An IPOAT Ball in honour of days of yore and yon mighty Maiden Juice

[Hullygully]

Shall we?

I like the idea of a Summer Ball. Muslin and sweaty collars always such a reminder of dawn trysts after the Polonaise.

Until we decide however I shall retire to the distillery herb-drying shed and ensure we have sufficient elderflower and chamagne cordials. Also the juniper tisanes are at a shockingly low level and someone has been at the more robust tisanes. Our possets are a disgrace.

I have been undergoing an intense spiritual awakening with the vigorous young prelate. I feel strangely aglow and fervid. Has anyone seen dear Mr Rochester?

There was some moaning earlier in the east wing but as I heard cries to the Lord and fervour most devout, that may have been you at prayer, Mistress Hully.

Mr Rochester has been carried to the summer house. He likes to watch the gels skip back from church on a fine June morning. The fine muslin, heaving bosoms and girlish squeals does so lift his spirits.

No it doesn't. He must be returned at once, he likes dark lowering rooms with brooding mantelpieces and bible saying embroideries. You will do him a mischief. Send the under and under under gardener at once with the best palanquin.

Fie and tosh. A stiff breeze will do him more good than brooding gloom and bible doom.

The under under gardener is allergic to horse hair, and should not therefore approach the palanquin.

We do have a fine young ostler, who handles a wisp with aplomb.

If I may venture an opinion, Mr Rochester does indeed prefer to inhabit rooms of a singularly strict and forbidding nature. A stiff breeze does however have a most stimulating effect on the Highland Regiment lately stationed close by.

Perhaps you are both right. I had hoped the summer air and skipping gals would counter his brooding melancholy. But alas, he scowls more darkly with every hour.

I shall order his return to the gloom and set about making a new poultice for his leg.

I was just going to spread that on a muffin Miss Fiderer.

I keep losing you...must always do the watch thread thingy.

I am taking young page D'Ess to A Winter's Tale tonight as a 14th birthday treat.

If the plot doesn't do his head in, nothing will.

Me too, I am horribly busy of late with the new curates, it's all a whirl.

No wonder the new curates cannot see straight, Mistress Hully, with all your whirling. I found one quite wrung out on the path earlier.

Did your young Page enjoy the Bard, Mimi? The young maid under my tutelage hath been dothing and thouing me for a while. There is alas no talk of the Bard in her forrin convent and I suspect she has been sneaking off to the orchard and watching The Histories Most Horrible.