Please read the overview and all the descriptions of the special guests before the party. Sometimes we hide clues in these descriptions.

Overview

It is 1807. Lady Mazzing has invited eight young ladies to her mansion for supper as she would like their advice about the next Ball she is planning to hold.

Her one and only son Lord Edward Mazzing will briefly greet the guests, but he will not be joining them for dinner as he has other work commitments. Since his father’s death two years ago, the young Lord has taken over the responsibility of managing their large estate.

Secretly Lady Mazzing views this social event as an opportunity to acquaint herself with the young ladies who may be suitable marriage partners for her son.

Special guest descriptions

The people present at the gathering are:

Miss Prunella Braithwaite

I am a refined and gentle young lady of somewhat delicate disposition but when the weather is fine I love to sit outside and capture the beauty of flowers with my watercolors. I spend a lot of time doing good works for the poor and people say I am a very kind hearted person. My father has extensive business investments in Virginia. Dress suggestions: A long dress adorned in flowers. White gloves and a bonnet.

Miss Bethany Chesterfield

I am fond of riding side-saddle and love the outdoors. My parents worry that I am somewhat more forthright than a lady should be and that I am apt to be quarrelsome in nature. My parents own a gunpowder factory. I like to ignore the constraints of civilized society. Dress suggestions: A long-sleeved shirt and a long skirt and gloves. Wear riding boots. Strap one ankle and pretend as if you have twisted it.

Miss Wilma Winterflood

I excel at tapestry and singing and am a lady skilled in all the social graces. My parents are very well-respected and we are an influential family in the community. Although I appear to be gentle and quiet, my brothers say I am rather headstrong and stubborn. I often take the buggy for a ride by myself much to my parents’ dismay. Dress suggestions: A long dress and gloves. Carry some tapestry to work on.

Miss Hyacinth Huntington

I am an only child and of a somewhat shy disposition. I am very skilled at lacework and I love Shakespeare, especially the tragedies. Sadly my father recently made some unfortunate investments and my family is facing economic ruin. I am terribly embarrassed by my situation as I am used to wealth and all the luxuries it affords. Dress suggestions: A long dress with lace on it and gloves. Carry some Shakespeare to read.

Miss Charmaine Chamberlain

People say I am very gracious and I love to read poetry. My favorites are Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. I am also a skilled pianist. My father owns numerous cotton plantations. I traveled abroad with my family when I was younger and I yearn to travel again especially to London. I miss the operas and plays dreadfully. Dress suggestions: A long dress and gloves. Carry a book of Coleridge or Wordsworth’s poetry.

Miss Emily Stratford

People say I am rather intelligent. I must say, I do love puzzles and am very fond of writing. There are some false rumors going about that I have been secretly writing mystery novels under the nom de plume of James Ridley. I am very polite, but prefer to observe rather than talk. My father is a highly respected surgeon. My mother is afraid that my mental abilities will frighten men away so she tries to make me appear a silly little girl in public. She insists I wear pink and lots of frills and bows in my hair to make me look more feminine. Dress suggestions: A long pink dress with lots of frills and gloves. Add a bow to your hair. Carry a puzzle.

Miss Elizabeth Montgomery

I am just back from finishing school in Paris where I was greatly admired by all. I have a definite flair for fashion and am terribly fond of dancing. At the Paris Balls all the men wanted to dance with me. I also have a beautiful singing voice. At the moment, I am passionate about the color mauve and I wear it a lot. It’s so fashionable. My father runs a merchant shipping company, which is terribly boring. Dress suggestions: A long mauve dress and gloves. Talk about yourself all the time in a conceited way.

Miss Clorinda Rosemonde

My father is a Duke and he loves me so much he had one of his gardeners plant a rose garden for me, which I treasure. My mother died when I was young and my brother is an army General. I am fond of entertaining and my father encourages me to hold tea parties. I play the flute admirably. Although I have no particular interest in getting married myself, I like to play matchmaker whenever I can. Dress suggestions: A long dress and gloves. Carry a flute (if available).

Optional important role descriptions

Note: The role for Lord Mazzing is a brief optional role. He is only involved in Part One and the beginning of Part Two. He doesn’t have to say for the last part of the party unless he wants to.

Lady Marion Mazzing

I am a dignified lady of very particular tastes. Since my poor dear husband died two years ago from a goose bone stuck in his throat, I have never been able to bring myself to serve goose at the table. I am a handsome woman who knows what it is like to be born into wealth and opulence. My son is my only real interest. Dress suggestions: A long dress and gloves.

Lord Edward Mazzing

People say I am a very charming, handsome man, but I do have the reputation of trifling with women’s feelings. The fact is some women bore me so terrifically I have to move on to another one. I am very wealthy and somewhat arrogant. My mother loves me very much and is my greatest admirer. Dress suggestions:Very conservative clothes. Add a cummerbund.

Optional witness descriptions

Miss Mary Petticoat – I am young and not a very experienced maid but I do my job as well as I can. Her ladyship is very strict and I had to practice my curtsy a lot before I got this job. My mother was in service and so was her mother so I guess it runs in the family. Dress suggestions:A long dress and a white apron.

Mrs Gertrude Grimshaw – I am an excellent cook. However, I do think it is important to taste everything before I serve it just to make sure. I am especially fond of plum duff and treacle pudding. I love to cook for Lord Mazzing because he always says nice things to me about my food. I’ve known him since he was a baby. I used to bounce him on my knee. Dress suggestions:A long dress and an apron. Wear a bonnet and carry a bowl of batter or something you’ve baked. Add some pillows to make you plump.

