Chapter 68: Chapter Sixty Eight

The setting sun cast a warm glow on the imposing facade of Carleton Castle as the first carriages rolled up, depositing their elegantly attired passengers for the highly anticipated ball. Outside, a liveried servant stood beside a gleaming gold plate, collecting the ornately inscribed invitations from each arrival.

A symphony of rustling silks and hushed whispers filled the air as guests disembarked.  Ladies, adorned in gowns that rivaled the colors of a summer sunset, fluttered their fans with practiced grace. Their jewels sparkled in the fading light, catching the last rays of the day with an almost magical luminescence.  Elaborate hairstyles, adorned with feathers and flowers, crowned their heads, while delicate fans fluttered gracefully in their gloved hands.

Gentlemen, impeccably dressed in tailored suits and polished boots, exchanged greetings and raised crystal flutes filled with amber liquid in a silent toast to the evening's festivities.