Given enough tries the modiste eventually manages something much more breathable than most evening wear in the form of a ruffly pink orange dress with a hat that is more feathers than fabric. Lucette ends up in something green and blue made from stiff fabric, studded with gems. She manages to find a plain bonnet, addorned with a single lilac feather, that she finds less horrible than the other options. She is still miserably uncomfortabe in the outfit, though hopefully not in a way that will be noticable to anyone who does not know her well. Both of them are to wear white gloves with the outfits as well.

Annie knows her pretty well but assumes it is necessary for some goal Lucette values over being comfortable, like not pissing off her grandfather who basically owns her.

And for finding a husband, which is extremely important to her future life.

The dresses are barely ready in time for the party, and guests carriages are within sight of the house by the time Lucette and Annie are fitted in them. Still, they can manage to be in the west living room as guests start arriving, at which point Lucette introduces herself and Annie to each guest in turn.

Annie does her best to curtsey, but her best isn't very good. She is slightly better than that at remembering people's names.

Lucette was not all that skilled at curtseying before her empowerment, but now finds it relatively straightforward, and she was already quite good at memorizing names.

After introductions are made the attendees mingle briefly before dinner begins, at which point everyone heads to the west dining room, where seating has evidently been assigned. Lucette and Annie are next to each other, with a pair of brothers - the Lords Wellsworth - on either side. Judging by his less than healthy appearance the older Lord Edgar Wellsworth, seated on the opposite side of Annie, is not himself empowered, whilst his younger brother, Lord Edward Wellsworth, is. 

Annie is not inclined to be very talkative at this gathering, of her own accord, unless Lucette seems to need backup or someone asks her something.

Yes, Lord Edgar Wellsworth would like to know what sort of hobbies occupy Miss Svane's time.

"I like to read."

"Ah, a lady of letters. What sort of novel do you enjoy?"

"I'm still getting acquainted with English literature, so of the things you might have heard of I'm not sure yet."

"What sort from your homeland, then?"

"My favorite book was about a king who shrank people to keep them in his tiny dollhouse prison."

"How curious. What did you enjoy about it?"

"The prose was well done and it had thoughtful characters."

"Oh, I do enjoy well written prose - there are some delightful catalogues of German fairy tales I've been quite taken with in the past."

"Oh?"

"Yes, one Mr. Karl Zimmer, of Wiemar University, published a particularly beautiful compedium of what I understand to be common folk tales he's studied. They're quite horribly vivid in nature, but I've always found such writing to select for the more courageous sort of author, which is all to rare in English literature - the only English translations I've found of his work leave out the best parts."

"Oh, well, if I ever see the original around I'll have to give it a look, then, I can speak and read all languages."

"All languages? Tales of your miraculous powers leave that out."

"Well, otherwise I wouldn't be able to speak English, so in a way it is included."

"- I suppose it does say something of my failure to break out of my country's self-obssession that I just assumed it natural for you to know English."

"As far as I know nobody speaks it where I'm from at all."

"Where exactly are you from, if I may ask? The rumors are far from consistent about your origin."