Dear Diary, as you can see, Alvize and I have continued to exchange letters.  And Carmine is as baffling as always.  But the new year is almost upon us and festivities are in full swing for preparing for the New Year's Ball.

There's particular excitement for Arianna and Emma.  It's said that if you have your second dance with the same man that evening exactly as the clock strikes midnight, that you'll be together for life.  When a man asks for the second dance then, it's seen as a confession of love.

While both Emma and Arianna are still denying that they're being courted, they're clearly putting more effort than usual into their dress and accessory selection, and clearly hoping for that second dance.  As if it matters whether they deck themselves out more than usual.  The men are already clearly taken with them.  And just in case, Martina and I have made a pact to rectify the situation should our friends be slighted and dispose of the bodies where no one will ever find them.

Clearly it won't come to that, however.  This seems to be the very evening that Lord Darl has been training for.  Exactly two dances every ball.  I speculate that he was afraid if he allowed himself to be greedy for more, he'd reach the New Year's Ball and find that by midnight he'd accidently started in on the third dance and ruined everything.  I wasn't aware of the superstition until now, but it's become evident that he's a genius long term planner. 

Sir Stronner, on the other hand, will have to learn patience.  If he's not careful he really will go a dance too far... at least.  How Arianna is still able to insist that they're not courting by now is beyond the rest of us.

Just like back home, it appears that ringing in the new year is an all out affair.  Which is odd considering ball preparation already seems over the top to me, but we've somehow gotten even more over the top.  The already extravagant ball gowns now shine with sequins and tinsel sparkles everywhere, including the hair accessories.

It might come as a shock from me, Diary, but I've found this is an extravagance I'm willing to embrace.  More often than not it seems I've found the customs, and what I would regard as eccentricities, of this world unnecessary or unpleasant, but how often do we all get to sparkle like a main character without having to be the main character?  For this ball, we all shine.  I won't actually be standing out, so I get to feel special without warranting unnecessary scrutiny.

My willingness to embrace the extravagance of this ball is probably also partly due to how familiar making a big deal out of the new year is.  There’s a piece of this that does feel like home.  The fanfare, the decorations, the party, it’s the most similar to reality that I’ve experienced so far.  This is probably the first time that I’ve truly felt like I fit in here.  It’s a good feeling.

I’m used to going to New Year’s Eve parties and dressing up, to perusing the snack table and even partaking in some dancing.  It is still different here.  It’s a different style of dancing and the dresses are a lot poofier and covering.  Still, wanting to celebrate and anticipate better to come, the feelings that a new year evokes, and even, despite the differences, a lot of how it looks, are the same.

I've jumped whole heartedly into the ball preparations.  It's come as a shock to my friends as well.  They didn't meet with my usual reticence when they suggested ball gown shopping.  I was uncharacteristically onboard.  But I can't help it.  I just love sequins and sparkles and the familiar way they light up the air with excitement.  I enjoy a good New Year’s celebration, and look forward to getting to celebrate with my friends here.  It’s almost like I’m sharing my traditions with them, even while I’m still learning some new ones of theirs.

We all found marvelous dresses.  Arianna's is bright red, with red sparkles.  Martina's is gold, with a black sequined trim.  In both their cases, I think they pair brilliantly with their bold hair colors.  Emma's dress is a dark green, also with a black sequined trim.  The dark colors make her look very elegant.  And mine, oh, Diary, I found a gorgeous midnight blue dress decorated throughout with yellow sparkles.  It looks like they captured a night sky right as twilight turns into night.

Everything seems magical.  Maybe this will be the ball that Martina and I find ourselves swept off of our feet as well.  Metaphorically, of course.  I don't want a man to literally sweep me off my feet.  He needs to be someone well grounded in reality.

I'm unusually abuzz with excitement.  I'll let you know how it goes, Diary.  And if no man does come to sweep me off my feet, at least I know my brother will be there and obliged to dance with me, so I'll still get to twirl around in my shiny dress.  But I feel quite confident that both Martina and I will have men lined up to dance with us.

Although I had told Alvize he could ask me if he needed a partner, I’m afraid he might not even get the chance with all the potential suitors that I expect to gather round.  But perhaps they’ll mostly gather around Martina.  I don’t need many anyway.  Just one respectable man, and Martina can have her pick of the wealthiest of the rest.  And I’ll save at least one dance for Alvize.

That’s enough of my dreaming for now, Diary.  Ball preparation is intense and I need to go apply another facial treatment and then try on my dress for alterations.  I plan to look my best and have a wonderful start to a new year, and I’ll tell you all about how great it was next time.