Penelope held Colin's hand and did her best not to move or make any noises. They were crouched under a table in what had been the Danbury Ball.
Unfortunately, the ball had quickly been overrun by these creatures. They appeared human, but not. When the first one wandered in, it was clear that it didn't belong there. Lord Fife approached it to try to get them to leave. However, it was clear that it couldn't see him. It could hear him just fine. A second after he started speaking at it, the thing lunged at Lord Fife and it started … there was no word appropriate other than eating him.
Now, not everyone saw this. Penelope who had eagle eyes on the whole event did. It quickly erupted into chaos as more of these creatures arrived. The people who started to scream were the first victims. Penelope was frozen. She knew not to make a noise based on what happened to Lord Fife, but she didn't know how to communicate that advantage to anyone else.
However, as more were attacked, Colin appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her hand. He was the one who pulled her under the table. Penelope had raised a finger to her mouth to indicate that they shouldn't make any noises.
Penelope wished she could wipe the sight of the room from her eyes, but from their position under the table, she couldn't look away. It was horrific.
While relatively safe, low to the ground, and silent, this wasn't the makings of a long-term plan. Penelope realized that they needed to get out and find somewhere more safe. Just because these creatures couldn't see, it didn't mean the silent were safe. Penelope had already seen one trip over someone else and started to eat them.
Plus, their temporary shelter was too exposed. Just as Penelope and Colin could see everything, eventually these creatures would stumble upon them. At this point, a few other stragglers were hiding and not making any noise. However, most of the room was occupied by the moaning victims or the creatures feasting. Some people had already escaped out the back. Penelope prayed for her family and the Bridgertons were among them.
Looking around the room, Penelope spotted the Cowpers under a table across from Penelope and Colin. Putting aside any animosity, Penelope waved until she caught Cressida's eyes.
She motioned to meet near the back door and leave. Cressida gave her a nod. Penelope turned to look at Colin and with a nod, they silently left the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she could spot Cressida and her mom doing the same. As Penelope stood up, she recognized that her heeled shoes would be making noise with every step.
Pausing to toe them off, she debated it for a moment. But then she looked for an unoccupied area. With no one there, she grabbed her shoes. Handing one to Colin, she gestured to the open area and mimed throwing. Penelope would do it herself, but she knew that she didn't have the strength. Colin shook his head and put the shoe down on the table silently. They just crawled out. Shaking her head, Penelope put the other one down as well.
Looking across the room, the Cowper ladies had followed suit and removed their shoes - leaving them on the ground.
Colin began silently edging toward the wall to stay close to it and out of the fray in the middle of the room where all the creatures were. They slowly walked around the circumference of the room and reached the back. The Cowpers had made it before them and taken off into the back already. Penelope gave one last look back at the terrible visual of the creatures feeding on people, and then she saw something that was more horrifying than anything else.
Turning away as if to wipe the visual from her mind, she followed Colin outside.
Given his better sense of direction, Penelope didn't question where Colin was leading her. Some of the creatures were outside, but Penelope and Colin took care to avoid them. Thankfully, the light of the full moon provided some advantage. As they arrived at the road, they found the Cowpers again.
Looking around, Penelope raised her finger back to her lips to indicate they should remain quiet just in case. Cressida and her mother nodded. Colin refused to relinquish his hold of Penelope's hand. Even though now was not the time, and reputations and propriety should be the last thing on their minds, Lady Cowper shot their hands a disapproving look. Penelope restrained herself from rolling her eyes. She grabbed Cressida's hand as well and they became a line holding hands, walking back to the city.
After what felt like hours of silent walking, the group arrived back in Mayfair. They reached a street where the Cowpers could break off to go home.
Glancing back over her shoulder in surprise, Penelope was shocked Cressida continued to hold her hand. She guessed the Cowpers were going to follow Penelope and Colin toward the street they both lived on.
Finally, they arrived at Penelope and Colin's street. Though they were likely safe, Penelope refused to speak yet. She released Cressida's hand, but Colin wouldn't lighten the grip he had on her hand.
Looking at him in surprise, Penelope nodded her head toward her house and took a step away from him.
Colin stepped toward her. But he shook his head at her. Then he tugged her arm lightly toward the Bridgerton home. Penelope looked at Lady Cowper, who was looking back and forth between them.
Penelope tried again to pull her hand out of his grip and toward her home. Colin tightened his hold. His eyes were terrified but they didn't look away from hers. Penelope let out a silent sigh and then nodded lightly. She was resigned to going to the Bridgerton home instead of hers.
Colin entered his home. Once the four were in the front hallway, Colin finally let go of Penelope's hand. Lighting a wall sconce with a match from the entryway table drawer, Colin held up his palm toward them, indicating they should stay put. He circled his pointer finger in the air. He was planning to walk through the whole house.
Penelope exchanged looks with the Cowpers. Then they nodded at him.
Thankfully, it didn't take him long. Returning five minutes later, Colin shook his head.
"There's no one here," he whispered. Penelope was startled and looked around. "We should only whisper just in case."
"What the hell was that?" Cressida whispered furiously.
"Language," Lady Cowper whispered scoldingly.
"I don't know what's going on. But I saw the first one enter. They clearly couldn't see at all, but their hearing was superior. Did you see what happened when Lord Debling grunted? He was suddenly attacked." Penelope whispered.
"This is a mad world. I don't know what's going on. But we should be safe here for now. Hopefully, our family is safe and/or on their way here." Colin whispered.
"Odd choice of words - what do you mean our family?" Cressida whispered.
"Mine and Penelope's," Colin didn't hesitate.
"Oh, did you two have an understanding? I must have missed the announcement." Lady Cowper asked.
Penelope was trying not to hyperventilate - not even from the news of the creatures, but now Colin was insinuating that they were engaged. In front of the Cowpers, what was he thinking? Okay, she took a deep breath.
"Now is not the time. We need to figure out what happened and make sure that we are safe." Penelope chimed in.
"Should we barricade the doors? Maybe we should stay in the same room together tonight?" Cressida asked, genuinely concerned.
"Absolutely, not! Colin cannot stay in the same room as us." Lady Cowper insisted.
"Maybe we can suspend the rules of society for the moment. I don't know that I want to risk being without a man in this instance. Colin is the only one of us who knows how to wield a weapon." Penelope argued.
"I agree with Penelope. I wouldn't be able to rest if I was worried about her throughout the night." Colin said.
"I see that I am overruled. Well, then. We shall all reside in the same chambers. Do you have any double-bedded rooms?" Lady Cowper waited for Colin's nod. "Colin, you will sleep on the floor as far away from the girls as possible. I will be in the bed closest to you and Penelope and Cressida can share a bed."
Cressida looked ready to argue, but then she held her tongue. Penelope released a sigh.
This was a nightmare.
"Colin, should you grab a weapon to ensure we're defended from these creatures?" Penelope asked.
"Good idea, Penelope. I'll be back shortly." Colin left.
"We should get ready for bed, but you both will remain fully dressed if Colin is to stay here." Lady Cowper insisted.
Penelope, Cressida, and Lady Cowper began preparing for bed.
A loud crash was heard from below. Each of the women stopped what they were doing and exchanged glances. Penelope's eyes cut to the closet. She gestured for the other two women to join her and put a finger to her lips.
Trying not to imagine the worst, Penelope squeezed into the space alongside the Cowpers. Praying that Colin wasn't facing the creatures, Penelope stayed quiet.