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His brother and sister, she thought in wonder The Bridgertons really did inspire a bond She never thought she'd see the day when a duke referred to her as his sisterwLadies and gentle throughout the hall, "I would like to propose a toast to the most remarkable woman in the world"

A low murmur spread across the roo herwI aoers with his lopsided se h the croI know that ton to be my wife I was surprised h the air, but Penelope held herself perfectly still, co She kneould Colin always said the right thingasn't surprised that I had fallen in love with her," he said pointedly, giving the crowd a look that dared the"I've known her for so , "and somehow I'd never taken the time to look inside, to see the beautiful, brilliant, witty wo down her face, but she couldn't move She could barely breathe

She had expected hi her this incredible gift, this spectacular declaration of lovewTherefore," Colin said, "with all of you here as my witnesses, I would like to say--Penelope--" He turned to her, taking her free hand in his, and said:wI love you I adore you I worship the ground you walk upon"

He turned back out to the crowd, lifted his glass, and said, "To ht up in the ic of the h she couldn't help but wonder when he was going to tell thelass, dear," heit asidewBut--"wYou interrupt far too much," he scolded, and ht there on the balcony in front of the entire tonwColin!" she gasped, once he gave her a chance to breathe

He grinned wolfishly as their audience roared its approvalwOh, and one last thing!" he called to the crowd

They were now sta the party early Right now, as a rin at Penelope "I'm sure you'll understand"

The men in the crowd hooted and hollered as Penelope turned beet redwBut before I do, I have one last thing to say One lastlittle thing, in case you still don't believe me when I tell you thatwoman in all of London"wNooooo!" came a voice from the back, and Penelope kneas Cressida

But even Cressida was no match for the crowd, none of ould let her pass, or even listen to her cries of distresswYou htfully "Of course you all knew her as Penelope Featherington, as did I But what you didn't know, and what even I was not clever enough to figure out until she toldfor silence to fall over the roomw is that she is also the brilliant, the witty, the breathtakinglyabout," he said, his arive youacross the roo but silence It was almost as if no one even dared to breathe

And then it came Clap Clap Clap Slow and methodical, but with such force and determination that everyone had to turn and look to see who had dared to break the shocked silence

It was Lady Danbury

She had shoved her cane into so loud and proud, beaan to clap Penelope jerked her head to the side to see who