s Colin liked to walk, and in fact frequently did so to clear his mind, it was no surprise that he spent much of the next day traversing Bloomsbury…and Fitzrovia…and Marylebone…and in fact several other London neighborhoods, until he looked up and realized that he was standing in the heart of Mayfair, in Grosvenor Square, to be precise, outside of Hastings House, town home of the Dukes of Hastings, the latest of whom happened to be married to his sister Daphne.

It had been a while since they’d had a conversation, anything above the usual family chitchat, that was. Of all his siblings, Daphne was the closest in age to him, and they’d always shared a rather special bond, even though they didn’t see each other as much as they used to, what with Colin’s frequent travels and Daphne’s busy family life.

Hastings House was one of those enormous mansions that one could find scattered throughout Mayfair and St. James’s. Large and square and constructed of elegant Portland stone, it was thoroughly imposing in its ducal splendor.

Which made it all the more amusing, Colin thought with a wry grin, that his sister was the current duchess. He couldn’t imagine anyone less haughty or imposing. In fact, Daphne had had difficulty finding a husband when she’d been out on the marriage mart, precisely because she was so friendly and easy to be with. Gentlemen had tended to think of her as their friend and not as a prospective bride.

But all that had changed when she’d met Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings, and now she was a respectable society matron with four children, aged ten, nine, eight, and seven. It still sometimes seemed odd to Colin that his sister was a mother, of all things, while he still lived the free and unfettered life of a bachelor. With only one year between them, he and Daphne had always passed through the various stages of life together. Even when she’d married, things hadn’t seemed so very different; she and Simon attended the same parties he did and had many of the same interests and pursuits.

But then she’d started reproducing, and while Colin was always delighted to welcome a new niece or nephew into his life, each arrival had brought home the fact that Daphne had moved on in a way he had not.

But, he thought, smiling as Penelope’s face drifted through his mind, he supposed all that would soon change.

Children. It was a rather nice thought, actually.

He hadn’t consciously meant to visit Daphne, but now that he was here, he figured he might as well stop by and say hello, so he marched up the steps and gave the big brass knocker a sturdy clanking. Jeffries, the butler, opened the door almost immediately.

“Mr. Bridgerton,” he said. “Your sister was not expecting you.”

“No, I decided to surprise her. Is she at home?”

“I shall see,” the butler said with a nod, even though they both knew that Daphne would never refuse to see a member of her family.

Colin waited in the drawing room while Jeffries informed Daphne of his presence, wandering idly about, feeling too restless to sit or even stand in one place. After a few minutes, Daphne appeared in the doorway, looking slightly disheveled but happy as always.

And why shouldn’t she be? Colin wondered. All she’d ever wanted in life was to be a wife and mother, and it seemed that reality had more than surpassed her dreams.

“Hello there, sister,” he said with a sloppy smile as he crossed the room to give her a quick hug. “You’ve got…” He motioned to his shoulder.

She looked down at her own shoulder, then smiled sheepishly as she saw the large dark gray smudge on the pale pink fabric of her dress. “Charcoal,” she explained ruefully. “I’ve been trying to teach Caroline to draw.”

“You?” Colin asked doubtfully.

“I know, I know,” she said. “She really couldn’t have picked a worse tutor, but she only decided yesterday that she loves art, so I’m all she’s got on such short notice.”

“You should pack her off to see Benedict,” Colin suggested. “I’m sure he’d be happy to give her a lesson or two.”

“The thought had already crossed my mind, but I’m sure she’ll have moved on to some other pursuit by the time I can make the arrangements.” She motioned to a sofa. “Sit. You look rather like a caged cat over there, pacing as you are.”

He sat, even though he felt uncommonly fidgety.

“And before you ask,” Daphne said, “I already told Jeffries to see to food. Will sandwiches be enough?”

“Could you hear my stomach grumbling from across the room?”

“From across town, I’m afraid.” She laughed. “Did you know that whenever it thunders, David says that it’s your stomach?”

“Oh, good God,” Colin muttered, but he was chuckling all the while. His nephew was a rather clever little fellow.

