Lady and Lord Whisledown

Chapter nine: Late Night Talking

i just want everyone to know that we love Eloise in this house - shes def done some questionable things and I don't agree with her but people deserve the room to grow and I pray we get some growth this season lol 

The next ball came and went without Penelope's attendance. Her mama took some convincing, after all, she was the 'Emerald.' Penelope reasoned that would make her all the more desirable.

She simply could not do it. She could not see him. Eloise could make good on her threat, and it would not change her decision. She could not see the man that knew she loved him. He knew it. She knew he knew it. They were friends.

This was not as simple as forgiving him for saying he would not court her. This was more. This was a love confession, under a full moon, crying because Penelope did not feel loved. She did not want, nor need his pity.

And she knew that's what she would get, his pity. Some quip, a jest to lighten the mood, so that they could remain just as they had always been. Friends.

So, what if she loved him? People love unattainable people all of the time and they do not die.

Penelope was not the dramatic sort, she went seven years loving Colin, she was not going to die now. But that did not mean she had to see him.

Originally, Penelope had planned on attending the ball, she had even gotten ready, but as the time grew, she knew she couldn't. Instead, she sat in front of her vanity looking at her beautiful violet dress and wondering why she had to have this life.

Penelope hated the self-pity above all. She hated feeling sorry for herself. But she couldn't help it.

Last year Colin had broken her heart and last night Eloise stomped on it beyond repair.

Cressida? Eloise was friends with Cressida? The same lady that found joy in berating Penelope at every opportunity given to her.

Cressida? The same lady Eloise vowed wanting to die before aligning herself with her.

Cressida? The same lady who purposely stepped on her gowns to ruin them and loudly proclaim them as 'cheap.'

Eloise wanted to see Penelope in pain, she knew that. She could understand wanting to hurt her.

If she was trying to hurt her, she did not achieve it. Hurting her would be outing her to Colin, or publicly ridiculing her. Eloise did the one thing that would utterly, entirely break her, and she knew exactly what she was doing.

Penelope thought Eloise a kind - overly opinionated and outspoken - but kind person. She did not think for one second that she would do this. Ever. Evidently, Penelope had overestimated Eloise's loyalty.

She hadn't realised she'd begun to cry. She looked down at the papers at her desk and saw the puddles on the page. She sighed and stood up, retiring to her bed. And then she heard it. A quiet thump. She stilled, assuming it was the wind, or carriages, or something else. It was quite late after all. She pulled the blanket up over herself when she heard it again.

As she peeked out the drapes, she saw a shadow standing by her garden gate. Was that Colin? was her brain playing tricks on her? She pulled the drapes open ever slightly and she could've sworn it was Collin. She thought it looked exactly like him and then felt idiotic for knowing what Colin's shadow looked like. And then they stepped under the light of the candle in the garden. It was Colin. Throwing pebbles at her window.

She pulled back the drapes and opened her window. What was he doing here? He did look a mess. He motioned his hand in a way to indicate for Penelope to come down. She shook her head. It was late, they were not chaperoned, and it was Colin.