Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington were seen in conversation at the Smythe-Smith musicale, although no one seems to know what exactly they were discussing. This Author would
venture to guess that their conversation centered upon This Authorโs identity, since that was what everyone else seemed to be talking about before, after, and (rather rudely, in This Authorโs esteemed opinion) during the performance.
In other news, Honoria Smythe-Smithโs violin was damaged when Lady Danbury accidentally knocked it off a table while waving her cane.
Lady Danbury insisted upon replacing the instrument, but then declared that as it is not her habit to buy anything but the best, Honoria will have a Ruggieri violin, imported from Cremona, Italy.
It is This Authorโs understanding that, when one factors in
manufacture and shipping time, along with a lengthy waiting list, it takes six months for a Ruggieri violin to reach our shores.
LADYย WHISTLEDOWNโSย SOCIETYย PAPERS, 16 APRILย 1824
There are moments in a womanโs life when her heart flips in her chest, when the world suddenly seems uncommonly pink and perfect, when a symphony can be heard in the tinkle of a doorbell.
Penelope Featherington had just such a moment two days after the Smythe-Smith musicale.
All it took was a knock on her bedroom door, followed by her butlerโs voice, informing her:
โMr. Colin Bridgerton is here to see you.โ Penelope tumbled right off the bed.
Briarly, who had butlered for the Featherington family long enough so that he did not even so much as bat an eyelash at Penelopeโs clumsiness, murmured, โShall I tell him you are not in?โ
โNo!โ Penelope nearly shrieked, stumbling to her feet. โI mean, no,โ she added in a more reasonable voice. โBut I will require ten minutes to prepare myself.โ She glanced in the mirror and winced at her disheveled appearance. โFifteen.โ
โAs you wish, Miss Penelope.โ
โOh, and make certain to prepare a tray of food. Mr. Bridgerton is sure to be hungry. Heโs always hungry.โ
The butler nodded again.
Penelope stood stock-still as Briarly disappeared out the door, then, completely unable to contain herself, danced from foot to foot, emitting a strange squealing sort of noiseโone that she was convincedโor at least hopedโhad never before crossed her lips.
Then again, she couldnโt remember the last time a gentleman had called upon her, much less the one with whom sheโd been desperately in love for almost half of her life.
โSettle down,โ she said, spreading her fingers and pressing her flattened palms out in much the same motion she might make if she were trying to
placate a small, unruly crowd. โYou must remain calm. Calm,โ she repeated, as if that would actually do the trick. โCalm.โ
But inside, her heart was dancing.
She took a few deep breaths, walked over to her dressing table, and picked up her hairbrush. It would only take a few minutes to repin her hair; surely Colin wasnโt going to flee if she kept him waiting for a short while. Heโd expect her to take a bit of time to ready herself, wouldnโt he?
But still, she found herself fixing her hair in record time, and by the time she stepped through the sitting room door, a mere five minutes had passed since the butlerโs announcement.
โThat was quick,โ Colin said with a quirky grin. Heโd been standing by the window, peering out at Mount Street.
โOh, was it?โ Penelope said, hoping that the heat she felt on her skin wasnโt translating into a blush. A woman was supposed to keep a gentleman waiting, although not too long. Still, it made no sense to hold to such silly behavior with Colin, of all people. He would never be interested in her in a romantic fashion, and besides, they were friends.
Friends. It seemed like such an odd concept, and yet that was exactly what they were. Theyโd always been friendly acquaintances, but since his return from Cyprus, theyโd become friends in truth.
It was magical.
Even if he never loved herโand she rather thought he never wouldโ this was better than what theyโd had before.
โTo what do I owe the pleasure?โ she asked, taking a seat on her motherโs slightly faded yellow damask sofa.
Colin sat across from her in a rather uncomfortable straight-backed chair. He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees, and Penelope knew instantly that something was wrong. It simply wasnโt the pose a
gentleman adopted for a regular social call. He looked too distraught, too intense.