Daphne smiled broadly as she settled down against the sofa cushions, folding her hands elegantly in her lap. “What brings you by, Colin? Not that you need a reason, of course. It’s always lovely to see you.”

He shrugged. “Just passing by.”

“Did you visit Anthony and Kate?” she asked. Bridgerton House, where their eldest brother lived with his family, was just across the square from Hastings House. “Benedict and Sophie are already there with the children, helping to prepare for your engagement ball tonight.”

He shook his head. “No, you’re my chosen victim, I’m afraid.”

She smiled again, but this time it was a softer expression, tempered by a fair dose of curiosity. “Is something wrong?”

“No, of course not,” he said quickly. “Why would you ask that?”

“I don’t know.” She cocked her head to the side. “You seem odd, that’s all.”

“Just tired.”

She nodded knowingly. “Wedding plans, I’m sure.”

“Yes,” he said, jumping on the excuse, although for the life of him, he wasn’t even sure what it was he was trying to hide from her.

“Well, remember that whatever you’re going through,” she said with a peevish twist to her lips, “it’s a thousand times worse for Penelope. It’s always worse for women. Trust me.”

“For weddings or for everything?” he asked mildly.

“Everything,” she said promptly. “I know you men think you’re actually in charge, but—”

“I wouldn’t dream of thinking we’re actually in charge,” Colin said, and not entirely sarcastically.

Her face pinched into a peevish expression. “Women have far more to do than men. Especially with weddings. With all the fittings I’m sure Penelope has had for her wedding gown, she probably feels like a pincushion.”

“I suggested eloping,” Colin said conversationally, “and I think she rather hoped I was serious.”

Daphne chuckled. “I’m so glad you’re marrying her, Colin.”

He nodded, not planning to say anything, and then somehow, he was saying her name. “Daff—”

“Yes?”

He opened his mouth, and then—“Never mind.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she said. “Now you really have my curiosity piqued.”

He drummed his fingers against the sofa. “Do you suppose the food might arrive soon?”

“Are you even hungry or are you merely trying to change the subject?”

“I’m always hungry.”

She was silent for several seconds. “Colin,” she finally asked, her voice soft and carefully gentle, “what were you going to say?”

He jumped to his feet, too restless to remain still, and began to pace. He stopped, turned to her, looked at her concerned face. “It’s nothing,” he started to say, except it wasn’t nothing, and—

“How does one know?” he blurted out, not even aware that he hadn’t completed his question until she replied, “How does one know what?”

He stopped in front of the window. It looked like it might rain. He’d have to borrow a carriage from Daphne unless he wanted to get soaked on the long walk home. Yet, he didn’t know why he was even thinking about precipitation, because what he really wanted to know was—

“How does one know what, Colin?” Daphne repeated.

He turned around and just let the words break free. “How do you know if it’s love?”

For a moment she just stared at him, her large brown eyes wide with surprise, her lips parted and utterly still.

“Forget I asked,” he muttered.

“No!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “I’m glad you asked. Very glad. I’m just…surprised, I must say.”

He closed his eyes, thoroughly disgusted with himself. “I can’t believe I just asked you that.”

“No, Colin, don’t be silly. It’s really rather…sweet that you asked. And I can’t even begin to tell you how flattered I am that you would come to me when—”

“Daphne…” he said warningly. She had a way of wandering off the topic, and he really wasn’t in the right frame of mind to follow her errant thoughts.

Impulsively, she reached out and hugged him; then, her hands still on his shoulders, she said, “I don’t know.”

“I beg your pardon?”

She gave her head a little shake. “I don’t know how you know it’s love. I think it’s different for everyone.”

“How did you know?”

She chewed on her lower lip for several seconds before replying, “I don’t know.”

“What?”

She shrugged helplessly. “I don’t remember. It’s been so long. I just…knew.”

“So what you’re saying,” he said, leaning against the windowsill and crossing his arms, “is that if one doesn’t know one’s in love, then one probably isn’t.”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “No! No, that’s not what I mean at all.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” she said weakly.

