His hand tightened on her arm. "Let's just get going."wColin!" she nearly shrieked, tripping over her feet as she stumbled up the stairs. "Are you sure—"wNo time like the present," he said, almost jauntily.He seemed quite pleased with himself, which puzzled her, because she would have bet her entire fortune—and as Lady Whistledown, she'd amassed quite a fortune—that he had not intended to ask her to marry him until the moment his carriage had ground to a halt in front her house.

Perhaps not even until the words had left his lips.

He turned to her. "Do I need to knock?"wNo, I—"

He knocked anyway, or rather banged, if one wanted to be particular about it.wBriarly," Penelope said through an attempted smile as the butler opened the door to receive them.wMiss Penelope," he murmured, one brow rising in surprise. He nodded at Colin. "Mr. Bridgerton."wIs Mrs. Featherington at home?" Colin asked brusquely.wYes, but—"wExcellent." Colin barged in, pulling Penelope along with him. "Where is she?"wIn the drawing room, but I should tell you—"

But Colin was already halfway down the hall, Penelope one step behind him. (Not that she could be anywhere else, seeing as how his hand was wrapped rather tightly around her upperarm.)wMr. Bridgerton!" the butler yelled out, sounding slightly panicked.

Penelope twisted, even as her feet continued to follow Colin. Briarly never panicked. About anything. If he didn't think she and Colin ought to enter the drawing room, he had to have a very good reason.

Maybe even—

Oh, no.

Penelope dug in her heels, skidding along the hardwood floor as Colin dragged her along by the arm.wColin," she said, gulping on the first syllable. "Colin!"wI really think—Aaack!" Her skidding heels hit the edge of the runner carpet, sending her flying forward.

He caught her neatly and set her on her feet. "What is it?"

She glanced nervously at the door to the drawing room. It was slightly ajar, but maybe there was enough noise inside so that her mother hadn't yet heard them approaching.wPenelope ..." Colin prompted impatiently.wEr..." There was still time to escape, wasn't there? She looked frantically about, not that she was likely to find a solution to her problems anywhere in the hall.wPenelope," Colin said, now tapping his foot, "what the devil is the matter?"

She looked back to Briarly, who simply shrugged his shoulders. "This really might not be the best time to speak to my mother."

He raised one brow, looking rather like the butler had just seconds earlier. "You're not planning to refuse me, are you?"wNo, of course not," she said hastily, even though she hadn't truly accepted the fact that he even intended to offer for her.wThen this is an excellent time," he stated, his tone inviting no further protest.wBut it's—"wWhat?"

Tuesday,she thought miserably. And it was just past noon, which meant—wLet's go," Colin said, striding forward, and before she could stop him, he pushed open the door.

Colin's first thought upon stepping into the drawing room was that the day, while certainly not proceeding in any manner he might have anticipated when he'd risen from bed that morning, was turning out to be a most excellent endeavor. Marriage to Penelope was an eminently sensible idea,and surprisingly appealing as well, if their recent encounter in the carriage was any indication.

His second thought was that he'd just entered his worst nightmare.

Because Penelope's mother was not alone in the drawing room. Every last Featherington, current and former, was there, along with assorted spouses and even a cat.

It was the most frightening assemblage of people Colin had ever witnessed. Penelope's family was ...

well... except for Felicity (whom he'd always held in some suspicion; how could one truly trust anyone who was such good friends with Hyacinth?), her family was ... well...

He couldn't think of a good word for it. Certainly nothing complimentary (although he'd like to think he could have avoided an outright insult), and really, was there a word that effectively combined slightly dim, overly talkative, rather meddlesome, excruciatingly dull, and—and one couldn't forget this, not with Robert Huxley a recent addition to the clan—uncommonly loud.

So Colin just smiled. His great, big, friendly, slightly mischievous smile. It almost always worked, and today was no exception. The Featheringtons all smiled right back at him, and—thank God—said nothing.

At least not right away.wColin," Mrs. Featherington said with visible surprise. "How nice of you to bring Penelope home for our family meeting."wYour family meeting?" he echoed. He looked to Penelope, who was standing next to him, looking rather ill.wEvery Tuesday," she said, smiling weakly. "Didn't I mention it?"wNo," he replied, even though it was obvious her question had been for the benefit of their audience.wNo, you didn't mention it."wBridgerton!" bellowed Robert Huxley, who was married to Penelope's eldest sister Prudence.wHuxley," Colin returned, taking a discreet step back. Best to protect his eardrums in case Penelope's brother-in-law decided to leave his post near the window.

Thankfully, Huxley stayed put, but Penelope's other brother-in-law, the well-meaning but vacant-minded Nigel Berbrooke, did cross the room, greeting Colin with a hearty slap on the back. "Wasn't expecting you," Berbrooke said jovially.wNo," Colin murmured, "I wouldn't think so."wJust family, after all," Berbrooke said, "and you're not family. Not my family, at least."wNot yet, anyway," Colin murmured, stealing a glance at Penelope. She was blushing.

Then he looked back at Mrs. Featherington, who looked as if she might faint from excitement. Colin groaned through his smile. He hadn't meant for her to hear his comment about possibly joining the family.