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And she knew they loved her

Hers wasn't such a bad lot Her life lacked drama and excitement, but she was content

But content as happiness, and she felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her chest as she realized that she could not answer Lady Danbury's softly worded question in the affirmativewI've raised my family," Lady Danbury said "Four children, and they all married well I even found a bride for my nepheho, truth be told"--she leaned in and whispered the last three words, giving Penelope the ie a state secret--"I like better than my own children "

Penelope couldn't help but shty It was rather cute, actuallywIt may surprise you," Lady Danbury continued, "but by nature I'm a bit of a meddler"

Penelope kept her expression scrupulously evenwI findup her hands as if in surrender "I'd like to see one last person happily settled before I go"wDon't talk that way, Lady Danbury," Penelope said, iave it a little squeeze "You'll outlive us all, I am certain"wPfffft, don't be silly" Lady Danbury's tone was dismissive, but she rasp "I' depressive," she added "I'e, and I'o that was I haven't much time left in this world, and that doesn't bother me one bit"

Penelope hoped she would be able to face her own mortality with the saton You remind me of myself You're not afraid to speak your mind"

Penelope could only look at her in shock She'd spent the last ten years of her life never quite saying what she wanted to say With people she kneell she was open and honest and even soue was quite firmly tied

She remembered a masquerade ball she'd once attended She'd attended many masquerade balls, actually, but this one had been unique because she'd actually found a costuown styled as if from the 1600s--in which she'd truly felt her identity was hidden It had probably been the e and covered almost all of her face

She had felt transforton, she felt a new personality co on false airs; rather, it was more like her true self--the one she didn't kno to show to anyone she didn't knoell-- had finally broken loose

She'd laughed; she'd joked She'd even flirted

And she'd sworn that the following night, when the costuain attired in her finest evening dress, she'd remember how to be herself

But it hadn't happened She'd arrived at the ball and she'd nodded and s near the perimeter of the roo Penelope Featheringtonthat first awful season when her h Penelope had begged otherwise The pudgy girl The aard girl The one always dressed in colors that didn't suit her It didn't raceful and finally thrown out all of her yellow dresses In this world--the world of London society and the ton --she would always be the saton

It was her own fault just as much as anyone else's A vicious circle, really Every time Penelope stepped into a ballroo, she felt herself folding up

inside, turning into the shy, aard girl of years gone past, rather than the self-assured woman she liked to think she'd becoton?" caentle--voice"Is soer than she should have to reply, but somehow she needed a few seconds to find her voicewI don't think I kno to speakto look at Lady Danbury only as she uttered the final words of the sentence "I never knohat to say to people"wYou knohat to say to me"wYou're different"

Lady Danbury threw her head back and laughed "If ever there was an understatement Oh, Penelope--I hope you don't iven name--if you can speak your rowninto corners the "wThey just don't know you," Penelope said, patting her on the handwAnd they don't know you, either," Lady Danbury quite pointedly repliedwNo," Penelope said, a touch of resignation in her voice, "they don't"wI'd say that it was their loss, but that would be rather cavalier of me," Lady Danbury said "Not to them, but to you, because as often as I call them all fools--and I do call them fools often, as I'm sure you know--some of them are actually rather decent people, and it's a criotten to know you I--H on"

Penelope found herself unaccountably sitting up alittle straighten She asked Lady Danbury, "What do youwas afoot People hispering andto the small dais where theher cane into the hip of a nearby gentle on?"wCressida Twombley wants to make some sort of announcement," he said, then quickly stepped away, presumably to avoid any further conversation with Lady Danbury or her canewI hate Cressida Twombley," Penelope muttered