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She'd known that he would be furious with her for publishing one last colu as she'd rewritten the words, and she'd been terrified the entire time she'd been at St Bride's Church (as well as the ride to and fro to ju because he couldn't bear to be married to Lady Whistledown

But she'd done it anyway

She knew he thought she wasa mistake, but she simply could not allow Cressida Twombley to take the credit for her life's work But was it so much to ask that Colin at least make the attempt to see it all fro anyone to pretend to be Lady Whistledown, but Cressida was unbearable Penelope had worked too hard and endured too much at Cressida's hands

Plus, she knew that Colin would never jilt her once their engagement became public That was part of the reason she'd specifically instructed her publisher to have the papers delivered on Monday to the Mottra to do it at her own engagement ball, especially when Colin was so opposed to the idea

Damn Mr Lacey! He'd surely done this to h about society froement ball would be the most coveted invitation of the season Why this shouldinterest in Whistledoould not lead to more h, and neither Penelope nor Mr Lacey would receive another pound frohed Mr Lacey e her htened at her waist, and she looked back up His eyes were on hers, startlingly green even in the candlelight Or reen She probably would have thought them emerald in the dark

He nodded toward the other dancers on the floor, which was noith revelers 'Time to make our escape," he said

She returned his nod with one of her own They had already told his fao home, so no one would think overeur for thee, well, sometimes rules were stretched for affianced couples, especially on such rohter escaped her lips The night was turning out to be the least roant brow raised in questionwIt's nothing," Penelope said

He squeezed her hand, although not terribly affectionately "I want to know," he said

She shrugged fatalistically She couldn't iht any worse than it already was "I was just thinking about how this evening was supposed to be romantic"wIt could have been," he said cruelly

His hand slipped from its position at her waist, but he held on to her other hand, grasping her fingers lightly to weave her through the crowd until they stepped through the French doors out onto the terracewNot here," Penelope whispered, glancing anxiously back toward the ballroonify her co her farther into the inky night, drifting around a corner until they were quite alone

But they didn't stop there With a quick glance to make sure that no one was about, Colin pushed open a small, unobtrusive side doorwWhat's this?" Penelope asked

His ansas a little shove at the small of her back, until she was fully inside the dark hallUp," he said,to the steps