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how the
ton
loves the unusual.”
    â€œI think you are quite silly, but I have missed you greatly.”
    â€œI have missed you too. Now where could Penelope be? This ballroom is not so large that we could completely lose her.”
    As they moved past a gaggle of twittering misses, Emma was struck by the way they stared at her and whispered toone another behind their fans. Perhaps Amelia’s assertions were not so silly after all. Ignoring them, she scanned the guests for her friend.
    â€œAt last!” Amelia cried at her side. “We should have guessed that all of the most attractive gentlemen in the room would surround Penelope, though I do not see Lord Tunbridge among them. I would wager that he is in the billiards room with my husband.”
    With a laugh at Amelia’s wry observation, Emma looked over to see her oldest friend holding court in the midst of a group of attentive gentlemen. Emma smiled at the picture Penelope Tunbridge made with her wheat-colored curls and playful smile. They had not seen each other since the autumn and the last letter she had received from Penelope a week ago stated her skepticism that Emma would actually make the journey to London. Emma laughed to herself at how she was about to surprise her old friend.
    At that moment, Penelope turned and the look of delight that spread across her heart-shaped face brought a warm glow to Emma’s heart.
    â€œIs it really Lady Fallbrook?” she said, reaching for Emma’s hands. “So, my dear friend, has our constant haranguing finally compelled you to leave the wilds of Yorkshire and enjoy a little Society?”
    Penelope’s mossy green eyes were full of mischief and delight as Emma held out her hands in warm greeting. “My dear Lady Tunbridge, I shall confess that you and Mrs. Spence-Jones have been most persuasive. I am delighted to be in London again.”
    â€œWonderful!” The petite beauty turned back to her attentive group of gentlemen. “Oh, you must pardon my rag manners! Lady Fallbrook, have you met Mr. Fitzhugh, Lord Collinwood, and Sir John Mayhew? I know I need not introduce our delightful Mrs. Spence-Jones, for you gentlemen have long been acquainted with her.”
    After greetings were exchanged with the gentlemen,Penelope very prettily excused herself and her friends and drew the ladies away.
    â€œI can hardly believe that you are here, Emmaline!” Penelope said once they were several yards away. “I have never seen you in better looks. You must tell me what occurred at the theatre last night, for no one can speak of anything else. My dear Tunbridge—despite how much I praise his patience—has grown positively weary of my rattling on about how excited I am at your arrival,” Penelope said, taking a breath, before continuing in her happy, lilting tone. “However, make no mistake, he is very pleased that you have finally come to Town. We are going to have the most splendid dinner party in your honor next week. It is going to be lovely. Amelia expressed her concern that you might have a previous engagement, and I said that if you did, you would just have to cry off, for I shall not easily share you. Besides, there won’t be anyone worth spending an evening with who won’t be at my house next Tuesday. So there. David and I have several other amusements planned for you, so there will be no nonsense about spending all your time with your grandmother. I know she would not want it anyway, for the duchess is quite busy with her own set. So you see? It is all arranged. We shall have the loveliest time now that you are here.”
    Emmaline put her hands up in a mock attempt to fend off the onslaught of her friend’s words. “Penelope, it is so nice to see you. How is your dear husband? And I trust that your delightful children are well?” she asked with exquisitely dry politeness.
    Amelia laughed and Penelope sent them both a sheepish grin. “Oh,