He stared at her. “And how long have you been married?” he muttered.

“Colin, don’t tease. I’m trying to be helpful.”

“And I appreciate the attempt, but truly, Daphne, you—”

“I know, I know,” she interrupted. “I’m useless. But listen to me. Do you like Penelope?” Then she gasped in horror. “We are talking about Penelope, aren’t we?”

“Of course we are,” he snapped.

She let out a relieved sigh. “Good, because if we weren’t, then I can assure you I would have had no advice whatsoever.”

“I’ll go,” he said abruptly.

“No, don’t,” she pleaded, placing her hand on his arm. “Stay, Colin, please.”

He looked at her, sighing, feeling defeated. “I feel like an ass.”

“Colin,” she said, guiding him to the sofa and pushing him down until he sat, “listen to me. Love grows and changes every day. And it isn’t like some thunderbolt from the sky, instantly transforming you into a different man. I know Benedict says it was that way for him, and that’s just lovely, but you know, Benedict is not normal.”

Colin very much wanted to take that bait, but he just couldn’t summon the energy.

“It wasn’t like that for me,” Daphne said, “and I don’t think it was like that for Simon, although truthfully, I don’t think I’ve ever asked.”

“You should.”

She paused while her mouth was forming a word, leaving her looking like a surprised bird. “Why?”

He shrugged. “So you can tell me.”

“What, do you think it’s different for men?”

“Everything else is.”

She grimaced. “I’m beginning to develop a fair dose of pity for Penelope.”

“Oh, absolutely you should,” he agreed. “I’ll make a dreadful husband, to be sure.”

“You will not,” she said, batting his arm. “Why on earth would you say that? You would never be unfaithful to her.”

“No,” he agreed. He was quiet for a moment, and when he finally spoke again, his voice was soft. “But I might not love her the way she deserves.”

“But you might.” She threw up her hands in a gesture of exasperation. “For heaven’s sake, Colin, just the fact that you’re sitting here asking your sister about love probably means you’re more than halfway there.”

“Do you think?”

“If I didn’t think so,” she said, “I wouldn’t have said so.” She sighed. “Stop thinking so hard, Colin. You’ll find marriage a lot easier if you simply allow it to be.”

He eyed her suspiciously. “When did you grow so philosophical?”

“When you came by to see me and forced the issue,” she said promptly. “You’re marrying the right person. Stop worrying so much.”

“I’m not worrying,” he said automatically, but of course he was worrying, so he didn’t even bother to defend himself when Daphne shot him an extremely sarcastic look. But it wasn’t as if he were worrying whether Penelope was the right woman. He was certain of that.

And he wasn’t worried about whether his marriage would be a good one. He was certain of that, as well.

No, he was worrying about stupid things. About whether or not he loved her, not because it would be the end of the world if he did (or the end of the world if he didn’t), but because he found it extremely unsettling not to know exactly what it was he was feeling.

“Colin?”

He looked over at his sister, who was regarding him with a rather bemused expression. He stood, intending to leave before he embarrassed himself beyond repair, then leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thank you,” he said.

She narrowed her eyes. “I can’t tell if you’re serious or are teasing me for being an utter lack of help.”

“You were an utter lack of help,” he said, “but it’s an honest thank-you, nonetheless.”

“Points for effort?”

“Something like that.”

“Are you going over to Bridgerton House now?” she asked.

“Why, so I may embarrass myself with Anthony next?”

“Or Benedict,” she said. “He’s there, too.”

The thing about large families was, there was never a lack of opportunity to make a fool of oneself with a sibling. “No,” he said with a small, wry smile, “I think I’ll walk home.”

“Walk?” she echoed, gaping.

He squinted toward the window. “Do you think it might rain?”

“Take my carriage, Colin,” she insisted, “and please wait for the sandwiches. There is sure to be a mountain of them, and if you leave before they arrive, I know I’ll eat half, and then I’ll hate myself for the rest of the day.”

He nodded and sat back down, and was glad he did. He’d always been partial to smoked salmon. In fact, he took a plate with him in the carriage, staring out the window the whole way home at the pouring rain.

