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Penelope nodded her acceptance of his apologywWhoever that Lady Whistledown is," Colin said, shaking his finger at her with such vehemence that she actually lurched backward, "when she is unmasked, she will not be able to show her face in London"

Penelope delicately cleared her throat "I didn't realize you cared so much about the opinions of society"wI don't," he retorted "Well, not much, at least Anyone who tells you they don't care at all is a liar and a hypocrite"

Penelope rather thought he was correct, but she was surprised he'd admitted it It seemed men always liked to pretend that they holly self-contained, completely unaffected by the whireen eyes burning with intensity "This isn't about me, Penelope, it's about Eloise And if she is cast out of society, she will be crushed" He sat back,but his entire body radiated tension "Not to mention what it would do tobreath "I really think you're getting upset over nothing," she saidwI hope you're right," he replied, closing his eyes He wasn't sure when he'd started to suspect that his sister ht be Lady Whistledown Probably after Lady Danbury had issued her now fae

Unlike most of London, Colin had never been terribly interested in Lady Whistledown's true identity The colu with everyone else, but to his mind, Lady Whistledoas simplyLady Whistledown, and that was all she needed to be

But Lady Danbury's dare had started hiot hold of an idea, he was fundao Somehow it had occurred to him that Eloise had the perfect temperament and skills to write such a column, and then, before he could convince hiers Since then he'd gone nearlybut the possibility that Eloise had a secret life

He didn't knohich irritated hiht be Lady Whistledown, or that she had , to be hoodwinked by one's sister He liked to think himself smarter than that

But he needed to focus on the present Because if his suspicions were correct, how on earth were they going to deal with the scandal when she was discovered?

And she would be discovered With all of London lusting after the thousand-pound prize, Lady Whistledown didn't stand a chancewColin! Colin!"

He opened his eyes, wondering how long Penelope had been calling his na about Eloise," she said "There are hundreds and hundreds of people in London Lady Whistledown could be any one of theers to reertips-- "you could be Lady Whistledown"

He shot her a rather condescending look "Except for the s been out of the country half the tinore his sarcash writer to carry it off"

Colin had intended to say so her rather weak arguhted about her "good writer" compliment that all he could do was sit there with a loopy sht?" Penelope askedwPerfectly fine," he replied, snapping to attention and trying to adopt a more sober mien "Why would you ask?"wBecause you suddenly looked quite ill Dizzy, actually"wI'm fine," he repeated, probably a little louder than was necessary "I'uered sigh, which irritated him, because he didn't see that she had any reason to feel so impatient with hi to erupt when she is discovered," he ground outwShe's not Lady Whistledown!" she insisted

Colin suddenly sat up straight, his eyes alight with a new idea "Do you know," he said in a rather intense sort of voice, "but I don't think it matters if she is Lady Whistledown or not"

Penelope stared at hi about the rooht-headed Haven't you spent the last tenmad over the possibility that she is?"

As if on cue, Briarly entered the room with a heavily laden tray Penelope and Colin watched in silence as the butler laid out the meal "Would you like ht," Penelope said quickly "We can e forourselves"

Briarly nodded and, as soon as he'd laid the flatware and filled the two glasses with le to his feet and ainst the doorframe (but remained technically open, should anyone quibble about proprieties)wDon't you want so aloft a plate that she'd filled with various small snacks

He snatched a piece of cheese, ate it in two rather indelicate bites, then continued, "Even if Eloise isn't Lady Whistledown--and mind you, I still think she is--it doesn't matter Because if I suspect that she's Lady Whistledown, then surely so?"

Colin realized that his ar forward, and he stopped himself before he reached out to shake her shoulders "It doesn't er at her, she'll be ruined"wBut not," Penelope said, appearing to require a great deal of effort to unclench her teeth, "if she's not Lady Whistledo could she prove it?" Colin returned, jue is done It develops a life of its oColin, you ceased to o"wNo, hear me out" He whirled to face her, and he was seized by a feeling of such intensity that he couldn't have ripped his eyes fro down around them "Suppose I told everyone that I had seduced you"