Chapter Text
Lord Danbury’s untimely passing came as a welcomed relief to Lady Agatha Danbury and her thighs. Her bowlegged husband was barely cold in his grave and she’d thrown his garish teeth on the fire, whilst proclaiming to her faithful servant, Coral, that: ‘He can go to hell sounding like a penny whistle’. There was no point in denying that there was a certain buzz about the place, and not just because it was nearing christmas. The staff also seemed to be rejoicing at the late capricious Lord’s passing, more so now that they didn’t have to wear those ridiculous armbands for mourning.
Even though the sore bumps in her head had depleted and the chaffing in her thighs had vanished, Lady Danbury still enjoyed a nice, hot bath by the fire.
“You went a little heavy on the bubble bath this evening, Coral”
Agatha remarked, her head appearing from the bath, like a periscope above the bubbles, as her friend bought her fresh towels and dressing gown.
“Apologies Milady, the cap came off the bottle, the smell of roses is supposed to help you relax”
Coral reasoned with a smile as she witnessed her ladyship materialise from beneath the bubbles. Agatha couldn’t help smiling at her friend’s innocence, she was aware that she looked ridiculous with her body covered in bubbles as Coral held a towel aloft for her.
“I do not need to relax, I’m a lady not a botanical garden”
Agatha protested brightly, wrapping herself in her dressing gown and dropping the towel. Coral kept her doubts to herself. Agatha donned her slippers and sat down to curl her hair in the presence of her friend, who she could sense was quivering in anticipation.
“Milady, a letter came for you from the Queen, whilst you were in the suds”
Coral announced, producing an envelope from her apron pouch and handed it to Lady Danbury, who was a fresh sight in her gown, curlers and lingering foam.
“Dear Charlotte, she likes the traditional things, she insists on writing to me when a phone call would have surfaced”
Lady Danbury grumbled as she looked over the envelope, front and back, whilst Coral tried to fix her hair.
“Perhaps it is a private, personal letter for Milady”
Coral suggested, she could feel her friend’s brown furrow.
“Personal, certainly, private it is not, who writes something private and sticks it in an envelope these days?”
Agatha mumbled as she sliced the envelope open with her letter opener, whilst Coral thought up an answer to her friend’s otherwise rhetorical question.
“Will you stop faffing with my hair and have a seat, so I may share the Queen’s correspondent’s with you”
Lady Danbury ordered Coral. Her friend let out a faint squeal of excitement as she eagerly pulled up a pouffe to sit with her Ladyship, as she produced what looked like a royal invitation.
“My Dearest Friend, Agatha…”
Lady Danbury began to read, she skipped over the complimentary ‘Sorrows and Prayers for her husband’ but continued to babble out the occasional bit of the invitation for Coral to hear.
“Oh that is a shame, I’d thought the times and attitudes have moved on from such things…”
Agatha sighed as she continued to read, Coral sat up, her interest peaked, waiting for her Ladyship to elaborate. Agatha humoured her friend.
“Brimsley and Reynolds shall not be going home for Christmas it seems, so their majesties have graciously decided to let them stay with them at Buckingham House, and I, too, have been invited to stay for Christmas, and…”
Agatha summarised with a dramatic pause and a wiry smile on her lips, as she watched the excitement trickle through her friend like electricity, Coral’s eyes like bulbs about to pop.
“I can bring one other guest, it promises to be a night of frivolity. Coral, would you do me the honour of accompanying me to spend Christmas with the King and Queen?”
Agatha asked, satisfied that her friend was nearly fit to burst.
“‘Tis sad that Brimsley and Reynolds won’t be allowed home for Christmas, but I’d be honoured to accompany you, Milady. But I do not have any suitable clothes, I shall have to go shopping…”
Coral admitted, a smile still gracing her petite face.
“Shopping? At this time of year, are you mad? I’m sure we can find some clothes that will fit you, you shall need some nightwear”
Agatha instructed bluntly, smiling at the wonderment in her friend’s eyes. Coral scooped up the towels and made for the door with haste.
“And see if you can find a chauffeur who’s sober enough to drive us to Buckingham house!”
Lady Danbury called after her friend as she made to leave the room in excitement.
“We are going to need wine”
Agatha said to herself with a sly smile as she removed the curlers from her hair.