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Penelope just stared at her "I could ask the same of you"wYou could?Why?"wBecause you nearly knocked over the carriage in your haste to climb inside!"wOh," Eloise sniffed dismissively "You have only yourself to bla on And I need to know tonight"

Penelope was quite certain that Colin would not have told his sister about Cressida's blackue Cressida to death "I don't knohat you mean," she saidwYou have to knohat Iback up toward the house The front door was openingwOh, bother Mother and Hyacinth are co already Tell me!"

'Tell you what? "wWhy Colin sent us that abolue all evening"wHe did?"wYes, and lue"wAnd here I thought the emphasis was yours," Penelope said dryly

Eloise scowled "Penelope, this is not the time to poke fun at me"wWhen is the time?"wPenelope!"wSorry, I couldn't resist"wDo you knohat the note was about?"

Penelope shook her head Which wasn't a complete lie, she told herself She really didn't knohat Colin had planned for this evening

Just then the door opened, and Hyacinth bounded in "Penelope!" she said with great enthusias on?"wShe doesn't know," Eloise said

Hyacinth shot her sister an annoyed look "It figures you'd sneak out here early"

Violet poked her head in, "Are they quarreling?" she asked PenelopewJust a little," Penelope replied

Violet sat next to Hyacinth across from Penelope and Eloise "Very well, it's not as if I could stop them, anyway But do tell, what did Colin lue?"wI'm sure I don't know"

Violet's eyes narrowed, as if assessing Penelope's honesty "He was quite elue, you knoI know," Penelope replied, just as Eloise said, "I told her"wHe underlined it twice," Hyacinth added "If his ink had been any darker, I'hter a horse ed "It's all very intriguing"wActually," Penelope said, eager to change the subject, or at least to twist it slightly, "what I'ot everyone's attentionwHe left home in his afternoon clothes," Penelope explained, "and didn't co less than full evening kit for her ball"wHe'll have borrowed so from Anthony," Eloise said disory, actually Only Benedict is different"

'Two inches taller," Hyacinth said

Penelope nodded, feigning interest as she glanced out theThey'd just slowed down, the driver presues that were choking Grosvenor Square ht?" Penelope askedwI believe five hundred were invited," Violet replied "Daphne doesn't host parties very often, but what she lacks in frequency she makes up for in size"wI'll say," Hyacinth et a decent breath tonight"wI'm lucky you were my last," Violet told her eary affection "I'd not have had the energy for any more after you, I'm sure"wPity I wasn't first, then," Hyacinth said with a cheeky smile "Think of all the attention I could have had

Not to mention the fortune"wYou're already quite the heiress as it is," Violet saidwAnd you always e to find your way to the center of attention," Eloise teased

Hyacinth just grinnedwDid you know," Violet said, turning to Penelope, "that all of ht? I can't reether"wWhat about your birthday party?" Eloise asked

Violet shook her head "Gregory wasn't able to get away froht and sing a festive tune, are we?" Hyacinth asked, only half jokingwI can see us now: The Singing Bridgertons We'd ht," Penelope said to her

Hyacinth shrugged "Just getting lue It seeluey fraet her married off soon," Eloise said to heron it," Eloise said crypticallywWhat?"The word's volume was rather amplified by the fact that it exploded fro to say," Eloise said, and in such a tone of voice that they all knew she et to the bottom of this" Hyacinth assured her mother and PenelopewI'm sure you will," Violet replied

Penelope turned to Eloise and said, "You don't stand a chance"

Eloise just lifted her chin in the air and looked out the"We're here," she announced

The four ladies waited until the driver had opened the door, and then one by one they alightedwMy goodness," Violet said approvingly, "Daphne has truly outdone herself"

It was difficult not to stop and look All of Hastings House was ablaze with light Everyhad been adorned with candles, and outdoor sconces held torches, as did a fleet of footeswIt's too bad Lady Whistledown isn't here," Hyacinth said, her voice for once losing its cheeky edgeould have loved this"wMaybe she is here," Eloise said "In fact, she probably is"wDid Daphne invite Cressida Twombley?" Violet askedwI'm sure she did," Eloise said "Not that I think she's Lady WhistledoI don't think anyone thinks that any longer," Violet replied as she lifted her foot onto the first stepwCoht awaits"