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Colin smiled blandly "Isn't it considered impolite to talk aboutmoney in mixed company?"

Lady Danbury let out a noise that was either a wheeze or a giggle--Colin wasn't sure which--then said, "It's always impolite to talk about e, one can do al one pleases"wI do wonder," Penelope e"

Lady Danbury turned to her "I beg yourpardon?"wYou said that one could do al one pleases"

Lady Danbury stared at her in disbelief, then cracked a s as I like her," Lady Danbury said to hi at Penelope as if she were somesort of statue for salewDid I tell you I like her?"wI believe you did,"he murmured

Lady Danbury turned to Penelope and said, her face a et aith ht be all"

All at once, both Penelope and Colin burst outlaughingwEh?" Lady Danbury said"What's so funny?"wNothing," Penelope gasped As for Colin, he couldn'teven ," Lady D persisted "And I shall reht until you tell me what it is Trust me when I tell you that that is not your desired course of action"

Penelope wiped a tear fro hi with her head toward Colin, "that he probably could get aithher cane lightly against the floor the way so a deep question "Do you know, but I think youman Idon't think London hasever seen"

Colin raised a brow "Nohy don't I think you meant that as a compliment, Lady Danbury?"wOf course it's a compliment,you dunderhead"

Colin turned to Penelope "As opposed to that, which was clearly a compliment"

Lady Danbury beamed "I declare," she said (or in all truth, declared), "this is the e," Colin said withan easy smilewIt's been an especially dull year, don't you think?" Lady Danbury asked Penelope

Penelope nodded "Last year was abit tedious as well"wBut not as bad as this year," Lady Danbury persistedwDon't ask me," Colin said affably "I've been out of the country"wH to say that your absence is the reason we've all been so bored"ould never drea sht has crossed your mind, it must have some merit"wHmmph Whatever the case, I' m bored"

Colin looked over at Penelope, who appeared to be holding herself very, very still--presuhterood!" Lady Danbury suddenly called out, waving over a uely panicked expression drifted across Lord Haywood's face, and then, when it became clear that he could not escape, he said, "I try towith you"

Lady Danbury turned to Penelope and said, "Is itmoresensible?"

Penelope's only ansas a noncoirl, indeed

Haywood cleared his throat, his blue eyes blinking fast and furious in his rather fleshy face "Er, what, precisely, a," Penelope supplied helpfullywAh, Miss Featherington," Haywood said in a blustery sort of voice "Didn't see you there"

Colin stole just enough of a glance at Penelope to see her lips straighten into a sht here next to you," she mutteredwSo you are," Haywood said jovially, "and yes, the season is dreadfully boring"wDid soht Another roup and were avidly expressing their agreely tedious"wI have never attended a more banal round of parties," one of the ladies announced with an affected sighwI shall have to inforoing of men, but really, there were so," the woht in an otherwise dark and dis to--"wStop now," Lady Danbury ordered, "beforeyou choke on your foot"

The lady quickly silenced herselfwIt's odd," Penelopeton,"said the lady who'd previously been going on about dark and diss "Didn't see you there"wWhat's odd?" Colin asked, before anyone else could tell Penelope howunrerateful s herself "It's odd how the ton see out how unentertained they are"wI beg your pardon?" Haywood said, looking confused

Penelope shrugged "I think the lot of you are having a jolly good ti about how bored you are, that's all"

Her comment was met with silence Lord Haywood continued to look confused, and one of the two ladies must have had a speck of dust in hereye, because she couldn't see but blink

Colin couldn't help but sht Penelope's statement was such a terribly co to do is read Whistledown," said the nonblinking lady,as if Penelope had never even spoken