Chapter 2: Deck the Halls

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

The Christmas Eve Ball has been an Excolo Abbey tradition for generations. I know it dates back to at least my great-grandfather's lifetime. Here we welcome all of good local society, and some guests from further afield, to enjoy what is usually a very long and very merry evening. Tomorrow the family will rise late - I expect there may be some sore heads among the gentlemen - and our lunch will be a buffet affair we serve ourselves, to give the servants a rare opportunity to all eat together and enjoy Christmas. That was a custom my father started, and one of the few things he got right at Excolo, I think. Then in the evening we will have our Christmas dinner as usual.

Sylvia and I inspect the arrangements for tonight. The ballroom looks beautiful, decorated in evergreen, and with candles lit it will look very festive indeed. The drawing room is ready, the furniture having been moved to allow the guests to circulate easily. Our staff know exactly how the ball works, and so we've needed to give them little direction. So all I have to worry about is playing host, and to hope that by the time the supper announcement comes we'll also be able to make an announcement about Harry's future.

It's too early to dress, but I end up in my dressing room anyway to seek a few moments of peace. At least I always know what I'll be wearing to these things; I'm sure the girls will be deliberating for hours.