Fiona looks out across the vast, sumptuous ball room. She's stood at
the top of a long, semi-circular staircase which leads with a thick
red carpet to an enormous dance floor. There are hundreds of
couples, maybe thousands, all turning and twirling, becoming a giant
whirlpool of colours. All the ladies wear stunning gowns, while some
men wear military honours, others a more traditional black tie.
Around the dance floor, a moat of tables covered with plates and
glasses. Most of the seats are empty. Beyond that, the walls are
decked with red or gold drapes, the occasional portrait interspersed
among them, all beneath numerous grand diamond chandeliers.
