“Miria go check the silverware, I’m almost certain there is a missing knife.” She nods and scurry’s off to the dining hall. Poor thing seems to be scared of me though I haven’t been anything but cordial to her.

“Alexander” I say my accent making his name sound regal and defined. “Go greet the guests arriving at the door, if you please, and stall them if you can.”

“Yes Ma’am” He says before walking to the entry room.

“This teaparty has you wringing your hands.” My husband Peter says while dipping me back and kissing me. I wrap my hands around his neck and the anxiousness fades away for a moment. I break the kiss when it seaps back in but Peter doesn’t set me upright.

“You should be more distraught Peter. This is our first impression to this town, and it better be a good one.”

“You always are right Lilly” He says before dipping me back farther and kissing me again.

“I am aren’t I, now Peter” I say pulling away from his body. “What will people think if we’re caught like this?”

“Lilly” He protests.

“Peter!” I protest back. “Let’s go help Alexander greet our guests.” I offer my hand to him. He doesn’t move, not even an inch. “For Eve?” I ask placing my hand on my still flat stomach.

“For Eve.” He agrees, taking my hand, and letting me drag him to the door.

As the guests arrive I have Miranda take them to the summer dining hall. We walk the last guests back ourselves. As we walk I call Maria to my side.

“It’s time to start serving the tea.” I tell her.

“Right away ma’am” She divots from our group once we pass the entrance to to kitchen.

“Lily your home is beautiful!” Clerase says. “I have always admired the building but I have never been able to take a look inside.”

“Thank you, me and Peter were astonished when we saw it was for sale.” I say as I slip my hand in Peter’s.

“That we were” He agrees. We enter the dining hall, it’s beautifully designed and the perfect location for a tea party. The room is extended from the rest of the house allowing three of its sides to be pure glass as well as the curved ceiling. The wall connecting it to the house is mostly taken up by a large curved door way, lined with a beautiful wood. The same wood that is used in the long, slim tables that stretch from either side of the room to the door way.

“Who would like a cigar?” Peter asks. This is the men’s que to stand and follow Peter out to one of the patios so us girls can talk, and they do.

“I hope this is acceptable ladies as I’ve never hosted anything in this house before.” I say as I sit down.

“Oh it’s perfectly fine.” A cherry woman named Alyssa says.

“Is it all natural lighting in here?” Mary asks.

“Yes it is.” A murmur of approval runs through the room. Just then Maria comes through and starts serving the tea. The ladies give her curt smiles as she fills their cups.

“Thank you Miranda.” I say as she fills mine. She nods and then hurries out of the room.

“You treat her with class?” Carries notes. “And yet she seems to be deathly nervous.”

“Well” I say “In our former residence we cherished and trusted our house staff, so we paid to have them move here with us. Surprisingly many of their relatives live in the towns surrounding this one. Maria happens to be the niece of our favorite maid and as she has been sick lately so she sent Maria to fill in until she gets better. It is only Maria’s third day of working here. I’m sure she just needs time to get accustomed to this new environment.”

You are such a lovely person, Lilly.” Carrie says in response to my little story.

“Aren’t we all?” I reply. “Ladies, so I don’t forget let me repeat your names Janice, Margaret, Clerase, Rebecca, Alyssa, Carrie, Jane, and Mary. Did I get it right?” I say making eye contact with each one while I say their name. This group of woman consists of some of the neighbors whom live closest to me and and some who are part of the most well established and connected family’s in the community.

“Yes” Jane says.

“Lily, if you don’t mind me asking of course, where did you move from?” Margaret asks.

“Oh why would I?” I reply “We’ve come from the mountains.”

“My family loves vacationing there!” Says Rebecca, adding an aside to the conversation.

“It is a lovely area but we decided it would be best to move to a place that’s a little move developed for Eve.”

“Eve?” Clerase asks raising her eyebrows.

“Oh how rude of me! I’m pregnant.” I say hurriedly.

“You are?” She remarks looking me up and down. “How far along are you?”

“Three and a half months” I’m not showing yet so I’m still able to fit into old clothing.

“And you know it’s a girl?” Asks Jane.

“Well we have are suspicions, even if it’s not a girl it will make a lovely middle name for a boy.” I sip my tea.

“That it would” Janice says.

“Oh and ladies” I say “Usually I would not envite the men to a get together such as this, but I figured since it was our first time meeting you all it was for the best.”

“Of course” Carrie says, just then the men walk in and go sit by they’re wife’s. I stand and greet Peter, giving him a kiss before sitting down again.

“I have prepared a treat to give you all. It’s a delicacy where we’ve come from.” I clap my hands and the house hands come in through the servants entry carrying bowls of soup. “I know soup is not particularly tea party food so I have also had finger sandwiches and small pastries prepared. And if none of it appeases your taste preferences Chef can make you anything from anywhere as long as we have the ingredients for it.” I announce to the table.

“This is more than enough Lilly.” Mary says.

“Oh you flatter me.” I reply

“To Lilly.” Peter says raising his tea cup.

“To Lilly!” Everyone replies raising their glasses.

“To Lilly.” I say to myself. Then we start to dine. All of the conversations consist of what you would say to a stranger you pass by just more articulated so it last longer. None of them hold any depth to them but they need not to as I am just getting to know these people and I do not trust them with any of my secrets or knowledge and they feel the same about me. There is only one thing I hope to get out of this gathering today, I want them to admire me.

Then all of a sudden Margaret gaspes.

“What is in my soup?” She practically screams. A startled Maria runs up to her side and looks into the bowl.

“What seems to be the matter Margaret?” I ask.

“There is an eye in my soup!” That prompts everyone to look in their own balls to see if there’s anything peculiar, more and more people start to find an eye in their soups. The room starts to fall into dismay.

“Ther is no need to panic.” I say calmly. “That is the delicacy.”

“An eye ball?” Mary exclaims.

“Well yes, more specifically a goats eye. Usually, it’s only for the heads of the household or the guest if there is one but I’ve made an exception today and gotten one for all.” The woman’s start to look at each other with worried and disapproving expressions.

“What have I done Peter?” I whisper to my husband.

“I don’t know but they don’t look to pleased.” He responds in a hushed tone.

“Well I can see that!” I whisper anxiously back. I lock eyes with Maria and nod. She goes and fetches the kitchen aids and they come and retrieve the soups. I stand up brushing off my dress. “No need to worry about the soups, please just enjoy the rest of the food.” I announce before excusing myself from the table. I make my way to the kitchen.

“What do you want to do with the food miss?” One of the kitchen aids asks.

“Oh” I say resting my hand on my forehead. “Take any that you want just put two in the fridge. Peter and I will have them for dinner.”

“Okay miss.” The kitchen aid says. Maria is standing by the counter setting the soups onto the table and off the platters.

“Maria” I say “Bring some to your aunt I know she enjoys them. And offer the rest to anyone that will take them” She nods.

“Wait do we even have containers to put the soups in?” I ask

“Yes, we do.” Chef say while he walks in.

“You’re a lifesaver, Chef!” I say. “But now I really do have to get back to the party.” With that I leave the kitchen. All of this could’ve been dealt with after the guests left, but I needed a break.

I dread going back to the dining area knowing my first impression and maybe even my reputation is now tarnished.