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His head moved about an inch to the left She didn't knohat that ood, especially since it al as it twisted "I beg your pardon?" he asked, his voice still that awful blend of satin and steel

Well, now she had to answer, didn't she? "Er, it's nothing," she said, hoping the evasion would reduce his attention on the rest of her reply "Just that I'o out by ood reason for it, too"wSo if I wanted to go out by nore the second part of his reply, "I couldn't very well use one of our carriages None of our drivers would agree to take me here"wYour drivers," he snapped, "are clearly wDo you have any idea what could have happened to you?" he de to crackwEr, very little, actually," she said, gulping on the sentence "I've come here before, and--"wWhat? "His hand closed over her upper ar it seeerous to her health, so Penelope just stared at hier in his eyes and find the man she knew and loved so dearlywIt's only when I need to leave an urgent e fore, then he knows to pick up hly, snatching the folded paper back from her hands, "what the hell is this?"

Penelope stared at hiht it was obvious I'm--"wYes, of course, you're bloody Lady Whistledown, and you've probably been laughing at me for weeks as I insisted it was Eloise" His face twisted as he spoke, nearly breaking her heartwNo!" she cried out "No, Colin, never I would never laugh at you!"

But his face told her clearly that he did not believe her There was hu she'd never seen there, soerton He was popular, confident, self-possessed Nothing could embarrass him No one could humiliate him

Except, apparently, herwI couldn't tell you," she whispered, desperately trying to o aSurely you knew I couldn't tell you"

He was silent for an agonizingly long moment, and then, as if she'd never spoken, never tried to explain herself, he lifted the incri sheet of paper into the air and shook it, co her impassioned outcry "This is stupidity," he said "Have you lost your ood escape, just waiting for you Cressida Two to take the blame for you"

And then suddenly his hands were on her shoulders, and he was holding her so tightly she could barely breathewWhy couldn't you just let it die, Penelope?" His voice was urgent, his eyes blazing It was theshe'd ever seen in him, and it broke her heart that it was directed toward her in anger And in shamewI couldn't let her do it," she whispered "I couldn't let her be me"

CHAPTER 13wWhy the hell not?"

Penelope could do nothing but stare for several seconds "Becausebecause " she flailed, wondering how she was supposed to explain this Her heart was breaking, her --secret had been shattered, and he thought she had the presence of mind to explain herself?wI realize she's quite possibly the biggest bitch"

Penelope gaspedw that England has produced in this generation at least, but for God's sake, Penelope"--he raked his hand through his hair, then fixed a hard stare on her face--"she was going to take the blame--"wThe credit," Penelope interrupted testilywThe blame," he continued "Do you have any idea ill happen to you if people find out who you really are?"

The corners of her lips tightened with i so obviously condescended towI've hadover a decade to ru sarcastic?"wNot at all," she shot back "Do you really think I haven't spent a good portion of the last ten years ofould happen if I were found out? I'd be a blind idiot if I hadn't"

He grabbed her by the shoulders, holding tight even as the carriage bumped over uneven cobbles "You will be ruined, Penelope Ruined! Do you understand what I a?"wIf I did not," she replied, "I assure you I would now, after your lengthy dissertations on the subject when you were accusing Eloise of being Lady Whistledown"

He scowled, obviously annoyed at having his errors thrown in his face "People will stop talking to you," he continuedwThey will cut you dead--"wPeople never talked to me," she snapped "Half the time they didn't even knoas there How do you think I was able to keep up the ruse for so long in the first place? I was invisible, Colin No one saw me, no one talked to me I just stood and listened, and no one noticed"wThat's not true" But his eyes slid from hers as he said itwOh, it is true, and you know it You only deny it," she said, jabbing hiuilty"wI do not!"wOh, please," she scoffed "Everything you do, you do out of guilt"wPen--"wThat involves h her throat, and her skin was pricking with heat, and for once, her soul was on fire "Do you think I don't kno your family pities me? Do you think it escapes my notice that anytime you or your brothers happen to be at the saround out, "and we like you"wAndyou feel sorry forwith her every time your paths cross"