QUOTE(Equester @ May 10 2006, 05:26 AM)
Okay, I've found the countess and talked to her, but there's no option about the dinner party. Is there something I have to do first? (Aside from visiting the shrine, obviously

)
When I did this I arrived at the castle about 8 PM I think, and the party was already started. I used a detect life spell to notice there were a lot of people in one of the rooms on your right when you enter the county hall.
More spoilers below...
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Then I spoke to the guard who was guarding the door to the party (you can't enter the room), and he said something like 'ok you look like you're dressed for a party, go ahead in!' (and I was wearing my glass armour

). And then I went in and did the job.
I admit I had to laugh when I saw what that spell did...