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Portia tapped her index finger against her cheek "True Not," she said sharply, "as respectable as a Bridgerton portion,but it's nothing to sneeze at, I suppose"

Penelope kneas ti one last time "In all truth, Mother, he's a wonderful hted for her"wI know, I know," Portia gruhters to erton What a coup! I would be the talk of London for weeks Years, maybe"

Penelope stabbed her needle into the cushion beside her It was a rather foolish way to vent her anger, but the alternative was to jump to her feet and yell, What about me? Portia seeerton union were forever dashed But Penelope was still un?

Was it so ht of her with the sahters? Penelope knew that Colin wasn't going to choose her as his bride, but shouldn't a mother be at least a little bit blind to her children's faults? It was obvious to Penelope that neither Prudence, Philippa, nor even Felicity had ever had a chance with a Bridgerton Why did her mother seem to think their charms so exceededPenelope's?

Very well, Penelope had to admit that Felicity enjoyed a popularity that exceeded that of her three older sisters combined But Prudence and Philippa had never been Incomparables They'd hovered on the perimeters of ballrooms just as much as Penelope had

Except, of course, that they were married now Penelope wouldn't have wanted to cleave herself unto either of their husbands, but at least they ives

Thankfully, however, Portia's reener pastures "I"She'll be so relieved that Colin is back"wI'hted to see you," Penelope saidwThat poor woh dramatic "She worries about him, you knoI know"

'Truly, I think it is allivanting about, the good Lord only knohere, to countries that are positively unheathen --"wI believe they practice Christianity in Greece," Penelope murmured, her eyes back down on her needleDon't be iton, and they're Catholics!"Portia shuddered on the They're not Catholics at all," Penelope replied, giving up on the needlework and setting it aside"They're Greek Orthodox"wWell, they're not Church of England," Portia said with a sniffwSeeing as how they're Greek, I don't think they're terribly worriedabout that"

Portia's eyes narrowed disapprovingly "And how do you know about this Greek religion, anyway? No, don't tell me," she said with a dramatic flourish "You read it somewhere"

Penelope just blinked as she tried to think of a suitable replyish you wouldn't read so hed "I probably could have o if youhad concentratedraces and less onless on"

Penelope had to ask "Less on what?"wI don't know Whatever it is you do that has you staring into space and daydrea," Penelope said quietly "Sometimes I just like to stop and think"wStop what?" Portia wanted to know