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His hand tightened on her ar"wColin!" she nearly shrieked, tripping over her feet as she stumbled up the stairs "Are you sure--"wNo time like the present," he said, almost jauntilyHe seemed quite pleased with himself, which puzzled her, because she would have bet her entire fortune--and as Lady Whistledown, she'd amassed quite a fortune--that he had not intended to ask her to round to a halt in front her house

Perhaps not even until the words had left his lips

He turned to her "Do I need to knock?"wNo, I--"

He knocked anyway, or rather banged, if one wanted to be particular about itwBriarly," Penelope said through an attempted smile as the butler opened the door to receive the in surprise He nodded at Colin "Mr Bridgerton"wIs Mrs Featherington at hoed in, pulling Penelope along with hi room, but I should tell you--"

But Colin was already halfway down the hall, Penelope one step behind hi as how his hand rapped rather tightly around her upperarhtly panicked

Penelope twisted, even as her feet continued to follow Colin Briarly never panicked About anything If he didn't think she and Colin ought to enter the drawing rooood reason

Maybe even--

Oh, no

Penelope dug in her heels, skidding along the hardwood floor as Colin dragged her along by the ar on the first syllable "Colin!"wI really think--Aaack!" Her skidding heels hit the edge of the runner carpet, sending her flying forward

He caught her neatly and set her on her feet "What is it?"

She glanced nervously at the door to the drawing rooh noise inside so that her wPenelope " Colin prompted impatientlywEr" There was still time to escape, wasn't there? She looked frantically about, not that she was likely to find a solution to her proble his foot, "what the devil is the ed his shoulders "This really ht not be the best ti rather like the butler had just seconds earlier "You're not planning to refuse h she hadn't truly accepted the fact that he even intended to offer for herwThen this is an excellent ti no further protestwBut it's--"wWhat?"

Tuesday,she thought o," Colin said, striding forward, and before she could stop hiht upon stepping into the drawing roo in any ht have anticipated when he'd risen fro out to be a e to Penelope was an e as well, if their recent encounter in the carriage was any indication

His second thought was that he'd just entered his worst night rooton, current and for with assorted spouses and even a cat

It was the e of people Colin had ever witnessed Penelope's family was

well except for Felicity (whom he'd always held in soood friends with Hyacinth?), her faood word for it Certainly nothing coh he'd like to think he could have avoided an outright insult), and really, was there a word that effectively cohtly dily dull, and--and one couldn't forget this, not with Robert Huxley a recent addition to the clan--unco, friendly, slightly mischievous smile It altons all s

At least not right aColin," Mrs Featherington said with visible surprise "How nice of you to bring Penelope ho?" he echoed He looked to Penelope, as standing next to hi weakly "Didn't I h it was obvious her question had been for the benefit of their audiencewNo, you didn't erton!" bellowed Robert Huxley, as married to Penelope's eldest sister PrudencewHuxley," Colin returned, taking a discreet step back Best to protect his eardrums in case Penelope's brother-in-law decided to leave his post near the

Thankfully, Huxley stayed put, but Penelope's other brother-in-law, the well-el Berbrooke, did cross the roo Colin with a hearty slap on the back "Wasn't expecting you," Berbrooke said joviallywNo," Colin murmured, "I wouldn't think so"wJust family, after all," Berbrooke said, "and you're not family Not my fa a glance at Penelope She was blushing

Then he looked back at Mrs Featherington, who looked as if she h his smile He hadn'tthe family