Part 33 (1/2)
But Penelope couldn't reveal this to Eloise, so she told her the rest of the story, which was still the truth. ”Your mother didn't want to cause any gossip by cutting her, and Colin also said...”
She blushed. It was really too sweet.
”What?” Eloise demanded.
Penelope couldn't speak without smiling. ”He said he wanted Cressida to be forced to watch me in my triumph.”
”Oh. My. Word.” Eloise looked as if she might need to sit down. ”My brother is in love.”
Penelope's blush turned a furious red.
”He is,” Eloise exclaimed. ”He must be. Oh, you must tell me. Has he said so?”
There was something both wonderful and horrible in listening to Eloise gush. On the one hand, it was always lovelyto share life's most perfect moments with one's best friend, and Eloise's joy and excitement were certainly contagious.
But on the other hand, they weren't necessarily warranted, because Colin didn't love her. Or at least he hadn't said so.
But he acted like he did! Penelope clung to that thought, trying to focus on that, rather than the fact that he'd never said the words.
Actions spoke louder than words, didn't they?
And his actions made her feel like a princess.
”Miss Featherington! Miss Featherington!”
Penelope looked to her left and beamed. That voice could belong to no one other than Lady Danbury.
”Miss Featherington,” Lady D said, poking her cane through the crowd until she was standing right in front of Penelope and Eloise.
”Lady Danbury, how nice to see you.”
”Heh heh heh.” Lady Danbury's wrinkled face became almost young again from the force of her smile. ”It's always nice to see me, regardless of what anyone else says. And you, you little devil. Look what you did.”
”Isn't it the best?” Eloise asked.
Penelope looked to her closest friend. For all her mixed emotions, Eloise was truly, honestly, and forever would be thrilled for her. Suddenly it didn't matter that they were standing in the middle of a crowded ballroom, with everyone staring at her as if she were some sort of specimen on a biology plate. She turned and gave Eloise a fierce hug, whispering, ”I do love you,”
in her ear.
”I know you do,” Eloise whispered back.
Lady Danbury banged her cane-loudly-on the floor. ”I'm still standing here, ladies!”
”Oh, sorry,” Penelope said sheepishly.
”It's all right,” Lady D said, with an uncharacteristic level of indulgence. ”It's rather nice to see two girls who'd rather embrace than stab each other in the back, if you must know.”
”Thank you for coming over to congratulate me,” Penelope said.
”I wouldn't have missed this for the world,” Lady Dan-bury said. ”Heh heh heh. All these fools, trying to figure out what you did to get him to marry you, when all you really did was be yourself.”
Penelope's lips parted, and tears p.r.i.c.ked her eyes. ”Why, Lady Danbury, that's just about the nicest-”
”No, no,” Lady D interrupted loudly, ”none of that. I haven't the time nor the inclination for sentiment.”
But Penelope noticed that she'd pulled out her handkerchief and was discreetly dabbing her eyes.
”Ah, Lady Danbury,” Colin said, returning to the group and sliding his arm possessively through Penelope's. ”Good to see you.”
”Mr. Bridgerton,” she said in curt greeting. ”Just came over to congratulate your bride.”
”Ah, but I am surely the one who deserves the congratulations.”
”Hmmmph. Truer words, and all that,” Lady D said. ”I think you might be right. She's more of a prize than anyone realizes.”
”I realize,” he said, his voice so low and deadly serious that Penelope thought she might faint from the thrill of it.
”And if you'll excuse us,” Colin continued smoothly, ”I must take my fiancee over to meet my brother-”
”I've met your brother,” Penelope interrupted.
”Consider it tradition,” he said. ”We need to officially welcome you to the family.”
”Oh.” She felt rather warm inside at the thought of becoming a Bridgerton. ”How lovely.”
”As I was saying,” Colin said, ”Anthony would like to make a toast, and then I must lead Penelope in a waltz.”
”Very romantic,” Lady Danbury said approvingly.
”Yes, well, I am a romantic sort,” Colin said airily.
Eloise let out a loud snort.
He turned to her with one arrogantly arched brow. ”I am.”
”For Penelope's sake,” she retorted, ”I certainly hope so.”
”Are they always like this?” Lady Danbury asked Penelope.
”Most of the time.”
Lady D nodded. ”That's a good thing. My children rarely even speak to one another. Not out of any ill will, of course. They just have nothing in common. Sad, really.”
Colin tightened his hand on Penelope's arm. ”We really must be going.”
”Of course,” she murmured, but as she turned to walk toward Anthony, whom she could see across the room, standing near the small orchestra, she heard a loud and sudden commotion at the door.