โItโs rather serious,โ he said, his face grim.
Penelope nearly rose to her feet. โHas something happened? Is someone ill?โ
โNo, no, nothing like that.โ He paused, let out a long breath, then raked his hand through his already mussed-up hair. โItโs about Eloise.โ
โWhat is it?โ
โI donโt know how to say this. IโDo you have anything to eat?โ
Penelope was ready to wring his neck. โFor heavenโs sake, Colin!โ โSorry,โ he muttered. โI havenโt eaten all day.โ
โA first, Iโm sure,โ Penelope said impatiently. โI already told Briarly to fix a tray. Now, will you just tell me what is wrong, or do you plan to wait until I expire of impatience?โ
โI think sheโs Lady Whistledown,โ he blurted out.
Penelopeโs mouth fell open. She wasnโt sure what sheโd expected him to say, but it wasnโt this.
โPenelope, did you hear me?โ
โEloise?โ she asked, even though she knew exactly who he was talking about.
He nodded.
โShe canโt be.โ
He stood and began to pace, too full of nervous energy to sit still. โWhy not?โ
โBecauseโฆbecauseโฆโ Becauseย why? โBecause there is no way she could have done that for ten years without my knowing.โ
His expression went from disturbed to disdainful in an instant. โI hardly think youโre privy to everything that Eloise does.โ
โOf course not,โ Penelope replied, giving him a rather irritated look, โbut I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is no way Eloise could keep a secret of that magnitude from me for over ten years. Sheโs simply not capable of it.โ
โPenelope, sheโs the nosiest person I know.โ
โWell, that much is true,โ Penelope agreed. โExcept for my mother, I suppose. But thatโs hardly enough to convict her.โ
Colin stopped his pacing and planted his hands on his hips. โShe is always writing things down.โ
โWhy would you think that?โ
He held up his hand, rubbing his thumb briskly against his fingertips. โInkstains. Constantly.โ
โLots of people use pen and ink.โ Penelope motioned broadly at Colin. โYou write in journals. I am certain youโve had your share of ink on your
fingers.โ
โYes, but I donโtย disappearย when I write in my journals.โ
Penelope felt her pulse quicken. โWhat do you mean?โ she asked, her voice growing breathless.
โI mean that she locks herself in her room for hours on end, and itโs after those periods that her fingers are covered with ink.โ
Penelope didnโt say anything for an agonizingly long moment. Colinโs โevidenceโ was damning, indeed, especially when combined with Eloiseโs well-known and well-documented penchant for nosiness.
But she wasnโt Lady Whistledown. She couldnโt be. Penelope would bet her life on it.
Finally Penelope just crossed her arms and, in a tone of voice that probably would have been more at home on an exceedingly stubborn six- year-old, said, โItโs not her. Itโs not.โ
Colin sat back down, looking defeated. โI wish I could share your certainty.โ
โColin, you need toโโ
โWhere the hell is the food?โ he grumbled.
She should have been shocked, but somehow his lack of manners amused her. โIโm sure Briarly will be here shortly.โ
He sprawled into a chair. โIโm hungry.โ
โYes,โ Penelope said, lips twitching, โI surmised as much.โ
He sighed, weary and worried. โIf sheโs Lady Whistledown, itโll be a disaster. A pure, unmitigated disaster.โ
โIt wouldnโt be that bad,โ Penelope said carefully. โNot that I think sheโs Lady Whistledown, because I donโt! But truly, if she were, would it be so very dreadful? I rather like Lady Whistledown myself.โ
โYes, Penelope,โ Colin said rather sharply, โit would be so very dreadful. Sheโd be ruined.โ
โI donโt think sheโd beย ruinedโฆ.โ
โOf course sheโd be ruined. Do you have any idea how many people that woman has insulted over the years?โ
โI didnโt realize you hated Lady Whistledown so much,โ Penelope said. โI donโt hate her,โ Colin said impatiently. โIt doesnโt matter if I hate her.
