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Lady D nodded "That's a good thing My children rarely even speak to one another Not out of any ill will, of course They just have nothing in cohtened his hand on Penelope's ar"wOf course," she murmured, but as she turned to walk toward Anthony, who near the small orchestra, she heard a loud and sudden commotion at the doorwAttention! Attention!"

The blood drained from her face in under a second "Oh, no," she heard herself whisper This wasn't supposed to happen Not tonight, anyAttention!"

Monday,her mind screamed She'd told her printer Monday At the Mottra boys were racing into the roo sheaves of paper, tossing theles of confettiwLady Whistledown's final column!" they all yelled "Read it now! Read the truth"

CHAPTER 17

Colin Bridgerton was faood looks, which was no surprise; all the Bridgerton ood looks

He was fahtly crooked smile, which could melt a woman's heart across a crowded ballroo lady to faint dead away, or at least to swoon delicately, then hit her head on a table, which did produce the aforementioned dead faint

He was famous for his mellow charrin and an a comment

What he was not famous for, and in fact what many people would have sworn he did not even possess, was a temper

And, in fact, due to his reoing to get a glih his soon-to-be wife ht wake up the next day with a serious bruise on her ar her

But he couldn't let go He kneas hurting her, he kneasn't a terribly nice thing that he was hurting her, but he was so damned furious at that moment, and it waseither squeeze her arm for all he orth or lose his temper in front of five hundred of their nearest and dearest acquaintances

All in all, he thought he wasto kill her As soon as he figured out soodforsaken ballrooreed that Lady Whistledoas a thing of the past, that they were going to letdisaster RuinwThis is fabulous!" Eloise exclai a newssheet fro

I'll bet she caement"wWouldn't that be nice?" Colin drawled

Penelope said nothing, but she looked very, very palewOh, my heavens!"