October 21st, 1893 - Harvest Festival

Daff felt like the night was flying by and she wasn't sure she was ready for it to be over. Aside from running into Mr. Greengrass earlier, (which had been lovely, even if it still made her a little wistful) she had been running around making sure things were going well. The apple situation had been taken care of, which was a relief at the very least. Leave it to her to somehow mess up a simple charm and earn herself a following!

The dance in the barn had started and Daff was overjoyed by the look of it and that it seemed to be quite crowded. Between the Plunkett boys and her sisters, they'd managed a reel or two that was more akin to what she had experienced with her cousins in Ireland. The cool night air was filled with music and laughter and it was the most normal Daff had felt in a long time. She'd even managed to entice Elias into a dance or two before losing him to something else her mother needed done. He really didn't know what he was getting himself into, did he? At least Mr. Honeyduke seemed to already be used to it, lumbering off as he too was summoned to assist. Daff chuckled as she mouthed an, I'm sorry, as they left.

Thinking a glass of cider would do her some good, Daff made her way over to the refreshments table and poured a cup, sneaking a treat from the table as well. She surveyed the barn with a fond sigh before realizing she was blocking the sweets. "My apologies," she chuckled as she stepped aside. Daff tucked a loose wave of hair behind her ear. "Try those," she pointed to the caramel-covered apple slices. "They're very tasty." Nothing was going to ruin her good mood tonight.

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Evangeline Rowle c/o Henry Berkwood

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   Henry Berkwood

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It had been a rather lovely day out for the family. Evangeline always found she rather enjoyed this sort of event--somehow, the inclusion of all-ages activities made things feel more relaxed, even accounting for the seeming boundless energy that children possessed. She nearly envied them, though she wouldn't have gone back to her own childhood for all the galleons in the world.

The children had quite worn themselves out by early evening, and Evangeline had sent them home with their nanny, expecting that she wouldn't be more than an hour or two behind them. She'd fallen into conversation with an acquaintance, and they'd made their way to the barn to observe the dance when the time came--Evangeline didn't intend to dance herself, but she found she rather enjoyed watching other people dance, so she was enjoying herself all the same.

She had caught sight, at one point, of Elias in the crowd of dancers, and she'd watched him for a couple of minutes, feeling rather nostalgic and blissfully not much else--a product of time and old wounds not being kept fresh by misery, she thought. He was dancing with one of the Misses Potts, she thought, though she didn't know which one. She'd shared a dormitory with a Thistle Potts at Hogwarts and was reasonably familiar with the florist shop in Hogsmeade, but that was about as far as her knowledge went, really. Not that it particularly mattered, of course. Enough time had passed that Eva was well over her heartache, but she'd only ever loved one man in her life so far, she thought it was only natural that she feel curiosity at the sight of him with someone.

Still, when her attention was pulled away again, she didn't really think much more of it. So a few minutes later when Evangeline excused herself to find some refreshments, it was with a little start that she recognized the woman in front of her. "Not at all," she said easily. She reached for the apple slices the woman pointed to, saying, almost casually, "Miss Potts, isn't it? I think I know your sister."

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Set by Bee <3

Daff tried to tuck her hair back from where it was escaping the pins, alyssum falling out with it, but she only managed to at least put it behind her once more. Pleased that other woman took her suggestion, Daff reached for another slice herself, humming in delight. They had already had a wonderful working relationship before Dahlia and Quin had married, but now that he was her brother-in-law, Daff truly felt spoiled for the effort he continued to put into taking care of the sweets for their events. Not to mention he kept coming up with interesting new thing to see in the store in the Alley.

"It's Daffodil, but my friends call me Daffy," she offered, knowing there were several flowers in the Potts bouquet. "I'm afraid I have a few," she chuckled, but rather suspected it was one older than her. Daff didn't recognize the woman before her, rather thought if they had met before she would remember the woman's striking appearance, but nothing came to mind. "Are you enjoying the festivities, Miss..?" She said after she finished her apple slice, taking a sip of cider to wash it down. Technically today was Betty's event, but with the amount of effort Daff had put in to helping decorate, she still felt a little sense of responsibility as a hostess.

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Eva took a bite of her own apple slice--oh, that was rather nice, actually. "I was at school with Miss Thistle," she said. And probably others, though she didn't think she knew any of the other Potts sisters, unless it was in passing. Never mind that it had been a decade since Evangeline left Hogwarts.

