I'm glad you could make it here in a Timely fashion. Come in, and sit down. I assure you all will be made clear in a few moments; you were not invited here for Nothing."
A small knot of well-dressed wealthy, silently led by Duchess Wickersham, filed into the snug, yet subtly opulent dining-room, after allowing their overcoats to be taken by the help.
The overcoats were whisked away with scarcely a sound; meanwhile, the men and women all sat down at the long white table. The fire crackled, its warmth gleaming off the gold of every fixture. Before each of the seven places - six for the guests, and one for Duke Arlington at the head of the table - there was a small china saucer, on which rested a teacup. Arlington had put himself in the position of honor at his own gathering, which was thought to be bad form by those present, but the Duke was never conventional; nor was he humble. Nor, for that matter, did they find him in the room.
The guests waited paitiently. The Marquis, Hargrave, glanced at his wife Amelia, who remained still with her hands folded in her lap. There were few reasons to break decorum, she thought, and this had not yet proved to be such an occasion. Arlington wanted them to wait? They would wait.
