Christmas Lunch

[adifferentlife]

The best way to celebrate any holiday is to share it with people that one care's about, Sybil is sure of that. It's why she's organised this, a luncheon for any and all that she's friends with. It's not something she's done before, and it feels very adult to be hosting a party within her own home. It's not something she ever imagined doing in such a small space, or without a staff to support her, or even before she was married with her own home, but those aren't things that are considerations here.

Instead she's let everyone know when to come and to bring something to share with the others. She's ordered in the main part of the meal, a roasted turkey instead of a goose and a roast of lamb as well. There's champagne and wine, and she has the record player Kaine gave her in the corner playing christmas carols by Bing Crosby. There's a small tree of real pine with strings of beads strung through its boughs and little elecric lights twinkling. Henri has helped her to decorate and do the cooking that she's tried, even if most of the cookies she made needed to be thrown our they were so burnt.

Once people start to arrive she relaxes, allowing herself a glass of wine once she's sure everything is in order and things are going well. At some point there is nothing else she can do, other than talk to her guests; her friends. It's nothing like a Christmas at Downton, but her second one here in Darrow and it feels like the Christmas it's supposed to be.

Comments

[jaimemieux]

"I can certainly imagine that to be the case." Combeferre shifted his weight from foot to foot. He knew a thoroughly distracted man when he saw one, and had no wish to trouble a near-stranger overmuch, but also did not wish to duck away from conversation so quickly as to be rude. "A professional capacity?" he asked finally, the phrasing making him curious. "How did you know each other?"

[fightyourcorner]

"I was footman, and later valet and Under Butler to the Crawley's. We also worked alongside one another at the army hospital, during the war," Thomas said, forcing a bit more attention on the man. "I've known her for quite some time."