Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

She appeared to be choking on laughter.
    â€œWe women must look out for one another,” Lady Danbury said to no one in particular, “since it is clear that no one else will do so.”
    Colin decided it was definitely time to go. “I think I see my mother.”
    â€œEscape is impossible,” Lady Danbury crowed. “Don’t bother to attempt it, and besides, I know for a fact you don’t see your mother. She’s attending to some brainless twit who tore the hem off her dress.” She turned to Penelope, who was now exerting such effort to control her laughter that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “How much did he pay you not to leave him alone with me?”
    Penelope quite simply exploded. “I beg your pardon,” she gasped, clasping a hand over her horrified mouth.
    â€œOh, no, go right ahead,” Colin said expansively. “You’ve been such a help already.”
    â€œYou don’t have to give me the twenty pounds,” she said.
    â€œI wasn’t planning to.”
    â€œOnly twenty pounds?” Lady Danbury asked. “Hmmph. I would have thought I’d be worth at least twenty-five.”
    Colin shrugged. “I’m a third son. Perpetually short of funds, I’m afraid.”
    â€œHa! You’re as plump in the pocket as at least three earls,” Lady Danbury said. “Well, maybe not earls,” she added, after a bit of thought. “But a few viscounts, and most barons, to be sure.”
    Colin smiled blandly. “Isn’t it considered impolite to talk about money in mixed company?”
    Lady Danbury let out a noise that was either a wheeze or a giggle—Colin wasn’t sure which—then said, “It’s always impolite to talk about money, mixed company or no, but when one is my age, one can do almost anything one pleases.”
    â€œI do wonder,” Penelope mused, “what one can’t do at your age.”
    Lady Danbury turned to her. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œYou said that one could do almost anything one pleases.”
    Lady Danbury stared at her in disbelief, then cracked a smile. Colin realized he was smiling as well.
    â€œI like her,” Lady D said to him, pointing at Penelope as if she were some sort of statue for sale. “Did I tell you I like her?”
    â€œI believe you did,” he murmured.
    Lady Danbury turned to Penelope and said, her face a mask of utter seriousness, “I do believe I couldn’t get away with murder, but that might be all.”
    All at once, both Penelope and Colin burst out laughing.
    â€œEh?” Lady Danbury said. “What’s so funny?”
    â€œNothing,” Penelope gasped. As for Colin, he couldn’t even manage that much.
    â€œIt’s not nothing,” Lady D persisted. “And I shall remain here and pester you all night until you tell me what it is. Trust me when I tell you that that is not your desired course of action.”
    Penelope wiped a tear from her eye. “I just got throughtelling him,” she said, motioning with her head toward Colin, “that he probably could get away with murder.”
    â€œDid you, now?” Lady Danbury mused, tapping her cane lightly against the floor the way someone else might scratch her chin while pondering a deep question. “Do you know, but I think you might be right. A more charming man I don’t think London has ever seen.”
    Colin raised a brow. “Now, why don’t I think you meant that as a compliment, Lady Danbury?”
    â€œOf course it’s a compliment, you dunderhead.”
    Colin turned to Penelope. “As opposed to that, which was clearly a compliment.”
    Lady Danbury beamed. “I declare,” she said (or in all truth, declared), “this is the most fun I’ve had all season.”
    â€œHappy to oblige,” Colin said with an easy smile.
    â€œIt’s been an especially dull year, don’t