Eli did not want to be at the Birmingham ball. Twas the same as every year, and the same as every other ball he attended: boring.

Why would a person want to attend a ball? To find a husband or wife, he could understand that. Yet there were better places to meet your spouse. But married couples still joined. Whyever would they do that? How crazy must one be to like balls?

The sooner this night ended, the happier he would be. But he feared the end was not in sight, as his mother and sisters truly loved balls. Even Ada did, which he could not understand. Should twins not feel the same about everything? Then why did she absolutely adore balls while he absolutely hated them?

He had joined Jim and Lee on the side of the ballroom, but they were not quite the company he liked. They were twenty years of age, but they did not behave like that. They behaved like twelve year olds, and he truly hated it.

He eventually walked away from his brother to find the refreshment table. There was one thing good about balls: the drinks were for free.

"Mr. Byron," a voice suddenly said beside him. He turned to find a dark-blonde haired woman looking at her. Her eyes were sparkling, hoping for attention.

He had to suppress a sigh. She had been asking for his attention every time she saw him, even though he had made it clear he did not want to give her attention. Not only was she nine years younger than him, she came from one of the most notorious families in London that could survive even the biggest rumours.

"Lady Hayes," he greeted the youngest Hayes daughter. Her smiled widened when he remembered her name. He did not understand why the woman came to him in the first place. She was a lady of high status with a family name to uphold, while he was not even a lord.

"I saw you did not come in company, so I assumed you would not mind my presence," lady Eleanor Hayes told him.

Eli wanted to roll his eyes, but decided against it. His parents would be furious if he knew.

"Well," Eli said slowly, thinking of an excuse, "I was just on my way to er... an acquaintance I must greet."

He saw her face change into one of disappointment, but she quickly covered it up. "Mayhap later this evening," she told him before she curtsied and stepped away to give him room to walk away. He gave her a quick bow, then walked into the direction of a familiar face.

He had lied to the lady with the purpose of sending her away, but he had indeed seen an acquaintance. Usually, he would not greet mere acquaintances, but since he needed an excuse from lady Hayes, anyone was a good person to greet.

"I knew you were a lady," he said once he was near his familiar face. The woman had obviously not seen him come, for she startled before her eyes looked up to him.

"You," the woman he had seen a couple of nights ago said. She looked as self-righteous as she did then, but he would not be surprised if that was her neutral expression. He had been surprised to bump into a woman while it was dark outside, but he was even more surprised when he realized she was a lady and she did not want a man's pity. It had been quite an improvement from the women he was used to. But her arrogant posture toward her made her descent on his scale of appreciation.

"Yes, me", Eli told her with a smug smile.

"And is that why you are here?" the chocolate brown haired lady asked, her green eyes suspicious. "To prove you are correct?"

"That is not why I came to this ball," he told her dumbly. "But it is why I am speaking to you." Also, you are a good excuse to escape a certain lady.

"Very well," she said, raising her chin. "Now you know I am a lady indeed. As I now know you are a lord, and not a very kind one at that."

He laughed confidently. "Eli Byron," he said with a bow. "I am no lord. The only man people call a lord in my family, is my father."

"But he has no title?" she asked surprised.

"No, merely a lot of greatness."

"I know of him," she said, confirming Eli's suspicion. "My sister has worked for him during the production of Pondside."

"Your sister?" he asked surprised. "Another lady?" Twould seem the improper behaviour was a family habit.

"The lady of Hawthorne," she said with a nod. "Although she was not married yet when she helped with the play."

He recognized that name, and remembered the lady's story. "You are a Brompton?" he asked surprised, putting all the pieces together.

"Mary Brompton," she said with a curtsy. "I gather you know my sister."

"I have never met her," he admitted. "But my father spoke with high regard of her."

A smile appeared on lady Brompton's face. "I must tell her that. She will be very pleased."

"I assume you do not mind about improper behaviour, giving you are a Brompton," he said. "So may I ask about your Brother? Is he not the man who married the disowned Hayes daughter?"

"Yes, he is," she told him. "And they live very happily with five children now, if you must know."

"I did not."

"Now you know anyway."

He looked at her with raised eyebrows. Then he shook his head. Odd lady, do not forget.

"And did the lord of Duncan not marry his lover?" he asked.

She turned her head to look at him. This time, her eyebrows were raised. "You seem to know a lot about my family."

"About everyone," he admitted. "Tis a great asset to know the rumours, for they give one a great story." And those rumours is where he and Ada got their inspiration from for they plays. Yet their father mostly knew the stories too, and told them they could not use it. Not yet, anyway.

Lady Brompton nodded, then turned her head to look back at the ballroom. "Tis a great story, indeed. But that is all it is. A story. The whispers of Andrew and Victoria being lovers, was an untrue rumour. But it did bring them closer, and now they are married."

"Is that them?" he asked, pointing at a couple in the middle of the dance floor.

She nodded. "The woman with the most spectacular dresses is my sister-in-law, indeed."

"And your other sister-in-law?" he asked. "The lady of Lindenberg, if I am not mistaken."

"You know us quite well," she said, her head turning back to him. "She is not here. If you knew her personally instead of listening to all the rumours, you might have known she is with child."

"That is great for her," Eli said, feeling quite annoyed by this woman who wanted to know everything better than him.

"How about your family?" she asked. "I had no knowledge of lord Byron having children."

"He has five," Eli said. "Me being the second, but first male."

"That is great for you," she said, her voice very flat, making certain he knew she did not mean those words.

He did not know how to react to that, so just like her, he kept his eyes on the dance floor. Ivy was dancing with Benjamin, and if he were alone in the room, he would smile at the sight of it. His sister truly looked happy in the arms of the man. And as an older brother, there was nothing he could wish more for her.

"Why does Eleanor Hayes keep her eyes on you?" lady Brompton suddenly asked. "Tis quite annoying to be stared at."

"Be glad she is not staring at you," Eli said. "I believe she fancies me, but tis not mutual."

"Then tell her that."

"I have tried to make it clear, but she does not seem to understand it."

Lady Brompton shrugged. "If that wench is too dumb to take a hint, you have my permission to be rude."

His eyebrows instantly raised, surprised by her words. He had never expected to hear a lady say such insulting words. "You do not seem to be bothered with hurting her. Are you not on friendly terms?"

"I have never met her," she admitted. "But my sister-in-law does not like her. And I have every intention of believing Madilyn over the whispers of people."

"You have heard whispers about her?" he asked, interested in whatever story he might get to hear.

She simply shrugged. "I intentionally ignore them. But I hope they are quite bad."

Eli wiped a hand over his mouth, trying to hide his laughter.

Wow, this woman was bold.