When the Bridgertons threw a party, they did it right.

And when the Bridgertons threw an engagement ball…well, had Lady Whistledown still been writing, it would have taken at least three columns to chronicle the event.

Even this engagement ball, thrown together at the last minute (due to the fact that neither Lady Bridgerton nor Mrs. Featherington were willing to allow their children the possibility of changing their minds during a long engagement), easily qualified as the party of the season.

Although part of that, Penelope thought wryly, had little to do with the party itself and everything to do with the continued speculation over why on earth Colin Bridgerton would choose a nobody like Penelope Featherington to be his wife. It hadn’t even been this bad when Anthony Bridgerton had married Kate Sheffield, who, like Penelope, had never been considered a diamond of the first water. But at least Kate hadn’t been old. Penelope couldn’t even begin to count the number of times she’d heard the word spinster whispered behind her back during the past few days.

But while the gossip was a bit tedious, it didn’t really bother her, because she was still floating along on the cloud of her own bliss. A woman couldn’t spend her entire adult life in love with one man and then not be almost stupid with happiness after he asked her to marry him.

Even if she couldn’t quite figure out how it had all happened.

It had happened. That was all that mattered.

And Colin was everything anyone could dream of in a fiancé. He stuck to her side like glue the entire evening, and Penelope didn’t even think he was doing it to protect her from gossip. In all truth, he seemed rather oblivious to the talk.

It was almost as if…Penelope smiled dreamily. It was almost as if Colin were remaining by her side because he wanted to be there.

“Did you see Cressida Twombley?” Eloise whispered in her ear while Colin was off dancing with his mother. “She’s green with envy.”

“That’s just her dress,” Penelope said with an impressively straight face.

Eloise laughed. “Oh, I wish Lady Whistledown were writing. She would skewer her.”

“I think Lady Whistledown is supposed to be her,” Penelope said carefully.

“Oh, pish and tosh. I don’t believe for one moment that Cressida is Lady Whistledown, and I can’t believe that you do, either.”

“Probably not,” Penelope allowed. She knew that her secret would be better protected if she claimed to believe Cressida’s story, but anyone who knew her would have found that so out of character that it would have been quite suspicious indeed.

“Cressida just wanted the money,” Eloise continued disdainfully. “Or maybe the notoriety. Probably both.”

Penelope watched her nemesis, holding court on the other side of the room. Her regular crowd of cronies milled about, but they were joined by new people, as well, most likely curious about the Whistledown gossip. “Well, she’s succeeded with the notoriety, at least.”

Eloise nodded her agreement. “I cannot even imagine why she was invited. There is certainly no love lost between the two of you, and none of us like her.”

“Colin insisted upon it.”

Eloise turned to her with gaping jaw. “Why?”

Penelope suspected that the main reason was Cressida’s recent claim to be Lady Whistledown; most of the ton wasn’t sure whether or not she was lying, but no one was willing to deny her an invitation to an event, just in case she really was telling the truth.

And Colin and Penelope shouldn’t have had any reason to know for certain otherwise.

But Penelope couldn’t reveal this to Eloise, so she told her the rest of the story, which was still the truth. “Your mother didn’t want to cause any gossip by cutting her, and Colin also said…”

She blushed. It was really too sweet.

“What?” Eloise demanded.

Penelope couldn’t speak without smiling. “He said he wanted Cressida to be forced to watch me in my triumph.”

“Oh. My. Word.” Eloise looked as if she might need to sit down. “My brother is in love.”

Penelope’s blush turned a furious red.

“He is,” Eloise exclaimed. “He must be. Oh, you must tell me. Has he said so?”

There was something both wonderful and horrible in listening to Eloise gush. On the one hand, it was always lovely to share life’s most perfect moments with one’s best friend, and Eloise’s joy and excitement were certainly contagious.

But on the other hand, they weren’t necessarily warranted, because Colin didn’t love her. Or at least he hadn’t said so.

But he acted like he did! Penelope clung to that thought, trying to focus on that, rather than the fact that he’d never said the words.

