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It was as if the sun had suddenly taken up residence in her sushed "I can't wait to see what happened when you went to Kintyre and Mull and"--frowning, she checked the open book--"and Skye and Ullapool and Culloden and Graain--"oh, yes, and Blair Castle, of course, if you everto visit friends"
He nodded "Murray," he said, referring to a school chum whose brother was the Duke of Atholl "But I should tell you, I didn't end up following the exact route prescribed by old Angus Ca half the places hedreao for our honeyhly surprised "Don't you want to travel someplace warm and exotic?"
'To one who has never traveled more than one hundred miles from London," she said pertly, "Scotland is exotic"wI can assure you," he said with a se of the bed, "that Italy is hted hiuely e he'd be able to embarrass her with talk of romance and love and all the splendid activities that ith theo to Scotland another ti north every few years or so to visit Francesca, anyas surprised that you asked for my opinion," Penelope said after a short silencewWho else would I ask?"wI don't know," she replied, suddenly very interested in the way her fingers were plucking at the bedcovers "Your brothers, I suppose"
He laid his hand on hers "What do they know about writing?"
Her chin lifted and her eyes, clear, warm, and brown, met his "I know you value their opinions"wThat is true," he acceded, "but I value yours more"
He watched her face closely, as emotions played across her features "But you don't like ," she said, her voice hesitant and hopeful at the same ti it there gently,could be further fro his words "I think you are a ht into the essence of a person with a simplicity and wit that is h You've made them wince You've made them think, Penelope You have her achievementwNot to mention," he continued, alotten started, "that you write about society, of all things You write about society, and youand witty, e all know that est ti She had been proud of her work for years, and had secretly s fro at one of her quips But she'd had no one ho anonymous had been a lonely prospect
But now she had Colin And even though the world would never know that Lady Whistledoas actually plain, overlooked, spinster-until-the-last-possible-ton, Colin knew And Penelope was co to realize that even if that wasn't all that mattered, it hat mattered most
But she still didn't understand his actionswWhy, then," she asked hirow so distant and cold every ti it up?"
When he spoke, his words were close to a ood listener," she said softly
His hand, which had been cradling her face so lovingly, dropped to his lap And he said the one thing she never would have expectedwI'ed helplessly "I'm so sorry"wI don't knohat youthe voice to do anything elsewLook at yourself, Penelope" He took both of her hands in his and twisted so that they were facing one another "You're a huge success"wAn anonymous success," she reminded himwBut you know, and I know, and besides, that's not what I' his fingers through his hair as he searched for words "You have done so You have a body of work"wBut you have--"wWhat do I have, Penelope?" he interrupted, his voice growing agitated as he rose to his feet and began to pace "What do I have?"wWell, you have me," she said, but her words lacked force She knew that wasn't what heabout that, Penelope--"wI kno--I need soht on top of her soft sentence "I need a purpose
Anthony has one, and Benedict has one, but I'm at odds and ends"wColin, you're not You're--"wI' but an--" He stopped shortwWhat, Colin?" she asked, a bit startled by the disgusted expression that suddenly crossed his facewChrist above," he swore, his voice low, the S hissing from his lips
Her eyes widened Colin was not one for frequent profanitywI can't believe it," hejerkily to the left, alwI complained to you," he said incredulously "I corimaced "A lot of people have done that, Colin I'm used to it"wI can't believe it I co"wShe calledlevity