Miss Juliette Mazzing – I’m one of Edward’s sisters. Edward and I used to play together when we were children, but he’s too busy to be bothered with me now. I spend my time doing needlework and planning what to wear to the next ball. I love to dance and I hope to find a partner to marry as soon as Edward is married. Dress suggestions: A very pretty long dress and gloves.

Miss Charlotte Mazzing – I’m one of Edward’s sisters. I wish he would bring home some rich eligible men so I can get married. I’m so bored just reading and playing the piano, though everyone says I play it very well. I’m sure if someone suitable heard me they would propose in a minute. Dress suggestions: A very expensive-looking long dress and gloves. Wear flowers in your hair.

Miss Wanda Westwind – I’m the local minister’s daughter. I don’t get invited to the Mazzing’s very often and when I do I feel a bit out of place. Everyone’s dresses are so fine and mine are so plain and simple. However, I enjoy the company and love to sit and listen to everyone. Dress suggestions: A plain but neat long frock, with hat and gloves. The frock should be buttoned high at the neck if possible.

Miss Maud Mason – I’m a governess and I have taught Lord Mazzing and his sisters. They’re nice girls. I just wish Lord Mazzing could find a nice girl to marry. I’ve never been married and I guess It’s a bit late now. I would like to be governess to Lord Mazzing’s children. Dress suggestions: A plain dark colored long frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a book you are reading.

Miss Constance Cromwell – I’m Edward’s cousin. I’m also friends with one of his sisters, so I come to stay with them quite often. I live in another town about five hours by coach from here. I love tea parties. Dress suggestions: A pretty long frock, with a hair ornament and gloves.

Miss Emma Woodhouse – I was busy wandering around Lady Mazzing’s beautiful house while the others were talking to her about the ball. She has such a divine parlor, a sweet drawing room and a handsome summer-house in the garden. Someday I hope to marry a man and to have a house such as this. Dress suggestions: An elegant frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a flower you picked in the garden.

Miss Harriet Smith – I’m certainly not clever enough to be one of the ladies that Lady Mazzing consulted with about the ball, but I try to have a pious, sweet, docile, grateful disposition, that is totally free from conceit. I am a friend of some of the young ladies. Dress suggestions: A pretty frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a copy of the Bible.

Lady Bernice Bertram – I’m a friend of Lady Mazzings. She wanted my opinion on which of the young ladies would be a suitable future wife for her son. As I have been through the process recently of helping my son select a lovely lady to be his wife, she thought I was the right one to ask. Dress suggestions: A long dress and gloves. Carry a fan.

Miss Fanny Price – I was Lord Mazzing’s nursemaid and he has always treated me with a lot of kindness. I am now getting on in years, but they have let me stay in the cottage behind the summer-house. He still drops by to chat from time to time. Dress suggestions: A simple frock, with bonnet and gloves. Wear a gray wig. Carry one of the toy soldiers the Lord used to play with when he was young.

Miss Lydia Bingley – I’m excellent at geography and I like to discuss the cultures of various countries. I’m fluent in languages. My family travels abroad often. I am friend of one of the other girls, but Lady Mazzing doesn’t know me very well as I have only recently moved to this area. Dress suggestions: A fancy frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a book written in another language.

Miss Eliza Beaucamp – I’m not very coordinated, so dancing at balls isn’t something I like to do. My singing voice is my main skill. I love to entertain guests after dinner and if I can find a handsome man to sing a duet with, then I am in heaven. Dress suggestions: A pretty frock, with hat and gloves. Carry some sheet music.

Miss Sophia Esperance – I adore perfumes and my father brings me a new one back whenever he travels. I have quite a collection. Dress suggestions: A pretty frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a small bottle of perfume that you may like to allow others to smell.

Miss Vivienne Claridge – I love playing croquet and other lawn games. I’m quite competitive. Silly, isn’t it? Dress suggestions: A sweet frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a racquet or some other outdoor game.

Miss Abigail Hamilton – I love to play the piano. My fingers dance upon the keys far better than my feet dance across the floor at a ball. Sometimes I accompany a friend while they sing. It gives me great pleasure. Dress suggestions: A lovely frock, with hat and gloves. Carry some piano music.

Miss Mildred Sunnesbury – I love to read philosophy. I adore Plato and I discuss his “Symposium” about love with anyone I meet that has also read it. Dress suggestions: A simple frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a book of philosophy.

Miss Dulcie Ashbury – tapestry is my great love. I do my own designs. I try and make the as intricate as possible. People seem to admire them, especially my landscapes. Dress suggestions: A pretty frock (possibly embroidered), with hat and gloves. Carry some tapestry or a landscape design you are working on.

Miss Rebecca Myers – my mother has let me plan the redesign of her garden. I love telling the gardener which plants I want and planning which ones will go at the back and which in front and so on. Dress suggestions: A floral frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a flower from your garden.

Miss Candace Essex – It’s a bit unusual, but I love numbers. My father lets me help him manage his financial affairs. He says I have a brain for it and that thanks to my advice his investments are earning a better return. Dress suggestions: A simple frock, with hat and gloves. Carry a list of numbers you are adding up.