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And then they were gonewDon't," she said, her voice shakingwDon't touch you?" His voice grew lad that she couldn't see his face "But you're mine; aren't you?"wNot yet," she warned himwOh, but you are You saw to that It was rather clever tiement ball to make your final announcement You knew I didn't want you to publish that last colunored her outburst "You waited until--"wWe never agreed," Penelope cried out again, needing to make it clear that she had not broken her word Whatever else she had done, she had not bed to hi Whistledown a secret for nearly a dozen years, but he certainly hadn't been alone in that deception "And yes," she ad now, "I knew you wouldn't jilt me But I hoped--"

Her voice broke, and she was unable to finishwYou hoped what?" Colin asked after an interive me," she whispered "Or at least that you would understand I always thought you were the sort of man who"wWhat sort of man?" he asked, this time after the barest hint of a pausewIt'stired and sad "I've put you on a pedestal You've been so nice all these years

I suppose I thought you were incapable of anything else"wWhat the hell have I done that hasn't been nice?" he demanded "I've protected you, I've offered for you, I've--"wYou haven't tried to see this fro like an idiot!" he nearly roared

There was silence after that, the kind of silence that grates at ears, gnaws at soulswI can't iine what else there is to say," Penelope finally said

Colin looked away He didn't knohy he did so; it wasn't as if he could see her in the dark, anyway

But there was so about the tone of her voice that made him uneasy She sounded vulnerable, tired Wishful and heartbroken She made hih he knew she had made a terrible mistake Every little catch in her voice put a dary, but so to be found out, you know," he said, his voice low and controlled "You have huoing to rest until she unearths the real Lady Whistledown"

Penelope"Cressida isn't bright enough to figureto write any more columns, so there will be no opportunity for " There was a beat of silence, and then she added, "You have my promise on that"wIt's too late," he saidwIt's not too late," she protested "No one knows! No one knows but you, and you're so ashamed of me, I can't bear it"wOh, for the love of God, Penelope," he snapped, "I'ht a candle?" she wailed

Colin crossed the room and fuht it "I'm not asha foolishly"wYou may be correct," she said, "but I have to do what I think is right"wYou're not thinking," he said dis at her face as he sparked a flah I cannot--ill happen to your reputation if people find out who you really are Forget that people will cut you, that they will talk about you behind your back"wThose people aren't worth worrying about," she said, her back ra his ar at her Hard "But it will hurt You will not like it, Penelope And I won't like it"

She sed convulsively Good Maybe he was getting through to herwBut forget all of that," he continued "You have spent the last decade insulting people Offending thes as well," she protested, her dark eyes glistening with unshed tearswOf course you have, but those aren't the people you are going to have to worry about I'ry ones, the insulted ones" He strode forward and grabbed her by her upper arently, "there will be people ant to hurt you"

His words had been meant for her, but they turned around and pierced his own heart

He tried to picture a life without Penelope It was iht What had she been? A friend? An acquaintance?

Someone he saw and never really noticed?

And now she was his fiancee, soon to be his bride Anddeeper So even more preciouswWhat I want to know," he asked, deliberately forcing the conversation back on topic so his erous roads, "is why you're not ju on the perfect alibi if the point is to re anonymous isn't the point!" she fairly yelledant to be found out?" he asked, gaping at her in the candlelightwNo, of course not," she replied "But this is my work This is my life's work This is all I have to show for my life, and if I can't take the credit for it, I'll be damned if someone else will"

Colin opened histo say Life's work Penelope had a life's work

He did not

She ht not be able to put her name on her work, but when she was alone in her room, she could look at her back issues, and point to them, and say to herself, This is it This is what my life has been aboutwColin?" she whispered, clearly startled by his silence