{"id":479,"date":"2026-07-23T08:05:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T01:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/?p=479"},"modified":"2026-07-23T08:05:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T01:05:47","slug":"hyacinths-candlelight-catastrophe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/?p=479","title":{"rendered":"Hyacinth\u2019s Candlelight Catastrophe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hyacinth Bucket\u2014pronounced\u00a0Bouquet<\/strong>, as she never tired of reminding people\u2014stood proudly in her drawing room holding an elegant ivory candle.<\/p>\n

\u201cRichard,\u201d she announced, \u201cnothing creates an atmosphere of cultured refinement quite like candlelight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard looked up from tightening a loose chair leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also creates melted wax.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly in careless homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

She ignored his observation and carefully placed six expensive candles along the dining table.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis evening,\u201d she continued, \u201cthe members of the Arts Appreciation Circle shall enjoy what I have described as \u2018An Authentic Victorian Candlelit Supper.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t we simply switch on the lights?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hyacinth stared at him as though he\u2019d suggested serving tea in paper cups.<\/p>\n

\u201cElectricity lacks romance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The telephone rang.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bouquet residence, lady of the house speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elizabeth\u2019s timid voice floated down the line.<\/p>\n

\u201cHyacinth\u2026 I\u2019m just checking whether you\u2019d still like me to bring the dessert.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Elizabeth. And please, whatever you do, don\u2019t become nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hyacinth smiled confidently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve arranged everything to perfection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard quietly muttered, \u201cThat\u2019s usually when things begin.\u201d<\/p>\n

An hour later, the dining room resembled something from a period drama. Crystal glasses sparkled. Silver cutlery gleamed. The candles stood perfectly straight in polished holders.<\/p>\n

Hyacinth admired her reflection.<\/p>\n

\u201cMagnificent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doorbell rang.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth entered carefully carrying an enormous trifle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI walked very slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m delighted to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

A second knock followed almost immediately.<\/p>\n

It was Daisy, Rose and, inevitably, Onslow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only popped in to wish you luck,\u201d Daisy smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd maybe borrow a bit of sugar,\u201d added Onslow.<\/p>\n

Hyacinth folded her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is hardly the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onslow sniffed the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmells expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rose wandered into the dining room.<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh\u2026 how romantic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hyacinth beamed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is intended to recreate the elegance of nineteenth-century entertaining.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onslow examined one of the candles.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026 no electricity?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shall dine exactly as refined society once did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onslow grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHope they had torches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Richard coughed to hide a laugh.<\/p>\n

Soon the Arts Appreciation Circle arrived, including the chairman, Mrs. Fortescue, who fancied herself an authority on Victorian customs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dear Mrs. Bouquet,\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cHow wonderfully authentic!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hyacinth almost floated across the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spared no effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone took their seats.<\/p>\n

The candles flickered beautifully.<\/p>\n

The atmosphere was calm.<\/p>\n

Sophisticated.<\/p>\n

Almost magical.<\/p>\n

Then\u2026<\/p>\n

The lights throughout the entire neighborhood suddenly went out.<\/p>\n

Darkness swallowed the house.<\/p>\n

There was a chorus of surprised gasps.<\/p>\n

Hyacinth smiled triumphantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see? We hardly noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Onslow\u2019s voice emerged from somewhere near the buffet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve noticed.\u201d<\/p>\n

A loud crash echoed through the room.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth squeaked.<\/p>\n

Richard groaned.<\/p>\n

Someone had clearly walked into something.<\/p>\n

As Hyacinth reached for another candle, a strange shadow moved slowly across the dining room wall.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Fortescue whispered nervously,<\/p>\n

\u201cDid\u2026 did anyone else see that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Every head turned toward the enormous moving silhouette.<\/p>\n

Then came an unmistakable sound.<\/p>\n

Miaaaoowww\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hyacinth froze.<\/p>\n

Richard blinked.<\/p>\n

Onslow quietly said,<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think Victorian ghosts usually purr.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hyacinth Bucket\u2014pronounced\u00a0Bouquet, as she never tired of reminding people\u2014stood proudly in her drawing room holding an elegant ivory candle. \u201cRichard,\u201d she announced, \u201cnothing creates an atmosphere of cultured refinement quite…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chua-phan-loai"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=479"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":481,"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions\/481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogtamsu.com.vn\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}