Dinner Can Be Quite Lovely

[Regina Lacey]

August 18, 1887

Regina wasn't sure if she would ever be used to dinner parties, but she needed to live the life of a debutant at some point. If not, what was the point of having a season? After all, she was Upper Class. She needed to learn all of these situations. As well as finding adult friends and possibly a future husband. So when getting an invitation to this party, she was eager to attend.

When taking her seat for dinner, she noticed that she was seated next to a handsome man. She wasn't quite sure who was their host, as she had a hard time keeping up with who was who. Perhaps the man sitting besides her was the man that was hosting this dinner. She was far too embarrassed to ask, but did not let it show. She gave him a polite smile.

She knew she would probably have to start any conversation she had with small talk, no matter how awkward that seemed to her. But perhaps they could find something more interesting to talk about than the food. "This dinner is quite lovely, don't you think?" She asked softly.

@'Ulysses Westernra'

  

[Ulysses Westernra]

Uylsses was not, by general opinion, a social man. He wasn’t very good at dancing and so balls held little interest to him, what he did enjoy were dinner parties, and what he enjoyed more than anything else was cooking. Whether it was a side of beef, a leg of lamb, or some other more….exotic meat. There was little else in which he took more pleasure than a well cooked meal, prepared with skill and finesse – both of which the Head of Hogsmeade Hospital considered himself to have.

It was a rare thing, for a gentleman of such distinction and wealth as Mister Westernra to host a dinner party, at which he himself was the chef. The cook was dismissed for the evening, and he, would undertake the preparation of all of the food to be served at the table. While invitations to Mister Westernra’s dinners were much sought after with the food and wine almost assuredly of the highest possible quality and taste, he was generous with the invitations and often invited one choice guest with the general allowance of 4, or 6 seats at the table. Tonight there 10 – it was something of a literary set. The Renaissance man that he was, Uylsses enjoyed a good literary debate with his meals, among many other subjects that he considered aesthetic and cultured. Unlike other hosts who would have seated themselves at the head of the table, Uylsses preferred to sit in the middle, flanked on either side by guests, with his neice and nephew taking the places normally reserved for the master and mistress of the house.

As the first course was served, a Foie gras au torchon with a late harvest of vidal sauce with dried and fresh figs and the guests all tucked in to cries of ‘ohhh and ahhh’ from the length of the table, the young lady next to him spoke. He looked up from his plate, his clear blue eyes trained on her in an appraising fashion. ’thank you’ he remarked simply, ’I do try and appeal to the palettes of all my guests.’ he said with a small smile. He knew the girls name, Miss Regina Lacey, he had had to to make his table plan, Not that he knew who she was. She had come with her guardian, an uncle or some such, a playwright of no real note but who met the ‘theme’ of this evenings dinner. ’Uylsses Westernra’ he said by way of introduction, ’Miss Lacey am I right?’ he confirmed.

  

[Regina Lacey]

The food looked amazing, and Regina was happy to have a chance to eat it. She was used to fancy meals that others of lower status was not, but she always welcomed foods from cooks that she wasn't used to. They always seemed to do things slightly differently. As though they added something new to the same dish, or cooked something a different way.

She didn't know how to feel other than surprise when finding out that she was seated right next to the host. She felt slightly honored by this. She remained calm, despite said excitement, but the feeling was there. "Well, you have done an excellent job." She said, a kindness in the tone of her voice.

It was obvious that she didn't know this family that well. He was a... Healer, yes? No. No, not that. He was the... Hospital Director! That's it. She wished that she could remember that more easily, as it would make conversation with others much less awkward. "You are correct. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Westernra." She replied. Perhaps this dinner would go quite well?

@'Ulysses Westernra'