Entering the dining room Gail and Morgarna caused quite a stir ! Both in their flapper dresses and their bobbed hair, Morgarna was delighted she could smoke and squealed with delight when Merlin handed her a beautiful black and silver cigarette holder… “Here babes complete the part!” He smiled. They were greeted by the head waiter, a very tall and handsome man who lead them to a beautiful table over by the far wall. Above the table there was large crystal laden chandelier with a rather creepy portrait below it.
Gail was delighted by the whole affair, the high tea with champagne was a whole new world to her ! As were the beautifully dressed people on the dance floor.
“What is this” she asked wide-eyed ” Everyone, even the orchestra look so posh”
“It’s a tea dance Gail” replied Morgarna, sitting back and enjoying a smoke.
A young man made his way up to the table and asked Gail to dance , she was so excited and readily agreed.
Once the young couple were on the dance floor Morgarna lent across to Merlin and asked “Okay Merlin why are we here and it’s not by chance, so what’s the story?”
“Really babes I just wanted to treat you to a little luxury and I couldn’t have left Gail out could I?” Merlin ended with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders.
Morgarna nearly choked on her scone… “Last time we had a cream tea you lumbered me royally why would I trust you now….Babes? “
Merlin smiled, “Another glass of bubbly, and I will come clean when Gail gets back .”
“So is it the painting?” Asked Gail looking at it…. “It’s rather dark isn’t it?”
“It is indeed dark but no it’s not the painting the problem is the chandelier.”
Morgarna lit a cigarette and pushed back her chair “yes she said I can feel it ….there is something really not quite right about it Merlin and you sir know exactly what the problem is! “
Gail stopped pouring herself another cup of tea and shivered. ” I feel it too every one of those crystals is a trapped soul, I can hear them screaming for help.”
Merlin said “Yes ladies we really have got a job on here.”
“Well” said Morgarna “I guess we just need to set them free, some of these have been trapped for hundreds of years! “
Merlin smiled and nodded as he added, “And I knew this is just the job you’ve always longed for mil-lady” he finished with a grin and a bow, offering Morgarna his hand.
Morgarna stubbed out her cigarette, gave a squeal of delight, lifted her skirt and pushing Merlin’s hand aside she climbed up on to the chair!
The entire dinning room was suddenly stunned into a shocked silence as Morgarna champagne bottle in one hand and chandelier in the other swung around from the chandelier her skirts revealing silk stockings and suspenders and thankfully for all present a pair of satin knickers… luckily not one of Morgarna’s commando days!
After a few minutes as Gail jumped up and down excitedly there was a creaking from the ceiling, as the rose cracked and the chandelier fell to the floor and smashed into a thousand pieces. Morgarna had leaped clear! Then Merlin waived his hand and a white light filled the room, all the tea dance guest were frozen in time as thousands of souls and spirits escaped from the crystal shards on floor. They all looked so grateful to finally be free. Morgarna chanted a spell and a door in the far corner of the room opened and Gail ushered all the souls towards the door.
After an hour all the souls had gone through the door and Merlin had swept the room with the E.R. to make sure no soul or spirit had been overlooked. The dinning room was completely restored to its glory! Merlin had magically repaired the chandelier and it was back in situe, Morgarna had wiped all the guests memories, some would say gratefully, of her antics.
The anomaly arrived and Merlin, Morgarna and Gail jumped!
As they left Morgarna clicked her fingers and everyone woke up and carried on where they had left off. All where left wondering why the tea was so cold?
Later that evening when all the guests were either in their rooms or gone home, there was a quiet thud as the painting beneath the chandelier slide down the wall and hit the floor.
In the morning the maids were confounded by the dark black goo running down the wall onto the carpet. ……
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