against his chest where I rested my head. He loved hearing that I enjoyed his company, in and out of bed.