Isabelle
Snow carpeted the Aswold Estate, it would be the grand new home of Reginald and Margaret Aswold after their nuptials.
For now it was still his Great Aunt Edna’s estate, and she decided to host a “Holiday Passing” Party. It was the first of it’s kind. The guest arrived to stay on the estate for ten days total. The party began two days before Christmas at dawn, and ended at midnight on New Years day. The guest had separate rooms, or married couples shared a room. Holiday treats were available day or night, holiday feasts were served in place of proper meals. Games and activities were planned for each day, with Christmas day being a day of gift giving and rest. The Grand Finale was the New Years party, to which every detail was kept hushed.
The first of it’s kind party was meant to symbolize the principles on which Reginald and Margaret were building their marriage. They planned to do things no one had ever done within the city and counties. They would start businesses no one had thought of, and employ thousands.
Margaret insisted Isabelle be invited, while Reginald would off handily mention Charles at every dining conversation about the party.
Edna Azwold was obliged to Margaret’s comfort and agreed to Isabelle without hesitation. She was however skeptical of her nephews interest in Charles, who was after all, only a Duke. Never the less she ended up inviting him in the end, curiosity got the better of her when her questions were continuously eluded.
The first night of the party Isabelle and Margaret stayed in the Ladies Parlor. The room was done in a sugar frosting pink, to resemble the sweets it had to offer. Sweet petit fours, tarts, and seasonal fruits were served in this room. The teas to drink were all of sweet fruits and spices. A harpist played in the far corner round the clock, rotating out every four hours.
“Reginald has a surprise for you.” Margaret sat with Isabelle on the love seat. “He was finally able to convince his Great Aunt to invite Charles!”
Isabelle sat up straight in shock, “What will people say!” she gasped.
“It’s a party.” Margaret took a sip of warm raspberry tea.
“A rather progressive party!” Isabelle was shocked she’d been conned in to this tom foolery. “Had I known that…”
“You wouldn’t have come.” Margaret teased her friend. “I know, and Reginald’s Great Aunt certainly wouldn’t have invited him.” she giggled mischievously.
“You’re quite mad.” Isabelle scolded her friend and began to pout.
“Oh!” Margaret pulled on her friend in a playful manner. “Come now, it isn’t as bad as all that. What can happen? Every moment of this party is chaperoned, in one form or another. Every event has someone in charge, every room is filled with servants. You must be a little mischievous if you want to catch the eye of your mate.”
“That’s all fine and well for you, Margaret.” Isabelle continued to pout.
“Look at it this way, you’ve both been tricked into spending time here together then. You will at least have that in common. You two can conspire together about how you will get even with Reginald and I for making you pawns in our evil plan.”
Isabelle giggled at her friend, how could she ever stay mad at her. She was only trying to help, and she was a great help indeed…. if you thought about it like that.