"Hello! Your dress is so pretty!"

"...thank you. Yours is as well, miss...?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Elizabeth. And you are?"

"Merryweather. My brother is hosting this party."

"Oh, really? That's marvelous! He is quite handsome... but not as much as my fiance." A smile.

"The earl, yes? He is... cute. My brother likes him." Or just his butler, she doesn't say.

"Come with me, I'll introduce you!" She grabs Merry's arm - Merry pulls back. "Hmm?"

"...nothing, I'm sorry. I just, um, need to find my brother..."

"It's okay. The earl isn't as scary as people say. And they're probably talking, anyway."

"...okay."