"Mrs. Evangeline Rowle," she said, reaching now for a glass of cider. "And the day's been lovely. A nice day to be out with the family, isn't it?"

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Set by Bee <3

Oh Thistle. Maybe Daff would have to ask about Mrs. Rowle later. "Tissy is around somewhere, if you wanted to say hi." Truthfully she'd lost sight of everyone in her family over the last little while. All she knew was that the boys had been sequestered into something heavy and she was told they could handle it. She worried a little bit at what poor Elias has signed up for, but at least Quin was there too, and Senna's husband as well. They could handle it.

"I'm glad to hear that, do you have children?" There weren't many littles running around still, given the later hour, even Ama had sent hers home with the governess a little while ago. "I know Mrs. Plunkett wanted to make sure there was entertainment for them too." Daff rather thought it was a very unsubtle way of telling her boys to get on giving her grandkids. At least her own mother was placated by having a few and now the pressure was on Dahlia.

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Evangeline's expression changed from polite to fond at the thought of her children. "Two," she answered. "They finally wore themselves out not too long ago from all the excitement." Honestly, her children were the one bright spot in what had otherwise been a dark pit of misery. "I imagine it won't be long before I follow them--it's been a long day."

Taking another sip of her drink, Eva asked, "Have you been dancing? It does look like people are enjoying themselves."

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Set by Bee <3

"Oh they'll sleep good tonight," All the fresh air and excitement, Ama had said the same not to long ago. "My niece was yawning as she was being carried off." Wouldn't take much tonight!

Daff nearly stifled a yawn herself, hiding it behind her cider glass. "A long day indeed. Was a late night helping set up everything and I'll be here late again tonight no doubt." It was alright, she was used to it. Though she was sleeping better these days, which helped. "Yes, I love dances like this, much more fun. Less stuffy, messier and nobody cares." It was about having fun, not about precise dance movements and impressing those around you.

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"Well, the effort seems to have been worthwhile," Eva said. "When you do get to bed, you'll know it was a job well done." Eva didn't have much--or any, really--experience with creating any sort of event, so it all seemed very impressive to her. For her part, she appreciated the lack of scrutiny that came with being a guest rather than being the person in charge of making sure things ran smoothly.

"That does sound nicer," Evangeline agreed, sincerely. "I always thought I would enjoy society balls more if they were less stuffy." They had their own merits, of course, but Evangeline had never quite fit with that scene, even if she was supposed to. She'd never been very good at doing what she was supposed to. That might have been the entire problem.

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Set by Bee <3

"That's very kind of you to say," Daff hummed out, pleased as punch. She loved when people had fun. Life was about having fun every once in a while. When Laurel and Betty got together, there was nothing else to be done, either.

Rolling Mrs. Rowle's sentiments over in her head, Daff nodded along. "I'm not for the more upscale parties myself, though I do love to decorate them. The opulence sometimes is overwhelming." Daff had been hired to decorate some wild events in the past. She took a sip of cider and looked around around, wondering if she should go find her mother and save Elias. A few more minutes. He was going to have to get used to it.

"Though this is just as fun, we get to be creative with events like this." Seasonal and unusual blooms were her favorite to work with. The colors and textures were all so different and interesting to put together.

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"That does sound nice," Eva said, sincerely. Honestly, this conversation had gone more pleasantly than she might have expected--if she'd actually had time to anticipate any such thing, of course, which she hadn't. Nonetheless.

"Well," Evangeline said after picking another apple slice. "I'm sure I've kept you from things long enough. It's been nice speaking with you, Miss Potts." She thought she wouldn't last much longer, anyway if she wanted to head home before she was falling asleep on her feet.

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Set by Bee <3

It was nice to know people had a good time at events they planned. After the somewhat disastrous flower show (for multiple reasons) this year, she wanted this one to go right. Fortunately having both her mother and Betty at the helm seemed to keep everything on track.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Rowle, I do hope you enjoy the evening. Thank you so much for coming." Daff gave the other woman one more wide smile. Her one more moment of peace to finish her cider would go unfinished as she noticed Senna's oldest had gotten away from the nanny and was toddling around the edge of the dance floor. "It looks like I've got a toddler to catch!" Auntie mode kicked in and she set the glass down to go scoop up her niece. There was never a dull moment!

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