First ball

Marie: After the Christmas itself came Christmas evenings. I remember some amateur theatre coming to us with "St George’s play". An actor dresses as a saint was fighting another, dresses as a Turk. The “saint” got a mortal injury and then was revived miraculously, thanks to the doctor’s intervention. Uncle was clapping and calling those guys talented, but I was more interested in the ball that was supposed to happen next day. My first ball.

Task: Go through the library in ghosts mode.

It’s noisy and cheerful in the lounge. Musicians are tuning up their instruments, servants are carrying bowls with hot mull wine, a game has just finished at the card table. Marie enters the hall, wearing a dazzling dress the color of cornflowers. Uncle and Lynette leave cards and go to her.

Robert: Lynette, could this charming stranger in a beautiful blue dress really be that cheeky girl that used to sit in my lap, demanding a fairytale?

Lynette: You made no mistake about cheeky, that’s for sure. And the dress was custom made especially for this day by one of the most expensive tailors of London.

Marie: I love you too, stepmother. Uncle, could you pass to the charming stranger a bowl with smoking bishop?

Lynette: Don’t even think about getting red from wine. Especially since your pale face has already attracted so many men in this hall. Care to look dignified, Caleb is coming!

Marie: I can’t find words to express my happiness.

Lynette: Be quiet, please. He’s close already.

Caleb: Hello, Marie. Last time we have parted very… suddenly. But I want to say that I’m not angry at you.

Marie: That is very kind of you. The feeling is mutual.

Musicians take their instruments, first chords of a slow melody are sounding.

Caleb: I should say, I am absolutely blinded by your beauty. I’m sure there is no girl more beautiful than you at this ball today. So let me ask you for a dance.

Caleb offers his hand and you see his admiring eyes and a sincere smile on his face. Looks like even Marie almost believes it.

Marie: I thank you, but I’ve already promised my first dance to the man who is most close to me.

The smile is replaced with a gloomy grimace.

Caleb: And who is that lucky man, may I ask?

Marie: My uncle Robert.

Caleb: Your uncle? Well, as you wish.

You completed the task and received some points of freedom and some tokens

Marie: Dancing with uncle was so easy. He was leading me confidently and smoothly, but most importantly dancing with him was an unusual, but totally innocent act. He did ask me though why would I lie to Caleb — I didn’t tell him anything about the first dance. But I answered honestly: "I don’t like him". Uncle smiled and span me into another dance step.