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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 blame for that."wMe?"wYes, you! I want to know what's going on. And I need to know tonight."

Penelope was quite certain that Colin would not have told his sister about Cressida's blackmail demands, not unless his plan was to have Eloise harangue Cressida to death. "I don't know what you mean," she said.wYou have to know what I mean!" Eloise insisted, glancing back up toward the house. The front door was opening.wOh, bother. Mother and Hyacinth are coming already. Tell me!"

'Tell you what? "wWhy Colin sent us that abominably cryptic note instructing us to stick to you like glue all evening."wHe did?"wYes, and may I point out that he underlined the wordglue."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 know what the note was about?"

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

Just then the door opened, and Hyacinth bounded in. "Penelope!" she said with great enthusiasm. "What is going 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 Penelope.wJust 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 mean when he instructed us to stick to you like glue?"wI'm sure I don't know."

Violet's eyes narrowed, as if assessing Penelope's honesty. "He was quite emphatic. He underlined the word glue, you know."wI know," Penelope replied, just as Eloise said, "I told her."wHe underlined it twice," Hyacinth added. "If his ink had been any darker, I'm sure I would have had to go out and slaughter a horse myself."wHyacinth!" Violet exclaimed.

Hyacinth just shrugged. "It's all very intriguing."wActually," Penelope said, eager to change the subject, or at least to twist it slightly, "what I'm wondering is, what will Colin wear?"

That got everyone's attention.wHe left home in his afternoon clothes," Penelope explained, "and didn't come back. I can't imagine your sister would accept anything less than full evening kit for her ball."wHe'll have borrowed something from Anthony," Eloise said dismissively. "They're precisely the same size. Same as Gregory, actually. Only Benedict is different."

'Two inches taller," Hyacinth said.

Penelope nodded, feigning interest as she glanced out the window. They'd just slowed down, the driver presumably trying to navigate through the crush of carriages that were choking Grosvenor Square.wHow many people are expected tonight?" Penelope asked.wI 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 muttered. "I hate crowds. I'm not going to be able to get a decent breath tonight."wI'm lucky you were my last," Violet told her with weary 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 said.wAnd you always manage to find your way to the center of attention," Eloise teased.

Hyacinth just grinned.wDid you know," Violet said, turning to Penelope, "that all of my children are going to be in attendance tonight? I can't remember the last time we were all together."wWhat about your birthday party?" Eloise asked.

Violet shook her head. "Gregory wasn't able to get away from university."wWe're not expected to line up according to height and sing a festive tune, are we?" Hyacinth asked, only half joking.wI can see us now: The Singing Bridgertons. We'd make a fortune on the stage."wYou're in a punchy mood tonight," Penelope said to her.

Hyacinth shrugged. "Just getting myself ready for my upcoming transformation into glue. It seems to require a certain mental preparedness."wA gluey frame of mind?" Penelope inquired mildly.wPrecisely."wWe must get her married off soon," Eloise said to her mother.wYou first," Hyacinth shot back.wI'm working on it," Eloise said cryptically.wWhat?"The word's volume was rather amplified by the fact that it exploded from three mouths at once.wThat's all I'm going to say," Eloise said, and in such a tone of voice that they all knew she meant it.wI will get to the bottom of this" Hyacinth assured her mother and Penelope.wI'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 window. "We're here," she announced.

The four ladies waited until the driver had opened the door, and then one by one they alighted.wMy 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. Every window had been adorned with candles, and outdoor sconces held torches, as did a fleet of footmen who were greeting the carriages.wIt's too bad Lady Whistledown isn't here," Hyacinth said, her voice for once losing its cheeky edge.wShe would have loved this."wMaybe she is here," Eloise said. "In fact, she probably is."wDid Daphne invite Cressida Twombley?" Violet asked.wI'm sure she did," Eloise said. "Not that I think she's Lady Whistledown."wI don't think anyone thinks that any longer," Violet replied as she lifted her foot onto the first step.wCome along, girls, our night awaits."