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He stopped in his tracks, letting go of her arm He didn't really have an answer, other than the odd pounding in his heart "Who would want to read them?" he finally askedould," she said frankly "Eloise, Felicity" she added, ticking off naers "Your mother, Lady Whistledown, I'm sure," sheadded with a mischievous sood humor was infectious, and Colin couldn't quite suppress his smile "Penelope, it doesn't count if the only people who buy the book are the people I knoWhy not?" Her lips twitched "You know a lot of people Why, if you onlycount Bridgertons--"

He grabbed her hand He didn't knohy, but he grabbed her hand "Penelope, stop"

She just laughed "I think Eloise told me that you have piles and piles of cousins as well, and--"wEnough," he warned But he was grinning as he said it

Penelope stared down at her hand in his, then said, "Lots of people ant to read about your travels

Maybe at first it will only be because you're a well-known figure in London, but it won't take long before everyone realizes what a good writer you are And then they'll be cla for erton name," he said

She dropped bis hand and planted hers on her hips "Are you even listening toabout?" Eloise Looking very, very curiouswNothing," they both muttered at the sa Penelope looked as if shefire at anyobtuse," Penelope saidwWell, that is nothing new," Eloise saidwWait ahi obtuse about?"wIt's a private roundoutwWhich ," Eloise saidShe looked to Penelope expectantlywI'm sorry," Penelope said"I really can't say"wI can't believe it!" Eloise cried out"You're not going to tellrather oddly satisfied with herself,"I' to her brother"I can't believe it"

His lips quirked into the barest of s secrets from me"

He raised his brows "Did you think I told youeverything?"wOf course not" She scowled "But Ithought Penelope did"wBut this isn't my secret to tell," Penelope said "It's Colin's"wI think the planet has shifted on its axis," Eloise gruland has crashed into France All I know is thisis not the sa"

Penelope couldn't help it She giggledwAnd you're laughing at"Really, I'm not"wDo you knohat you need?" ColinaskedwMe?" Eloise queried

He nodded "A husband"wYou're as bad as Mother!"wI could be a lot worse if I really put my mind to it"wOf that I have no doubt," Eloise shot backwStop, stop!" Penelope said, truly laughing in earnest now

They both looked at her expectantly, as if to say, NoI' unbidden fro Truly, I can't"

Several hours later, as Colin was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling in the bedroom of his new flat in Bloomsbury, it occurred to hierton and Penelope Featherington were seen in conversation at the Sh no one see This Author would venture to guess that their conversation centered upon This Authors identity, since that hat everyone else see about before, after, and (rather rudely, in This Authors estee the performance

In other news, Honoria Sed when Lady Danbury accidentally knocked it off a table while waving her cane

Lady Danbury insisted upon replacing the instrument, but then declared that as it is not her habit to buy anything but the best, Honoria will have a Ruggieri violin, imported fro that, when one factors inlist, it takes six ieri violin to reach our shores

Lady Whistledown's Society Papers,16 April 1824

There are moments in a woman's life when her heart flips in her chest, when the world suddenlyseems uncommonly pink andperfect, when a symphony can be heard in the tinkle of a doorbell

Penelope Featherington had just such a moment two days after the Smythe-Smith musicale

All it took was a knock on her bedroo her:wMr Colin Bridgerton is here to see you" Penelope tuht off the bed Briarly, who had butlered for the Featherington fah so that he did not even so much as bat an eyelash at Penelope's clumsiness, murmured, "Shall I tell hi to her feet "I mean, no," she added in a more reasonable voice "But I will require ten lanced in the mirror and winced at her disheveled appearance "Fifteen"wAs you wish, Miss Penelope"wOh, and erton is sure to be hungryHe's always hungry" The butler nodded again

Penelope stood stock-still as Briarly disappeared out the door, then, completely unable to contain herself, danced fro sort of noise--one that she was convinced--or at least hoped--had never before crossed her lips