Violet blinked. "I did?"wYes. About the waltz." He cocked his head slightly to the side. "I believe I hear one beginning."wI don't hear anything," Hyacinth said.wDon't you? Pity." He grabbed Penelope's hand. "Come along, wife. I do believe this is our dance."wBut no one is dancing," Hyacinth ground out.
He flashed her a satisfied smile. "They will be."
And then, before anyone had a chance to comment, he'd yanked on Penelope's hand, and they were weaving through the crowds.wDidn't you want to waltz?" Penelope asked breathlessly, right after they'd passed the small orchestra, the members of whom appeared to be taking an extended break.wNo, just to escape," he explained, slipping through a side door and pulling her along with him.
A few moments later they had ascended a narrow staircase and were secreted in some small parlor, their only light the flickering torches that blazed outside the window.wWhere are we?" Penelope asked, looking around.
Colin shrugged. "I don't know. It seemed as good a place as any."wAre you going to tell me what is going on?"wNo, first I'm going to kiss you."
And before she had a chance to respond to that (not that she would have protested!) his lips found hers in a kiss that was hungry and urgent and tender all in one.wColin!" she gasped, in that split second when he took a breath.wNot now," he murmured, kissing her again.wBut—" this was muffled, lost against his lips.
It was the sort of kiss that enveloped her, from her head to her toes, from the way his teeth nibbled her lips, to his hands,squeezing her bottom and sliding across her back. It was the sort of kiss that could easily have turned her knees to water and led her to swoon on the sofa and allow him to do anything to her, the more wicked the better, even though they were mere yards away from over five hundred members of the ton, except—wColin!" she exclaimed, somehow breaking her mouth free of his.wShush."wColin, you have to stop!"
He looked like a lost puppy. "Must I?"wYes, you must."wI suppose you're going to say it's because of all the people just next door."wNo, although that's a very good reason to consider restraint."
'To consider and then reject, perhaps?" he asked hopefully.wNo! Colin—" She pulled herself from his arms and moved several feet away, lest his nearness tempt her into forgetting herself. "Colin, you need to tell me what is going on."wWell," he said slowly, "I was kissing you...."wThat's not what I meant, and you know it."wVery well." He walked away, his footsteps echoing loudly in her ears. When he turned back around, his expression had turned deadly serious. "I have decided what to do about Cressida."wYou have? What? Tell me."
His face took on a slightly pained expression. "Actually, I think it might be best if I didn't tell you until the plan is under way."
She stared at him in disbelief. "You're not serious."wWell.. ."He was looking longingly at the door, clearly hoping for an escape.
'Tell me," she insisted.wVery well." He sighed, then sighed again.wColin!"wI'm going to make an announcement," he said, as if that would explain everything.
At first she said nothing, thinking that maybe it would all become clear if she just waited a moment and thought about it. But that didn't work, and so she asked, her words slow and careful, "What sort of announcement?"
His face turned resolute. "I'm going to tell the truth."
She gasped. "About me?"
He nodded.wBut you can't!"wPenelope, I think it's best."
Panic began to rise within her, and her lungs felt impossibly tight. "No, Conn, you can't! You can't do that! It's not your secret to reveal!"wDo you want to pay Cressida for the rest of your life?"wNo, of course not, but I can ask Lady Danbury—"wYou're not going to ask Lady Danbury to lie on your behalf," he snapped. "That's beneath you and you know it."
Penelope gasped at his sharp tone. But deep down, she knew he was right.wIf you were so willing to allow someone else to usurp your identity," he said, "then you should have just allowed Cressida to do it."wI couldn't," she whispered. "Not her."wFine. Then it's time we both stood up and faced the music."wColin," she whispered, "I'll be ruined."
He shrugged. "We'll move to the country."
She shook her head, desperately trying to find the right words.
He took her hands in his. "Does it really matter so much?" he said softly. "Penelope, I love you. As long as we're together, we'll be happy."wIt's not that," she said, trying to tug her hand from his so that she could wipe the tears from her eyes.
But he wouldn't let go. "What, then?" he asked.wColin, you'll be ruined, too," she whispered.wI don't mind."
She stared at him in disbelief. He sounded so flip, so casual about something that would change his entire life, alter it in ways he couldn't possibly imagine.wPenelope," he said, his voice so reasonable she could barely stand it, "it's the only solution. Either we tell the world, or Cressida does."wWe could pay her," she whispered.wIs that what you really want to do?" he asked. "Give her all the money you've worked so hard to earn?
You might as well have just let her tell the world she was Lady Whistledown."wI can't let you do this," she said. "I don't think you understand what it means to be outside of society."wAnd you do?" he countered.wBetter than you!"wPenelope—"wYou're trying to act as if it doesn't matter, but I know you don't feel that way. You were so angry with me when I published that last column, all because you thought I shouldn't have risked the secret getting out."wAs it turns out," he remarked, "I was right.""wSee?" she said urgently. "Do you see? You're still upset with me over that!"