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He sighed, planting one hand on thefraht position He'd better get going, especially if he was planning to walk all the way to Mayfair Although, in truth, it really wasn't that far Probably not more than thirty minutes if he kept his pace brisk (and he always did), less if the paveer than most members of the ton cared to be outside in London unless they were shopping or fashionably strolling in the park, but Colin felt the need to clear his head And if the air in London wasn't particularly fresh, well, it would still have to do

His luck that day being what it was, however, by the tient Streets, the first splats of raindrops began to dance against his face By the tie Street, it was pouring in earnest And he was just close enough to Bruton Street that it would have been really ridiculous to have tried to hail a hackney to take him the rest of the way

So he walked on

After the first an to feel oddly good It arh out that it didn't chill hi of it almost felt like a penance

And he felt like maybe that hat he deserved

The door to his mother's house opened before Colin's foot had even found the top step; Wickhaest a towel?" the butler intoned, handing hi how on earth Wickhaet a towel He couldn't have known that Colin would be fool enough to walk in the rain

Not for the first time it occurred to Colin that butlers e, mystical powers

Perhaps it was a job requirereat consternation to Wickham, as terribly proper and surely expected Colin to retire to a private room for at least a half an hour to mend his appearancewWhere's htened, and he looked pointedly down at Colin's feet, which were now creating small puddles "She is in her office," he replied, "but she is speaking with your sister"wWhich sister?" Colin asked, keeping a sunny smile on his face, just to annoy Wickha his sister's naerton and expect hi aboutwFrancesca"wAh, yes She's returning to Scotland soon, isn't she?"wToarded it as he e insect "I won't bother her, then Just let her know I'm here when she's done with Francesca"

Wickhaerton? I believe we have soarments upstairs in his bedcha up his final terer than Colin, and it was difficult to believe they could actually share clothing, but he supposed it was tirown upwThat's an excellent idea," Colin said He gave his sodden sleeve a rueful glance "I'll leave these here to be cleaned and fetch theain, murmured, "As you wish," and disappeared down the hall to parts unknown

Colin took the steps two at a time up to the family quarters As he sloshed down the hall, he heard the sound of a door opening Turning around, he saw that it was Eloise

Notthe person he wanted to see She iht back all the memories of his afternoon with Penelope Their conversation The kiss

Especially the kiss

And even worse, the guilt he'd felt afterward

The guilt he still feltwColin," Eloise said brightly, "I didn't realize you--what did you do, walk? "

He shrugged "I like the rain"

She eyed hi to the side as it always did when she was puzzling through so wet, Eloise"wNo need to snap at me about it," she said with a sniff "I didn't force you to walk across town in the rain "asn't raining when I left," he felt rather coht out the eight-year-old in a bodywI'ray," she returned

Clearly, she had a bit of the eight-year-old in her as e continue this discussion when I'm dry?" he asked, his voice deliberately impatientwOf course," she said expansively, all accoht here"

Colin took his ti more care with his cravat thanhe had in years Finally, when he was convinced that Eloiseher teeth, he reentered the hallwI heard you went to see Penelope today," she said without prea to saywWhere did you hear that?" he asked carefully He knew that his sister and Penelope were close, but surely Penelope wouldn't have told Eloise about thatwFelicity told Hyacinth"wAnd Hyacinth told you"wOf course"wSoossip inthis toI hardly think this counts as gossip, Colin," Eloise said "It's not as if you're interested in Penelope"

If she had been talking about any other wolance, followed by a coy, Are you ?

But this was Penelope, and even though Eloise was her very best friend, and thus her finest chaine that a man of Colin's reputation andpopularity would be interested in a woman of Penelope's reputation and (lack of) popularity