Reception in honour of Lady Eraine, Duchess of Cornwall

My dear friends and colleagues, it is a great honour for me to invite you to celebrate with a party the second mandate of Her Grace Eraine, the Duchess of Cornwall. Please join us for an evening of cheering and entertainement.

Sir Nikos gave the last orders to the kitchen and the butlers to ensure the evening was well organised and got dressed in his best clothes getting ready for the reception and the arrival of the many honourable guests invited.

My dear friend Nikos,

It is a great pleasure to be your guest again in your castle for a reception among friends and diplomats who have the honour to know you. I have arrived slightly earlier to have some time to refresh my self in the apartment you have kindly put and my disposal and to be ready to receive the various notable guests that no doubt will start arriving here in the Ball Room. Just give me some time to get ready, dress up and will be here at your side.

Eraine arrives at the lovely home of Lord Tavistock a little earlier than she anticipated. She takes a moment to smooth her long skirt, and then presents herself to the butler.

"Greetings, I am Eraine, Lady of Dunkeswell Abbey and Countess of Cornwall. I believe I am expected this evening."

The butler of Exeter House welcomes Lady Eraine and ceremoniously enters the Ball Room to announce the arrival of the main guest to Lord Tavistock and Lady Mary.

Your Grace,

You are indeed expected as guest of honour at this reception in my castle and I am so pleased to have your presence here, along with my dear friend from Scotland, Lady Mary Guelders. Your Grace is perfectly on time to receive the rest of the guest which will primarily represent the diplomatic corp accredited from French counties. They will be delighted to be introduced to Your Grace. In the meantime we can start refershing our throats with some nicely chilled Sancerre which I always stock in my canteen.

My dear Lady,

It is really a great honour for me to meet you. Lord Nikos has talked me about your great political acumen and your diplomacy in handling complicated situations in Cornwall. We will problably need some women power also up North. I would be delighted to see you also in Scotland, a lovely land with fascinating people. Is Your Grace planning any visits outside Cornwall soon?

Eraine smiles at the kind words from Lord Tavistock and Lady Mary.

"Thank you, Lord Nikos, for such a warm welcome. It is a tremendous honour to be invited into your lovely home on such an occasion. I look forward to meeting everyone.

Lady Mary, it is a pleasure to meet you. I have long desired to explore outside of Cornwall, but my duties have kept me close to home. Perhaps in the autumn I'll be free to travel north."

Eraine looks up as Sindbad enters and smiles politely as he introduces himself. Extending her hand in introduction, she speaks softly:

"Good evening, your Excellence, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Eraine, Countess of Cornwall."

"It's an honour to meet you, your Excellency. I don't believe you're late at all."

Eraine smiles reassuringly, as she introduces herself to the latest arrival.

Good evening, Your Excellencies, it is a great pleasure to meet you here in Lord Nikos' castle. J'en suis enchanté. You must have travelled long distances to be here in Exeter for this reception. As for my self I am coming from Scotland but I very much enjoy Lord Nikos' hospitality and I am a regular guest her, especially diring the summer. Please have a glass of wine or some refreshments while we get Lord Nikos'attention.

Messire Flaubert's coach stopped at the entrace of the castle while the traveller asked to the butler to be announced in the reception hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Messire Vincent Flaubert, Ambassador of Champagne in Cornwall" projected firnly the butler in the big hall after striking twice on the floor his elaborated oak stick.

"Lord Nikos, it a great pleasure for me to be here again in your palace with the opportunity to celebrate another mandate for your gracious Duchess Eraine. Can you please introduce me to her"

Your Grace Lady Eraine, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is such a honour for me to have you here to celebrate a second mandate for Lady Eraine as Duchess of Cornwall to lead our beautiful county and I humbly ask you all to join the festivities and enjoy the party while I ask my musicians to start playing some ballads which are in fashion at the court of Saint james and my waiters to serve you some nibbles and wine for your refreshment.

As the musicians add to the revelry, Eraine wanders among the guests introducing herself to the many fine people Lord Tavistock had invited. When a waiter passed her with glasses of wine, Eraine gratefully accepts the offered flute. She sips the wine finding it to be uncommonly pure and elegant, a real treat for England.

She eventually makes her way to Lord Nikos and addresses him with a soft voice.

"Lord Tavistock, you have outdone yourself. Thank you for arranging this lovely reception and inviting so many distinguished diplomats. I am honored truly to be in such company."

Ah la la...

Rebaile knew she woud be late and just hoped the reception wouldn't be over yet... She was running when she arrived at the Ball Room's. She silently begged the butler not to introduce her so she could discretely join the other guests.. He nodded with a polite smile and the young woman juste found him charming!

As soon as she entered the Ball room, she was greeted by a cup of wine juste passing in front of her. She followed it with her eyes for a short moment but decided this pleasure could wait until she introduced herself to Lady Eraine and said hello to Sir Nikos...
And then she saw them both, few meters at her left. She made her way to them, nodded silently towards Sir Nikos and after a reverence she would never learn to perfectly make, she smiled at Lady Eraine and said:

Your Grace, I am really sorry for being late but I am so honoured to finally meet you! Rebaile, ambassador of the Lyonnais-Dauphiné, the objectively most beautiful duchy of the kingdom of France!, she added, laughing softly.

Then she looked again at Lord Tavistock:

Sir Nikos, thank you for your invitation I was very honoured and happy to accept and...sorry again for being late...

Eraine smiled at the charming Ambassador from Lyonnais-Dauphiné and nodded demurely at her introduction.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rebaile. If your duchy is truly the most lovely in all of France, I will have to plan a visit. You have arrived at an excellent time. We are all enjoying excellent wine, lively music, and wonderful company."

Lord Nikos was really pleased his guests were enjoying the reception and this was turning out to be a good opportunity for his friends and colleagues to meet and have courtly conversations. He nodded to the butler so that more French wine would be served to the guests who seemed to appreciate this delicacies and he too indulged in another cup of chilled Sancerre. Then he took some chevalier courage to address his guest of honour.

My dear Lady Eraine, I am honoured you are enojoying the company of my guests and hope you don't mind if we open the dance and lead the rest of the party to the floor. I am sure you will like these lovely tunes I have asked to be brought from the Court of Saint James and Chancellor Sindbad will follow us taking one of the other fine ladies to the middle of the floor for a dance too.

Smiled and answered.

Oh Your Grace, if you ever decide to come and visit the Lyonnais-Dauphiné, just let me know few days in advance, and I will make sure you and your escort will have the best welcome ever in France!

Remained silent few seconds, discretely looking for a waiter found one and then added.

I have a blind confidence in your taste and Sir Nikos' choice, Lady Eraine, but I think I have to find by myself if the wine is as excellent as the company!

She laughed and took a cup of wine from the waiter who stopped near her, listening at the same time to Sir Nikos and waiting for the dances to start.

Messire Vincent noticed that Madame Rebaile was enjoying the party but needed some injection of confidence and took the initiative of following Lord Nikos' invitation to join the dance. He gently approched the Ambassador from Lyonnais and smiled.

Ma chère dame, puis-j'avoir le plaisir de vous inviter pour une danse pour faire honneur au maitre de la maison?

"Lord Tavistock, I would be honoured to dance with you."

Eraine manages a small curtsy and takes the hand of her charming host, allowing him to lead her to the center of the room for a dance.

Now that Lady Eraine had started to dance, Rebaile felt authorized to do the same and, with a smile, accepted the invitation of Messire Flaubert.

Avec plaisir, Messire.