Correction: problem, singular.
She had only one problem, but for the size of it, she might as well have had a thousand.
She wasn't an aggressive person, and she couldn't remember the last time she had a violent thought, but at that moment, she could have gladly wrung Cressida Twombley's neck.
She watched the door with a morose sense of fatalism, waiting for her husband to come home, knowing that each ticking second brought her closer to her moment of truth, when she would have to confess everything to him.
He wouldn't say, Itold you so. He would never say such a thing.
But he would be thinking it.
It never occurred to her, not even for a minute, that she might keep this from him. Cressida's threats weren't the sort of thing one hid from one's husband, and besides, she was going to need his help.
She wasn't certain what she needed to do, but whatever it was, she didn't know how to do it alone.
But there was one thing she knew for sure;—she didn't want to pay Cressida. There was no way Cressida would be satisfied with ten thousand pounds, not when she thought she could get more. If Penelope capitulated now, she'd be handing money over to Cressida for the rest of her life.
Which meant that in one week's time, Cressida Twombley would tell all the world that Penelope Featherington Bridgerton was the infamous Lady Whistledown.
Penelope reckoned she had two choices. She could lie, and call Cressida a fool, and hope that everyone believed her; or she could try to find some way to twist Cressida's revelation to her advantage.
But for the life of her, she didn't know how.wPenelope?"
Colin's voice. She wanted to fling herself into his arms, and at the same time, she could barely bring herself to turn around.wPenelope?" He sounded concerned now, his footsteps increasing in speed as he crossed the room.wDunwoody said that Cressida was here."
He sat next to her and touched her cheek. She turned and saw his face, the corners of his eyes crinkled with worry, his lips, slightly parted as they murmured her name.
And that was when she finally allowed herself to cry.
Funny how she could hold herself together, keep it all inside until she saw him. But now that he was here, all she could do was bury her face in the warmth of his chest, snuggle closer as his arms wrapped around her.
As if somehow he could make all her problems go away by his presence alone.wPenelope?" he asked, his voice soft and worried. "What happened? What's wrong?"
Penelope just shook her head, the motion having to suffice until she could think of the words, summon the courage, stop the tears.wWhat did she do to you?"wOh, Colin," she said, somehow summoning the energy to pull herself far enough back so that she could see his face. "She knows."
His skin went white. "How?"
Penelope sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "It's my fault," she whispered.
He handed her a handkerchief without ever taking his eyes off of her face. "It's not your fault," he said sharply.
Her lips slid into a sad smile. She knew that his harsh tone was meant for Cressida, but she deserved it as well. "No," she said, her voice laced with resignation, "it is. It happened exactly as you said it would. I wasn't paying attention to what I wrote. I slipped up."wWhat did you do?" he asked.
She told him everything, starting with Cressida's entrance and ending with her demands for money. She confessed that her poor choice of words was going to be her ruin, but wasn't it ironic, because it really did feel like her heart was breaking.But the whole time she spoke, she felt him slipping away. He was listening to her, but he wasn't there with her. His eyes took on a strange, faraway look, and yet they were narrowed, intense.
He was plotting something. She was sure of it.
It terrified her.
And thrilled her.
Whatever he was planning, whatever he was thinking, it was all for her. She hated that it had been her stupidity that had forced him into this dilemma, but she couldn't stem the tingle of excitement that swept across her skin as she watched him.wColin?" she asked hesitantly. She'd been done speaking for a full minute, and still he hadn't said anything .wI'll take care of everything," he said. "I don't want you to worry about a thing."wI assure you that that is impossible," she said with shaking voice.wI take my wedding vows quite seriously," he replied, his tone almost frighteningly even. "I believe I promised to honor and keep you."wLet me help you," she said impulsively. "Together we can solve this."
One corner of his mouth lifted into a hint of a smile. "Have you a solution?"
She shook her head. "No. I've been thinking all day, and I don't know ... although ..."wAlthough what?" he asked, his brows rising.
Her lips parted, then pursed, then parted again as she said, "What if I enlisted the aid of Lady Danbury?"wYou're planning to ask her to pay off Cressida?"wNo," she said, even though the tone of his voice told her that his had not been a serious question. "I'm going to ask her to be me."wI beg your pardon?"wEveryone thinks she's Lady Whistledown, anyway," Penelope explained. "At least, quite a lot of people do. If she were to make an announcement—"wCressida would refute it instantly," Colin interrupted.wWho would believe Cressida over Lady Danbury?" Penelope turned to him with wide, earnest eyes. "I wouldn't dare cross Lady Danbury in any matter. If she were to say she was Lady Whistledown, I'd probably believe her myself."wWhat makes you think you can convince Lady Danbury to lie for you?"wWell," Penelope replied, chewing on her lower lip, "she likes me."wShe likes you?" Colin echoed.wShe does, rather. I think she might like to help me, especially since she detests Cressida almost as much as I do."wYou think her fondness for you will lead her to lie to the entire ton?" he asked doubtfully.