A Proper Teatime [open to Lord Hong]
For an American, Ali sets out a very proper tea. Taking advantage of the good weather, she's set up in one of the gardens in the Nexus: a patio surrounded by rose bushes has been taken over. In the center is a round table just big enough for two with two chairs waiting. The basics are all laid out: pot of Earl Grey with cream and honey, delicate china and silverware, and of course the goodies. A soft white linen cloth covers the table, and a vase of golden calla lilies round out the setting.
Triple-tiered stands is used to serve. The bottom plates are laden with little sandwiches cut into little diamonds filled with either smoked salmon, deviled ham, or cucumber and cream cheese. Above them, cinnamon scones and crumpets with clotted cream and orange marmalade are presented alongside fat strawberries split at the tips and filled with cream, and the top tier is filled with the sorts of cute tea pastries and cakes that really good bakeries spend the morning decorating and little girls spend their nights dreaming about.
Ali sits, reading one of the slim volumes of poetry she always has with her until her guest arrives and smoothing the skirt of her lavender dress down again whenever the breeze tries to steal it away.
Triple-tiered stands is used to serve. The bottom plates are laden with little sandwiches cut into little diamonds filled with either smoked salmon, deviled ham, or cucumber and cream cheese. Above them, cinnamon scones and crumpets with clotted cream and orange marmalade are presented alongside fat strawberries split at the tips and filled with cream, and the top tier is filled with the sorts of cute tea pastries and cakes that really good bakeries spend the morning decorating and little girls spend their nights dreaming about.
Ali sits, reading one of the slim volumes of poetry she always has with her until her guest arrives and smoothing the skirt of her lavender dress down again whenever the breeze tries to steal it away.