1. Every morning, Lady DeMorgan ___ (take) her Earl Grey tea in the drawing room.

takes
is taking

2. She normally ___ (despise) interruptions before noon, but today she ___ (grant) an audience to her estate manager.

is despising / grants
despises / is granting

3. Her butler ___ (understand) her rigid protocol, yet he ___ (always / attempt) to alter the schedule without her approval.

understands / is always attempting
is understanding / always attempts

4. Lady DeMorgan remarks, "You ___ (be) unusually nervous this morning."

are
are being

5. While the butler ___ (pour) the cream, her Ladyship notices a letter on the silver tray that ___ (appear) to be important.

is pouring / appears
pours / is appearing

6. Meanwhile the butler ___ (glance) nervously at the grandfather clock and ___ (shift) his weight from foot to foot.

is glancing / is shifting
glances / shifts

7. Lady DeMorgan gently inquires, "___ (you / hope) to discuss the carriage repairs now?"

Do you hope
Are you hoping

8. The butler explains that the staff ___ (currently / clean) the stables and ___ (actively / prepare) the horses for the Duchess's arrival.

are currently cleaning / are actively preparing
currently clean / actively prepares

9. Lady DeMorgan thoroughly ___ (enjoy) when the dutchess visits, so she ___ (instruct) the butler to prepare the West Wing immediately.

is enjoying / is instructing
enjoys / instructs

10. Just then, her nephew bursts into the room; he ___ (constantly / solicit) funds for his business ventures.

constantly solicits
is constantly soliciting

11. "Not another word, Julian," she sighs. "I ___ (review) urgent correspondence."

review
am reviewing

12. Julian complains bitterly, "Your head footman ___ (always / misplace) my riding boots whenever I visit!"

always misplaces
is always misplacing

13. Outside, the morning mist ___ (dissipate) over the gardens and the grounds staff ___ (gradually / clear) the main driveway.

dissipates / gradually clear
is dissipating / are gradually clearing

14. Her Ladyship checks her pocket watch, "The dutchess ___ (arrive) at precisely eleven o'clock; we must be ready."

arrives
is arriving

15. She murmurs to herself, "I ___ (continually / find) that mornings at DeMorgan Manor are far too eventful."

continually find
am continually finding