January 3rd, 1895 — Dempsey Estate

Oz wasn't suitably sympathetic to her plight, but Thomasina was sure she could find someone to empathize with her — she just had to go to the place that still felt as if it were her actual home. She took the floo to the parlor after breakfast, and settled in on the chaise, where she made very pleasant small talk for several minutes. It was clear from the look on her face and the slightly-askew nature of her hair that she was here half to complain, and after getting through pleasantries Sina got to the point.

"How does one host," Sina said, leaving her hands on her face, "A tea?"

Between her ball, Lowri's ball, and New Year's festivities — she was significantly over it. If it weren't for Mrs. Ainsworth's help in providing the old list, then Sina didn't think that the invitations would have even made it out. But now her tea was tomorrow, and she was contemplating the depths of her despair.

  

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set by MJ

Nat had already been comfortably situated in the Dempsey family parlor with a book when Mrs. Dempsey had come through. She didn't know Phyri's sister-in-law all that well and she tried to mind her manners when the Minister's wife was around, but the question about hosting a tea caught her completely off guard. Did she look like she would know? If it had been Phyri, that would have been exactly her response, but clearly she couldn't do that.

"Surely your staff knows?" Wasn't that the housekeeper's job? Nat had no idea, she hadn't had household staff of her own in quite some time. Once upon a time, she had thought she would know how to run a home, when it had been her only in goal in life to be a wife and mother, but now, years and a lot of life later, she had all but thought it a fantasy. It had been a long time since she'd even attended a formal tea, but she might be able to dredge up some insights, if needed.

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