31st October, 1890 - Selwyn House, Before the ball

Preparations for the evening’s event were well in hand by the time Ambrosia conducted her afternoon inspection of the ballroom. Downstairs the kitchen staff were following her strict instructions with regards the food, the footmen were being fitted into their costumes for the party, the housemaids were taking great delight in adding cobwebs for once and the strongest of their stableboys were diligently mastering the use of a punting pole while wearing a heavy black cape.

All that was left were her own personal preparations and the orchestra. The former she did not need to attend to for another hour at least which left her standing stock still in the ballroom, arms folded with dwindling patience as she waited for the orchestra to warm up and strike a note that did not set her teeth on edge.

“I asked for the Blue Danube Waltz gentlemen - I trust I am not asking for the moon?” Disdain dripped from her tone but it seemed to produce the required effect and the leader of the band acted with a little more haste: and immediately prompted his violinist to produce another dull note. Rolling her eyes Ambrosia sighed with long-suffering ennui, quite aware that she was no longer alone in the ballroom and also fairly confident that only one person would dare to interrupt her preparations today of all days. “At this rate we may have to open the dancing to the metronome.”

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