Private message to Barty

[alt_daphne]

Your elves appear to be spread rather thin down here, I'm afraid! I suppose that's what happens when the party filters out of the ballroom and into other parts of the house. The cooling charms on the edible garden must have worn off sometime this morning, because there's a growing puddle of cream and treacle on the floor. The one elf - what's the name of the one with the over-sized, crooked ears? - is taking to it all by herself, poor thing. Perhaps I ought to call Beesey and Kippy over from Spencer?

Has there been anything in the papers yet? Only I'm not sure I can bear to look. I'm not against criticism as a genera rule, but it can be hard to swallow when it's uncalled for. And as far as I'm concerned everything went off brilliantly, just as I envisioned it.

Have I yet thanked you thoroughly enough for allowing me to Hostess? Oh, and I should write to the Headmaster, too, to thank him for the jewelry.

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

You were brilliant in the role. And the mise en scène was perfect. (The Prophet says as much and rather a lot more. Believe you've got an admirer in Mr Hexsmith. Tell me if he makes a nuisance of himself. Reporters are prone to that. Easy to see he's kept on leash, though, if it comes to it.)

Marlborough looked spectacular. Have never felt much ownership of it, but last evening, saw it in a whole new light. Imagine you could make it feel less like a museum and more like a house if you took it on.

Hungry yet? I think there might be a morsel or two leftover if we were to call for something. Or we could go out.

[alt_crouch_jr]

About the elves...

Leave them to it. They'll manage.

I think that one's called Binty. Winky's the one that came from my family. Has small ears. Not sure how to tell you to know any one of them from the rest. The male is called Null, but that's easy to remember as there's only the one.

Perhaps it's best if we go out for the afternoon. Leave the chaos to right itself in our absence.

[alt_daphne]

Mr Hexsmith? I'll make a note of it. I believe it's useful to keep reporters in good favour, and hopefully he'll be wise enough to remember who I am attached to, first and foremost. If he doesn't, I'm sure someone will remind him.

I thought the same thing when I first saw Spencer House, and to be honest, it's still difficult to think of it as anything but Raz's house. Marlborough is positively crying out to be lived in a little, though. It's rather more severe than Spencer, though not as much as St. James Palace. I've only been in it the once, but all that dark wood, gilt, and blood red walls! I must say that it does very much fit the occupants.

Binty, really? Well, I shan't forget that.

And yes, perhaps we should go out. Do you want to remain in the city or venture further out?

[alt_crouch_jr]

Have just asked Binty to bring a hamper from Myles and Stornish. I think an afternoon in the country's in order. Perhaps the Forest of Dean? We could take brooms up along the Wye. Or just do a bit of walking. Whichever you prefer.

[alt_daphne]

We could do both; walking and flying both provide interesting but distinctly different vantage points, but brooms don't allow for much in the way of closeness.

Let me freshen up and change into something more appropriate here at home - I'll return in a half hour or less.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Less.