Twas late in the morning when William finally decided to get out of bed. Last night had been a long night, so he was not surprised to find that it was almost midday when he opened his eyes.

It took him a few eyeblinks to realize he was in West Cirsley. He had been sleeping in the bed he had slept in when he was young, for he had been too tired to go home that night. Emily and Alexander had stayed too, along with their families.

Once he was dressed, he went downstairs for breakfast. He had to meet lord Byron that afternoon and ask for his judgement of the book about Pondside. He felt nervousness come up at just the thought of it. The lord had received a manuscript of the book a few days ago and promised to have finished it by today – the reason why they had set up a meeting this afternoon. Lord Byron needed to give the book his seal of approval before William could send it for copies to be sold in bookshops after the play's premier.

He entered the breakfast room and found his parents there. Neither Emily nor Alexander were there, just James, Emily's son. The baby was drinking a bottle in the arms of his grandmother, while his grandfather was enjoying the sight of it all.

"Good morning," he announced, then took a seat on the chair he always occupied when he was in West Cirsley. "What did you find of the ball last night?"

"I was impressed," lord Albert said. "I did not think so many people would travel to West Cirsley for us."

William shrugged. "People would go anywhere for a good ball."

"I was impressed by Elizabeth," lady Tina suddenly said. "She has grown up to be a gorgeous lady, has she not?"

"She certainly has," her husband agreed.

Lady Tina looked away from the baby and at her son. "Tell me again why you left her? I am certain she would have made an amazing daughter-in-law. And it would be great to see lady Anne again. O how I have missed that funny lady."

"Mother," William complained.

"Now tell me, son," lord Albert wanted to know as well. "Why have you not asked for her hand yet?"

He gave his parents a stern look. "I will not ask for her hand, so do not even hope for it."

"But she was so kind," lady Tina said dreamily. "And she has changed so much. She truly is no longer a young girl. She is a lady-worthy woman now."

"She is beautiful, indeed," William agreed, pleasing his parents. "But I will not ask for her hand, and you know why."

"O tis a silly reason," his mother said. "The woman has changed, I am certain. You ought to give her a chance."

"Was it also not you who called the end of your relationship by leaving her?" lord Albert asked. "I am certain that hurt her."

"It hurt me too when she lied," William argued.

"Yes, but she had a good reason to do so," lady Tina reasoned. "You told us she did not want you to leave."

"I had a good reason to leave as well," William told them. "I was hurt."

"And so you fulfilled her worst fear and left."

William stood up, suddenly not hungry anymore as it had made space for his anger and frustration. "I shall go home now," he announced. "Tell Emily and Alexander I said good morning."

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That afternoon, William had arrived at the theatre. He walked to lord Byron's office like he had done on his first day, only now he knew the building by heart and he did not have to ask for the way. Many people were working at the theatre, and he assumed Elizabeth would be here too.

He shook his head. Do not think of her. Last night was a mistake. He should not have invited her and he should definitely not have kissed her. Yes, it was a great kiss and he had enjoyed it – a lot – but he should not kiss the woman he could not fall in love with. He was not certain of anything she did. Every word she spoke was one he doubted, and even when she kissed him, he doubted if she genuinely wanted to. Would she lie about being in love with him? Would every smile she gave him be a lie? Was he the only one who felt his heart skip a beat at every kiss – even every touch?

So much for not thinking of her, he thought as he arrived at lord Byron's theatre study. He knocked on the door and entered when he heard lord Byron allow him to do so.

"Ah," the man said, "lord Hawthorne. Please, take a seat. There is so much to tell about your book."

William blinked a few times before taking a seat on the chair. If there was much to tell about the book, was it all bad? Or was he so happy it was all good?

"I shall go straight to business," the man said enthusiastically – was that enthusiasm? "You have written certain things very different from what I expected, but you have understood well that you were to write about the making of the play, rather than the story. Though I would have appreciated a short summary of it."

William nodded, prepared for a question such as this. "I completely understand, my lord. And if you wish for it, I shall add it. But I thought I would be best for people to watch the play if they want to know the story, rather than read my short summary. After all, I am not involved in the making of the play. I merely document it."

Lord Byron nodded in agreement, but he did not seem completely satisfied. "I understand your choice, and you are correct indeed – people ought to watch the play to know the story. But your book will be read by people who do not have the money to attend my theatre, yet they have the money to buy the book. That is why I want a summary in your book."

"Yes, my lord," William said while nodding his head, "I shall add it."

"Next, I want you to know that I truly appreciate the attention you have given the workers."

William smiled at lord Byron, but felt a "but" coming.

"But," lord Byron said and William had to supress a sigh, "the actors do not get a lot of attention. I do not mind it. In fact, I like it better this way. The actors were not the kindest, but they are good actors. And that is why people watch the play, not read the book. But by not solely talking of them, you risk their ire and hate. They are what the people come to see, so they see themselves as the most important part of the play. So if your book does not speak of them a lot, they will dislike you for it."

William nodded. He had known the risk of including the workers behind the curtains more than the actors, but he liked how his book had turned out. It truly told of what happens behind the curtains to make a play like Pondside so fantastic.

"Lastly I want to tell you I appreciate you did not ruin the play by writing about the technical aspects that leave people in question of how we did it. I do not know how you could resist the temptation, but I am glad you did."

He smiled and thought of Elizabeth. She had told him not to write about it, and he had taken the risk and listened to her. "I did not want to ruin the magic."

It earned him a smile from lord Byron. "Tis the best thing I could have hoped for."

"Thank you, my lord."

"No, thank you, lord Hawthorne. The book you have written is truly amazing. You have the right to be proud of yourself."

A sigh of relief escaped William while he smiled at lord Byron, grateful for his complements. He did not receive the seal of approval yet, for he had to add a summary of the story. But in a few hours, he could finish that, then earn the approval.

After a few short words of goodbye and good luck from both people, William left the study to exit the building and go home to write the last piece of his book.

He walked through the theatre and saw that a rehearsal on stage was ongoing. He saw a yellow dress on the one of the seats, a beautiful bunch of brown hair above it. He knew it was Elizabeth – he would recognizes her from miles away.

He wanted to go to her, but decided against it. Their last kiss had been uncontrolled, and they could not have it again. He could not trust her, yet he yearned for her. He knew she felt the same, for she had kissed him back. She had enjoyed the kiss too, for she moaned as well.

But twas wrong that he had to resist temptation to take her to his bed. If he would do that, he would ruin every chance she had at marriage. And she was still so young – only twenty-three. He could not take her.

So instead of going to her, he walked away from her and tried to forget her.