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She stue," she choked outwExcellent" He offered her a bland suilt"

The , so Penelope took his hand and curtsied as they began the ave Penelope a few hts

Perhaps she'd been a bit too harsh with Colin She shouldn't have scolded hi her to dance, when the truth was, those dances were a her most cherished memories Did it really matter if he'd only done it out of pity? It would have been worse if he'd never asked her at all She griize?wWas so with that eclair?" Colin inquired the next time they stepped toward each other

A full ten seconds passed before they were close enough again for her to say,"I beg your pardon?"wYou look as if you've sed so vile," he said, loudly this ti for the dance to allow them to speak

Several people looked over, then stepped discreetly away, as if Penelope ht there on the ballroom floorwDo you need to shout it to the entire world?" Penelope hissedwYou know," he said thoughtfully, bending into an elegant bow as the music drew to a close, "that was the loudest whisper I've ever heard"

He was insufferable, but Penelope wasn't going to say so, because it would only make her sound like a character in a very bad romantic novel She'd read one just the other day in which the heroine used the word (or one of its synonyewThank you for the dance," she said, once they'd reached the perimeter of the room She almost added, You can now tell your ations, but i to deserve such sarcasm It wasn't his fault that men only danced with her when forced to by theirhis duty, which was more than she could say for the rest of the male population

He nodded politely and murmured his own thanks They were just about to part hen they heard a loud feerton!"

They both froze It was a voice they both knew It was a voice everyone kneSave roaned

Penelope looked over her shoulder to see the infa when her ever-present cane landed on the foot of soerton?" Penelope suggested "There are quite a few of you, after all, and it's possible--"wI'll give you ten pounds if you don't leave my side,"Colin blurted out

Penelope choked on air "Don't be silly,I--"enty"wDone!" she said with a smile, not because she particularly needed the ely enjoyable to be extorting it fro to the elderly lady's side "How nice to see you"wNobody ever thinks it's nice to see me," Lady Danbury said sharply, "except maybe my nephew, and half the ti all the sa, but she still turned in his direction and swatted his leg with her cane "Good choice dancing with this one," she said "I've always liked her More brains than the rest of her faether"

Penelope opened her er sister, when Lady Danbury barked out, "Ha!" after barely a second's pause, adding, "I noticed neither of you contradicted ht to see you, Lady Danbury," Colin said, giving her just the sort of serwGlib, this one is," Lady Danbury said to Penelope "You'll have to watch out for him"wIt is rarely necessary that I do so," Penelope said,"as he is ain "I told you she was bright"wYou'll notice," Colin said smoothly, "that I did not contradict you"

The old lady s serton"wIt has occasionally been reence in my youth, as well"wH sh narrowed eyes She appeared to bechoking on laughteromen must look out for one another," Lady Danbury said to no one in particular, "since it is clear that no one else will do so"

Colin decided it was definitely tio"I think I see my mother"wEscape is impossible," Lady Danbury crowed "Don't bother to attempt it, and besides, I know for a fact you don't see yourto some brainless tho tore the hem off her dress"

She turned to Penelope, as now exerting such effort to control herlaughter that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears "How much did he pay you not to leave hi your pardon," she gasped, clasping a handover her horrified ht ahead," Colin said expansively"You've been such a help already"wYou don't have to giveto"wOnly twenty pounds?"Lady Danbury asked "Hht I'd be worth at least twenty-five"

Colin shrugged "I'm a third son Perpetuallyshort of funds, I'm afraid"wHa! You're as plump in the pocket as at least three earls," Lady Danbury said "Well, ht "But a few viscounts, and most barons, to besure"