hurry with those, ” I say curtly.
She turns and hands me a blini. “This one is for you to try, Mrs. Dove.”
Taken aback by her consideration, I pop the salmon treat in my mouth and savour the horseradish and crème fraiche. “It’s delicious, Scarlett. Thank you. Please bring them through.”
There are so many new faces, all hidden by the façade of a mask. Sebastian is the perfect host. Introductions are concise and jovial and, on the whole, our guests are delightful. I’m so very weary and nervous, but try extremely hard to remember names and to ensure the waiting staff top up glasses and serve canapés. Marcus and Becky arrive late, blustering in with profuse apologies. Their son Theo’s jaw drops when he spies Bella, and the two are immediately inseparable.
“Dinner is served. Please make your way through to the great hall. Masks may be removed for dinner, ” our butler-for-the-night announces at eight-thirty. The gaggle of guests moves slowly to take their places at the expansive dining table, where white butterfly name cards indicate where they should sit. Sebastian and I take our seats last. I’m feeling tipsy already, regretting the second glass of champagne, and I pull the tablecloth accidentally when I sit. Thankfully nothing spills and nobody notices, except Sebastian who places a reassuring hand on my knee.
“Don’t drink too much, ” he warns sternly.
I roll my eyes at him in exasperation.
“Did you roll your eyes? ” he hisses, a smirk playing on his lips.
“I may have inadvertently done so, ” I confess.
“I may have to inadvertently slap the eye rolling from your pretty face, then. Later. ”
The threat makes me wet with anticipation.
The man seated to my left is telling a tediously unfunny joke to which I laugh politely and slightly too vociferously. Ruth, seated to his left, is then subjected to endless dreary tales and I can hear her sigh, poor Ruth. Meanwhile, Sebastian captivates the table with light conversation and stories about his ancestors whom, by all accounts, were a colourful if debauched lot. I’m smiling to myself. I see where you get your own kinkery from .
“Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for a toast to the birthday girl herself. Happy birthday, Elizabeth. ” The butler urges everyone to their feet and the whole room raises a glass and sings a very out of tune version of ‘Happy Birthday ’ to which I blush hotly.
“Speech, ” they all cry in unison.
“Say something, darling, ” Sebastian prompts as everyone sits.
“No, ” I whisper. “I can’t. You do it. ” Taking a long gulp of white wine, I try to make myself very small in my chair, hoping the attention will move away from me, but Marcus pings his crystal wine glass with his fork impatiently. Sebastian glares at me, urging me to address the room.
Oh crap. How embarrassing. Whoa, I’m dizzy . Standing shakily, I take another glug of wine to steady my nerves and the room falls silent. All eyes are upon me expectantly, except Bella who is staring into Theo’s eyes as he whispers something to her.
“I don’t know you all, ” I start, hesitantly. “But Sebastian has told me a great deal about many of you.”
“It’s not true! ” a man heckles loudly.
“I’m just so grateful to you all for coming this evening. I hope, in time, to get to know you all properly.”
The tiny silver stag on the candelabra steps down from his mount and leaps gracefully across the table, landing in a lady’s lap. I’m transfixed watching the shiny creature prance about while the lady seems unaware of it. I’m so very grateful that the stag has once again graced me with its beautiful display that I’m rendered speechless. All I can do is to watch in awe.
“Elizabeth. ” Sebastian’s voice startles the stag; it stands stock still, sniffing the air, ears pricked forward.
“Uh, I was saying…sorry, thank you for the gifts that you’ve so generously given me and I’ll try to write to
She turns and hands me a blini. “This one is for you to try, Mrs. Dove.”
Taken aback by her consideration, I pop the salmon treat in my mouth and savour the horseradish and crème fraiche. “It’s delicious, Scarlett. Thank you. Please bring them through.”
There are so many new faces, all hidden by the façade of a mask. Sebastian is the perfect host. Introductions are concise and jovial and, on the whole, our guests are delightful. I’m so very weary and nervous, but try extremely hard to remember names and to ensure the waiting staff top up glasses and serve canapés. Marcus and Becky arrive late, blustering in with profuse apologies. Their son Theo’s jaw drops when he spies Bella, and the two are immediately inseparable.
“Dinner is served. Please make your way through to the great hall. Masks may be removed for dinner, ” our butler-for-the-night announces at eight-thirty. The gaggle of guests moves slowly to take their places at the expansive dining table, where white butterfly name cards indicate where they should sit. Sebastian and I take our seats last. I’m feeling tipsy already, regretting the second glass of champagne, and I pull the tablecloth accidentally when I sit. Thankfully nothing spills and nobody notices, except Sebastian who places a reassuring hand on my knee.
“Don’t drink too much, ” he warns sternly.
I roll my eyes at him in exasperation.
“Did you roll your eyes? ” he hisses, a smirk playing on his lips.
“I may have inadvertently done so, ” I confess.
“I may have to inadvertently slap the eye rolling from your pretty face, then. Later. ”
The threat makes me wet with anticipation.
The man seated to my left is telling a tediously unfunny joke to which I laugh politely and slightly too vociferously. Ruth, seated to his left, is then subjected to endless dreary tales and I can hear her sigh, poor Ruth. Meanwhile, Sebastian captivates the table with light conversation and stories about his ancestors whom, by all accounts, were a colourful if debauched lot. I’m smiling to myself. I see where you get your own kinkery from .
“Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for a toast to the birthday girl herself. Happy birthday, Elizabeth. ” The butler urges everyone to their feet and the whole room raises a glass and sings a very out of tune version of ‘Happy Birthday ’ to which I blush hotly.
“Speech, ” they all cry in unison.
“Say something, darling, ” Sebastian prompts as everyone sits.
“No, ” I whisper. “I can’t. You do it. ” Taking a long gulp of white wine, I try to make myself very small in my chair, hoping the attention will move away from me, but Marcus pings his crystal wine glass with his fork impatiently. Sebastian glares at me, urging me to address the room.
Oh crap. How embarrassing. Whoa, I’m dizzy . Standing shakily, I take another glug of wine to steady my nerves and the room falls silent. All eyes are upon me expectantly, except Bella who is staring into Theo’s eyes as he whispers something to her.
“I don’t know you all, ” I start, hesitantly. “But Sebastian has told me a great deal about many of you.”
“It’s not true! ” a man heckles loudly.
“I’m just so grateful to you all for coming this evening. I hope, in time, to get to know you all properly.”
The tiny silver stag on the candelabra steps down from his mount and leaps gracefully across the table, landing in a lady’s lap. I’m transfixed watching the shiny creature prance about while the lady seems unaware of it. I’m so very grateful that the stag has once again graced me with its beautiful display that I’m rendered speechless. All I can do is to watch in awe.
“Elizabeth. ” Sebastian’s voice startles the stag; it stands stock still, sniffing the air, ears pricked forward.
“Uh, I was saying…sorry, thank you for the gifts that you’ve so generously given me and I’ll try to write to
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