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Then again, she couldn't reentleman had called upon her, much less the one hom she'd been desperately in love for al her fingers and pressing her flattened palhtto placate a small, unruly crowd "You must remain calm

Calm," she repeated, as if that would actually do the trick "Cal

She took a few deep breaths, walked over to her dressing table, and picked up her hairbrush It would only take a fewto flee if she kept hi for a short while He'd expect her to take a bit of time to ready herself,wouldn't he?

But still, she found herself fixing her hair in record ti room door, a mere five minutes had passed since the butler's announcerin He'd been standing by the , peering out at Mount Streetas it?" Penelope said, hoping that the heat she felt on her skin wasn't translating into a blush a woh not too long Still, it made no sense to hold to such silly behavior with Colin, of all people He would never be interested in her in a romantic fashion, and besides, they were friends

Friends It seemed like such an odd concept, and yet that was exactly what they were They'd always been friendly acquaintances, but since his return froical

Even if he never loved her--and she rather thought he never would--this was better than what they'd had before

'To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked, taking a seat on her htly faded yellowdamask sofa

Colin sat across froht-backed chair He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees, and Penelope knew instantly that soentleht, too intensewIt's rather serious," he said, hisface gri happened? Isso like that" He paused, let out a long breath, then raked his hand through his already mussed-up hair "It's about Eloise"wWhat is it?"wI don't kno to say this I--Do you have anything to eat?"

Penelope was ready to wring his neck "For heaven's sake, Colin!"wSorry," he muttered "I haven't eaten all day"wA first, I'm sure," Penelope said impatiently "I already told Briarly to fix a tray Noill you just tell , or do you plan to wait until I expire of impatience?"wI think she's Lady Whistledown," he blurted out

Penelope's mouth fell open She wasn't sure what she'd expected him to say, but it wasn't thiswPenelope, did you hear h she knew exactly who he was talking about

He noddedwShe can't be"

He stood and began to pace, too full of nervous energy to sit still "Why not?"wBecausebecause" Because why? "Because there is no way she could have done that for ten years without "