Today was scheduled to be standard affair. Early inspection, which usually results in one of two members of the unit on report for minor uniform or kit infractions, and in this regard it didn't disappoint, followed by a 12 hour duty shift. I certainly had not been expecting a summons to Colonel Halsteads office shortly after 13:30, neither had I been expecting the hand written wax sealed envelope that was handed to me by his Adjutant, nor that I was to be granted leave to attend the event on the 21st, nor that I was to be granted dispensation to attend Gieves And Hawkes in Savile Row prior to said event to ensure that I was suitably attired in other than dress uniform. I was certainly not expecting to attend the said institution that afternoon at 15:30, nor I was I expecting that my attendance would not be considered optional.
Dismissed from the Colonels office, I made the necessary arrangements due to effective new orders and made my way via a hailed hansom to the nominated establishment on Savile row, opening the letter enroute. I have to admit a considerable degree of shock at its contents. "Duke Salsbury of Haselmere requests your attendance at his suite at the Ritz at 16:00 on 21st March with a view to onward travel to his country estate and attendance at his spring ball. Arrangements have been made at Gieves and Hawkes in Saville row for the supply of suitable attire." What game is afoot I have no idea but since it has been made clear that my attendance is mandatory I have little say in the matter.
I have had the first fitting of the 3 suits that are being made for me today. The first is an Evening Suite for the ball, and the other 2 are less formal, more what a country gentleman would be expected to wear when hunting or shooting. In addition to the suits I am also to be furnished with 2 pairs of shoes and a pair of riding boots. This brings me to the conclusion that my stay may be for slightly longer than for just the attendance at the Spring Ball, although given that we would be travelling to the Dukes Estate for the ball I had been expecting an overnight stay.
I shall use yesterday's date for this entry as I have no idea what the date actually is in this place, nor indeed where this place is.
However, I get ahead of myself in recalling events as they occurred, so I shall return to yesterday afternoon and my arrival at the Ritz.
The Hansom cab duely dropped me in the protico and the commisionaire, arranged for a porter to accompany me with my overnight bag to the suite of the Duke. Knocking I was duely admitted by his man servant. The porter deposited my luggage and departed before the Duke's butler beckoned me to enter the drawing room of the suite. The Duke rose from his chair and crossed the room, offering me his leftt hand. It was at this point I noted that his lower right arm and hand was missing.
Greetings exchanged he then did, what I considered at the time, something most odd. He extracted what appeared to be a playing card from his top pocket and stare at it. After a minute or so the air in front of him appeared to shimmer and some form of doorway materialized. Before I could do more than stammer a question as to the nature of the magic he was undertaking his butler had collected my luggage and stepped through. I was gestured to do the same. There was a significant threat that if I did not do so of my own accord then I would be assisted in doing so.
Stepping through I found myself in some form of large entrance hall. Most of those entering from my right appered to be ladies in evening gowns and gentlemen in evening dress, although some of the youngest ladies appeared to be dressed in little more than slips exposing their legs for all to see. As I was taking in the scene a rainbow doorway shimmered into being a short distance away and a lady I would guess to be my age appeared through it followed by a slightly older lady with red hair and sharp cold looking eyes. The duke greeted her and she in return greeted him. She then introduced her charge, a lady by the name of Isla Jintaro. The Duke introduced me in kind. We were about to make our way into the ballroom, when another doorway shimmered into existance on the other side of the hall way. I have only seen such dress or should I say such scantily clad females in one place, a high class bodello, yet neither of the pair, and they looked of similar age seemed the least bit concearned, although the younger of the two did appear to be slightly nervous. The elder of two greeted the duke and the lady Fiona, and each in turn greeted her. A similar round of introductions, as had happend previously, followed to introduce us to Cordelia, and us to her.
Seemingly forgetting Cordelia, the lady Flora headed in the direction of the ballroom, whilst the duke decided to take a substantial interest in Cordelia, not being the least bit abashed by her dress. The lady Fiona made some remark about the lack of morals, with which Isla concurred, and the pair of them headed for the ballroom. The duke by this time had his arm, and I have to admit to say inappropriately, around the young woman and was likewise steering her into the ballroom. With little else to do I followed Fiona and Isla into the room.
I have to admit it took some time for me to understand the etiquette in operation, and being unable to converse with the majority of those present did not help in the least. In the end I danced with several of the ladies present although most of the dances were unfamiliar to me. I did notice Cordelia on a couple of occasions. On each it appeared that she was not to lacking in dance partners, although towards the latter part of the evening she appeared to be sticking to the company of one gentleman in particular.
So it was that perhaps half an hour ago I chose to retire and was shown to my current quarters. I sit here at a strange writing desk within quarters not knowing what tomorrow will bring or how indeed I am supposed to return home.
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