Chandrima had been some ways away down the ballroom, along the wall, when she heard a familiar shout — her father's voice, casting a spell — and saw glimpses of bright light from near the refreshment table. Frightened that something truly horrible might happen, she picked up her skirts and began jogging towards the refreshment table, to find a most startling sight. Rashmika, close to the refreshment table, where among the upturned sweets and spilled glasses of champagne there now lay an unkempt footman, letting out a scream. She would recognize a footman's livery anywhere.

The footman wasn't the only one to scream, but Chandrima went straight to her twin, gently laying her gloved hand on Rashmika's upper arm, just below the hem of the other's glove. "I confess, I'm most confused. What happened?" she asked, unfortunately not as quietly as she would have liked. "Why is there a footman among the champagne and cake?"

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