Everyone else hates her.โ
โI donโt think thatโs true. They all buy her paper.โ
โOf course they buy her paper! Everyone buys her bloody paper.โ โColin!โ
โSorry,โ he muttered, but it didnโt really sound like he meant it. Penelope nodded her acceptance of his apology.
โWhoever that Lady Whistledown is,โ Colin said, shaking his finger at her with such vehemence that she actually lurched backward, โwhen she is unmasked, she will not be able to show her face in London.โ
Penelope delicately cleared her throat. โI didnโt realize you cared so much about the opinions of society.โ
โI donโt,โ he retorted. โWell, not much, at least. Anyone who tells you they donโt care at all is a liar and a hypocrite.โ
Penelope rather thought he was correct, but she was surprised heโd admitted it. It seemed men always liked to pretend that they were wholly self-contained, completely unaffected by the whims and opinions of society.
Colin leaned forward, his green eyes burning with intensity. โThis isnโt about me, Penelope, itโs about Eloise. And if she is cast out of society, she will be crushed.โ He sat back, but his entire body radiated tension. โNot to mention what it would do to my mother.โ
Penelope let out a long breath. โI really think youโre getting upset over nothing,โ she said.
โI hope youโre right,โ he replied, closing his eyes. He wasnโt sure when heโd started to suspect that his sister might be Lady Whistledown. Probably after Lady Danbury had issued her now famous challenge. Unlike most of London, Colin had never been terribly interested in Lady Whistledownโs
true identity. The column was entertaining, and he certainly read it along with everyone else, but to his mind, Lady Whistledown was simplyโฆLady Whistledown, and that was all she needed to be.
But Lady Danburyโs dare had started him thinking, and like the rest of the Bridgertons, once he got hold of an idea, he was fundamentally
incapable of letting it go. Somehow it had occurred to him that Eloise had
the perfect temperament and skills to write such a column, and then, before he could convince himself that he was crazy, heโd seen the ink spots on her fingers. Since then heโd gone nearly mad, unable to think about anything but the possibility that Eloise had a secret life.
He didnโt know which irritated him moreโthat Eloise might be Lady Whistledown, or that she had managed to hide it from him for over a decade.
How galling, to be hoodwinked by oneโs sister. He liked to think himself smarter than that.
But he needed to focus on the present. Because if his suspicions were correct, how on earth were they going to deal with the scandal when she was discovered?
And sheย wouldย be discovered. With all of London lusting after the thousand-pound prize, Lady Whistledown didnโt stand a chance.
โColin! Colin!โ
He opened his eyes, wondering how long Penelope had been calling his name.
โI really think you should stop worrying about Eloise,โ she said. โThere are hundreds and hundreds of people in London. Lady Whistledown could be any one of them. Heavens, with your eye for detailโโshe waggled her
fingers to remind him of Eloiseโs ink-stained fingertipsโโyouย could be Lady Whistledown.โ
He shot her a rather condescending look. โExcept for the small detail of my having been out of the country half the time.โ
Penelope chose to ignore his sarcasm. โYouโre certainly a good enough writer to carry it off.โ
Colin had intended to say something droll and slightly gruff, dismissing her rather weak arguments, but the truth was he was so secretly delighted about her โgood writerโ compliment that all he could do was sit there with a loopy smile on his face.
โAre you all right?โ Penelope asked.
โPerfectly fine,โ he replied, snapping to attention and trying to adopt a more sober mien. โWhy would you ask?โ
โBecause you suddenly looked quite ill. Dizzy, actually.โ
โIโm fine,โ he repeated, probably a little louder than was necessary. โIโm just thinking about the scandal.โ
She let out a beleaguered sigh, which irritated him, because he didnโt
see that she had any reason to feel so impatient with him. โWhat scandal?โ she asked.
โThe scandal that is going to erupt when she is discovered,โ he ground out.
โSheโs not Lady Whistledown!โ she insisted.
