"Tea in the Era of Downton Abbey" is the topic of a "tea talk" by Helen O. Von Salzen, a certified tea and etiquette consultant at Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour in the village of Pinehurst.

"The program was announced in the calendar page of the current issue of the nationally circulated Tea Time magazine, and phone calls started coming in from all over the country," says Marion Caso, owner and manager of Lady Bedford's

Caso booked the "tea talk" once, twice, three times and each offering sold out. A fourth date was added, and then a fifth date had to be added. Caso says that some callers actually burst into tears when they thought they would not be able to attend.

The afternoon events are Feb. 28 and March 7. Chef Joseph Henderson has created a multi-course menu derived from "The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook," and the all-inclusive cost of each event is $25.

Some guests are choosing to come in costumes of the Edwardian era or of the Roaring '20s. Helen Von Salzen has chosen to emulate the styles of Lady Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, and she is accessorizing her costume with a century-old rope of faux pearls that once belonged to her grandmother.

Inquirers from afar sent email messages to both Marian Caso and to Helen Von Salzen, and both women have been sharing Von Salzen's reading and viewing list recommendations with those who have requested the information.

Here are some of those recommendations:

Julian Fellowes, the creator and author of the enormously successful television series that has been watched by millions of viewers all over the world, has said that he was inspired by a 1980s book called "To Marry an English Lord," and this book, and many other books relevant to social and historical aspects of the era of "Downton Abbey," have been reissued and new books of similar interest are being published regularly.

Jessica Fellowes has now issued two companion books to her uncle's television series: "The World of Downton Abbey Companion Book" and "The Chronicles of 'Downton Abbey,' A New Era."

All fans of the television series will want to read "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey," by the Countess of Carnarvon, the doyenne of Highclere Castle, which is the site of "Downton Abbey."

Viewers will want to know that season 4 of "Downton Abbey" will be shown in the United States in winter 2014. Seasons 1, 2 and 3 are available in DVD format for home viewing. And Julian Fellowes has announced his intention to create a spin-off series that will be a prequel and will explore the courtship of Lady Cora and Lord Grantham.

For further information about the tea talks, see www.ladybedfords.com or email Marian Caso at tea@ladybedfords.com or hvonsalzen@aol.com.