CHAPTER NINE
Blackguards, a Banquet and a Ball
Not long after these occurrences, my master informed me he was planning a fancy dress ball at which he would show me off to his friends.
There was a great deal of activity in the house as the servants prepared for the event, hurrying and scurrying in all directions. I spotted servants I had not seen before and wondered if they had been brought to Drydon Hall from other great houses in the county.
Mrs. Troak, the cook, was fully occupied and whenever I went down to the kitchen I was invariably greeted by wonderful smells and the sight of sides of beef and pork as well as trays of pies and pastries and exotic fruit that must have been imported at huge expense.
I was allowed now to make the occasionally excursion to the kitchen and other par
