The Spring Ball started by being about fashion. Marion has a stunning new dress made for her by Rosanda, from fabric made in India. She goes for an Indian look with diamonds around her forehead as worn by the leading ladies of Bollywood blockbusters. Lady Lily is in a Chinese inspired costume. Earth fashion has invaded Gallifrey, and a good thing too when you consider some of those heavy Elizabethan gowns worn by the few women ever seen in Doctor Who episodes set on Gallifrey.

But it is also a reminder that Marion is more than a clothes horse. She stands up for her opinions in front of the junior ranks of Time Lords at least. Valena Arpexia’s escort to the ball tries to dismiss her, but she stands her ground and finds allies. But she also discovers that politics are never a matter of black and white, certainly not on Gallifrey. Can she even depend on Kristoph to back her up?

This is a very slight rift in their relationship. It’s not the start of any serious issues between them, let it be known. Marion and Kristoph are for keeps. But she disagrees with him about the issue of female suffrage on Gallifrey.

There has been one major amendment to this story since I originally wrote it. This paragraph:-

The Caretaker class are far from slaves. They enjoy a good standard of living. But if I was in a position to change the way our system works, I would aim for giving hard working men of that class a real say in the government, not the likes of Selene Borussalan or Callina Maxic. I think Cerulean is right. They really would vote for the High Councillor who wore their favourite colours.”

Originally, Lady Dúccesci was one of the women who Kristoph thought incapable of making a sound political decision. But in later stories, Talitha Dúccesci proves to be more astute than that, and it really didn’t fit to have her labelled that way.

Of course, this story is one of a number that will focus on the question of the Presidential resignation, and whether Kristoph de Lœngbærrow will be in the running for that top place in the Gallifreyan political order. This is a subject that will gather pace as time goes on.