Colin suddenly sat up straight, his eyes alight with a new idea. โDo you know,โ he said in a rather intense sort of voice, โbut I donโt think it matters if she is Lady Whistledown or not.โ
Penelope stared at him blankly for a full three seconds before looking about the room, muttering, โWhereโs the food? I must be light-headed.
Havenโt you spent the last ten minutes positively goingย madย over the possibility that she is?โ
As if on cue, Briarly entered the room with a heavily laden tray.
Penelope and Colin watched in silence as the butler laid out the meal. โWould you like me to fix your plates?โ he inquired.
โNo, thatโs quite all right,โ Penelope said quickly. โWe can manage for ourselves.โ
Briarly nodded and, as soon as heโd laid the flatware and filled the two glasses with lemonade, left the room.
โListen to me,โ Colin said, jumping to his feet and moving the door so that it almost rested against the doorframe (but remained technically open, should anyone quibble about proprieties).
โDonโt you want something to eat?โ Penelope inquired, holding aloft a plate that sheโd filled with various small snacks.
He snatched a piece of cheese, ate it in two rather indelicate bites, then continued, โEven if Eloise isnโt Lady Whistledownโand mind you, I still think she isโit doesnโt matter. Because ifย Iย suspect that sheโs Lady Whistledown, then surely someone else will as well.โ
โYour point being?โ
Colin realized that his arms were reaching forward, and he stopped himself before he reached out to shake her shoulders. โIt doesnโt matter! Donโt you see? If someone points his finger at her, sheโll be ruined.โ
โBut not,โ Penelope said, appearing to require a great deal of effort to unclench her teeth, โif sheโs not Lady Whistledown!โ
โHow could she prove it?โ Colin returned, jumping to his feet. โOnce a rumor is started, the damage is done. It develops a life of its own.โ
โColin, you ceased to make sense five minutes ago.โ
โNo, hear me out.โ He whirled to face her, and he was seized by a feeling of such intensity that he couldnโt have ripped his eyes from hers if the house were falling down around them. โSuppose I told everyone that I had seduced you.โ
Penelope grew very, very still.
โYou would be ruined forever,โ he continued, crouching down near the edge of the sofa so that they were more on the same level. โIt wouldnโt
matter that we had never even kissed.ย That,ย my dear Penelope, is the power of the word.โ
She looked oddly frozen. And at the same time flushed. โIโฆI donโt know what to say,โ she stammered.
And then the most bizarre thing happened. He realized that he didnโt know what to say, either. Because heโd forgotten about rumors and the power of the word and all of that rot, and the only thing he could think of was the part about the kissing, andโ
Andโ Andโ
Good God in heaven, he wanted to kiss Penelope Featherington. Penelope Featherington!
He might as well have said he wanted to kiss his sister.
Exceptโhe stole a glance at her; she looked uncommonly fetching, and he wondered how he hadnโt noticed that earlier that afternoonโshe wasnโt his sister.
She definitely wasnโt his sister.
โColin?โ His name was a mere whisper on her lips, her eyes were quite adorably blinking and befuddled, and how was it heโd never noticed what an intriguing shade of brown they were? Almost gold near the pupil. Heโd never seen anything like it, and yet it wasnโt as if he hadnโt seen her a hundred times before.
He stoodโsuddenly, drunkenly. Best if they werenโt quite on the same latitude. Harder to see her eyes from up here.
She stood, too.
Damn it.
โColin?โ she asked, her voice barely audible. โCould I ask you a favor?โ
Call it male intuition, call it insanity, but a very insistent voice inside of him was screaming that whatever she wantedย hadย to be a very bad idea.
He was, however, an idiot.
He had to be, because he felt his lips part and then he heard a voice that sounded an awful lot like his own say, โOf course.โ
Her lips puckered, and for a moment he thought she was trying to kiss him, but then he realized that she was just bringing them together to form a word.
โWouldโโ
Just a word. Nothing but a word beginning withย W. Wย always looked like a kiss.
โWould you kiss me?โ