"Eleanor," said William, watching her rose-pink dress sway in the distance. "Eleanor!"

For all hope was lost in getting his beloved back. Sweet Jennifer, who was much smaller than his dearest strained his neck to look at. He gave a smile, not one of certainty, and gulped his whiskey down.

"Mr. William, may I ask why you are attached to Lady Eleanor in such a way?"

"She is my dearest, the one I intend to marry. Her and I are perfect together. Did you know, one day, we were out on a walk with my Mama as a chaperone. And my love and I got compared to the love of the great Queen and Prince Albert?" William glanced to his left, indulged in the great memory.

"For that is not a compliment, dear," said Jennifer, her ringlet popping in front of her eye. William immediately stapled his eyes into Jennifer's.

"Pardon?"

"You not think the royal family are snobs?" She continued his gaze as she sipped champagne. "A family born on incest and pride are not something I shall stand for."

"Nay!" said he, "My dearest is close cousins to Prince Bertie."

William snapped at his personal butler beside him to get another whiskey on the refreshment table. He could have completed the task himself, but he needed to understand what such slander came out Jennifer's mouth!

"I am not aware of him."

"Oh, Jennifer, what a pain it is to talk to you," said he, examining the downwards tilt in her bottom lip. "Prince Bertie is Prince Albert Edward VII. The heir to the throne..."

William watched as his beloved sat with her friends, Alice and Kittie. He sought fondly of her friends and trusted them to aide her when he could not. Poor Eleanor pretended to smile as guest talked to her. For a second, he almost walked over there to apologize for whatever he did wrong.

"Eleanor is related to the royal family? It surely shall not be in a significant way. Her bratty nature is not one of--"

"Her mother is the Queen's half-sister, Jennifer. Please, must we switch conversations and not be about my beloved? Something is bothering her, but I do not know what," said he.

"I think I know." Jennifer gave her champagne to his butler and fixed her glove sleeve.

"You do? Please, inform me."

"Not now. For fear of other's hearing our conversation. Me and my Papa shall invade your estate tomorrow after dawn. Good day," said she, walking out of the refreshment room and into the ballroom.

William had the urge to chase after Jennifer. He did not act on said actions and instead, stridden to Eleanor's table.

He locked his hands behind his back. Sweat engraved in his sideburns.

"Miss Alice," said he. "Miss Kittie. What a pleasure to be met to your acquaintance again."

"The pleasure is most certainly not mine, Mr. Thompson," said Alice.

William turned his focus on to Eleanor, whom store at the white clothed table. She did not gaze into his eyes once more or smile at his presence.

"My dearest," said he, examining her more. "Privacy?" And with that, she shot her look at William, rubbing her hands on her elbows. Upset, William switched his hands from behind his back to the front. "What is the matter?"

"You ask of privacy yet you denied my offer earlier. I am quite comfortable here with my ladies. You have caused a disturbance Mr. Thompson."

Mr. Thompson! Nay! When has his beloved ever called him Mr. Thompson?

"If that is the case, Miss Saalfield, I shall be on my way," said he, connecting his hands to his collar to push it out. "And it will add much more to my life if I conversed with Miss Jennifer," said he, knowing that the slightest whisper of Jennifer would upset Eleanor very much. His assumption deemed as right. Eleanor glared back at the table, a tear bouncing off of the table fabric. She opened her fan and twirled it in her left hand meaning, 'I wish to rid of you'

And with that knowledge, William entered the ballroom, tasking himself to find Jennifer. Need not a wife that rested such jealousy in her heart for no reason. Alas! The love William had for Eleanor had not died—yet dwindled from their first meet with each other. And the love William had for Jennifer simply had never existed. But playing pretend seemed to be a wonderful game William had! If he led Eleanor to believe he loved Jennifer, then what amusement it will be for him! How long could he put up an act until his beloved came running back into his arms, hopeless and distressed?

The small and petite debutante in the pastel dress made her way to William.

"Mr. William," said she.

"Miss Jennifer." He kissed her hand. "I must say," said William, linking his arm into hers, "I shall be ready to meet your father tomorrow. If he is as charming and nice than you, then it shall be easy!"

"You are too charming!" said she, leading him to the dance floor. "A second waltz surely will make us the talk of the town."

"A second waltz it is, Miss Jennifer."

He smiled, watching Jennifer curtsy to him as if he was a divine figure. A better plan popped into William's mind, yet not to be revealed until Jennifer and him had proper alone time.