Actions spoke louder than words, didn’t they?

And his actions made her feel like a princess.

“Miss Featherington! Miss Featherington!”

Penelope looked to her left and beamed. That voice could belong to no one other than Lady Danbury.

“Miss Featherington,” Lady D said, poking her cane through the crowd until she was standing right in front of Penelope and Eloise.

“Lady Danbury, how nice to see you.”

“Heh heh heh.” Lady Danbury’s wrinkled face became almost young again from the force of her smile. “It’s always nice to see me, regardless of what anyone else says. And you, you little devil. Look what you did.”

“Isn’t it the best?” Eloise asked.

Penelope looked to her closest friend. For all her mixed emotions, Eloise was truly, honestly, and forever would be thrilled for her. Suddenly it didn’t matter that they were standing in the middle of a crowded ballroom, with everyone staring at her as if she were some sort of specimen on a biology plate. She turned and gave Eloise a fierce hug, whispering, “I do love you,” in her ear.

“I know you do,” Eloise whispered back.

Lady Danbury banged her cane—loudly—on the floor. “I’m still standing here, ladies!”

“Oh, sorry,” Penelope said sheepishly.

“It’s all right,” Lady D said, with an uncharacteristic level of indulgence. “It’s rather nice to see two girls who’d rather embrace than stab each other in the back, if you must know.”

“Thank you for coming over to congratulate me,” Penelope said.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Lady Danbury said. “Heh heh heh. All these fools, trying to figure out what you did to get him to marry you, when all you really did was be yourself.”

Penelope’s lips parted, and tears pricked her eyes. “Why, Lady Danbury, that’s just about the nicest—”

“No, no,” Lady D interrupted loudly, “none of that. I haven’t the time nor the inclination for sentiment.”

But Penelope noticed that she’d pulled out her handkerchief and was discreetly dabbing her eyes.

“Ah, Lady Danbury,” Colin said, returning to the group and sliding his arm possessively through Penelope’s. “Good to see you.”

“Mr. Bridgerton,” she said in curt greeting. “Just came over to congratulate your bride.”

“Ah, but I am surely the one who deserves the congratulations.”

“Hmmmph. Truer words, and all that,” Lady D said. “I think you might be right. She’s more of a prize than anyone realizes.”

“I realize,” he said, his voice so low and deadly serious that Penelope thought she might faint from the thrill of it.

“And if you’ll excuse us,” Colin continued smoothly, “I must take my fiancée over to meet my brother—”

“I’ve met your brother,” Penelope interrupted.

“Consider it tradition,” he said. “We need to officially welcome you to the family.”

“Oh.” She felt rather warm inside at the thought of becoming a Bridgerton. “How lovely.”

“As I was saying,” Colin said, “Anthony would like to make a toast, and then I must lead Penelope in a waltz.”

“Very romantic,” Lady Danbury said approvingly.

“Yes, well, I am a romantic sort,” Colin said airily.

Eloise let out a loud snort.

He turned to her with one arrogantly arched brow. “I am.”

“For Penelope’s sake,” she retorted, “I certainly hope so.”

“Are they always like this?” Lady Danbury asked Penelope.

“Most of the time.”

Lady D nodded. “That’s a good thing. My children rarely even speak to one another. Not out of any ill will, of course. They just have nothing in common. Sad, really.”

Colin tightened his hand on Penelope’s arm. “We really must be going.”

“Of course,” she murmured, but as she turned to walk toward Anthony, whom she could see across the room, standing near the small orchestra, she heard a loud and sudden commotion at the door.

“Attention! Attention!”

The blood drained from her face in under a second. “Oh, no,” she heard herself whisper. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not tonight, anyway.

“Attention!”

Monday, her mind screamed. She’d told her printer Monday. At the Mottram ball.

“What is going on?” Lady Danbury demanded.

Ten young boys were racing into the room, nothing more than urchins, really, holding sheaves of paper, tossing them about like large rectangles of confetti.

“Lady Whistledown’s final column!” they all yelled. “Read it now! Read the truth.”