"I love you, Penelope. I am in love with you."
Words she wanted to hear from him were finally spoken. And she couldn't breathe. That definitely took a turn. From best friend to love in a matter of seconds.
"I love you too, Colin." Words left her lips without any additional thought. Like her heart was speaking instead of her head.
He didn't waste a moment, lips meeting hers in a gentle kiss. Just like their first kiss shared in a similar garden. It felt like an invisible string ran over them, tying them up together. She felt how his chest was rising and falling in between kisses, as he tried to catch his breath.
"I am so happy, Pen." He said breathlessly, as he broke the kiss and grabbed her hand. "We should probably get back, before everybody noticed we've been gone." He threw a glance in a direction of a door that they walked out just few minutes ago. Even though it felt like forever had passed since their dance.
They walked back in silence. When they entered the ballroom once again, it looked like nobody even noticed they were gone. A smile was shared. And then another dance. Another drink. The night was close but it looked like those words swept Penelope away in a dreamworld, where everything was light and easy.
They were enjoying some silly joke Colin made when something caught her eye on the other side of the room. Blue dress, brown hair. Eloise. And it all came crushing down once again. She turned her head in the direction of the clock. It's almost midnight. He was still telling her something, but everything felt blurred. It still felt delicate, that thing between them. They were just getting to know each other in a new way, while her secret was eating her alive. She knew exactly what to do. She had to leave.
She had to figure out some sort of excuse to leave. She has a plan to accomplish. She felt his hand holding hers. How could she leave but also make sure that Eloise won't get the chance to tell him tonight?
"It's getting late and ball is getting dull. I think I need to head home." She said, slightly pulling on his hand.
He was slightly surprised as it came out of nowhere. But she was indeed right, the ball was getting boring. "Sure, let me walk you back home." He said putting his drink aside.
That was unexpected by her. But she still could sneak out later from her home as she always did. She said her goodbyes and they left. This time the walk back home wasn't as quiet as their last one. As soon as they were out of the ball room, he turned in the opposite direction of the front door.
"Colin, the exit is the other way. Did you forget how to leave your own house?" She said stopping him in the hall, just as he tried to walk her in the direction of stairs.
"I though I'll show you something first. Let's go." He pulled her hand slightly, but she didn't move, not even an inch.
"I would really like to go home. Maybe another time?" She smiled innocently, her eyes never leaving his.
Now he was concerned. Just moments ago, she was all bubbly, sparks of joy in her eyes. And now this sudden change again. He noticed. He could not miss it for the world. She was indeed the only person worth his full attention now. He spent the whole evening learning every cell on her face, neck, breasts… His glance slipped one too many times, he could not lie. Her glory mesmerized him.
Maybe he could persuade her without explaining anything? Eyes darken and he leaned down to kiss her. Only she had turned her head just at the last moment and his lips landed on her cheek. Well, that was definitely unnatural of her. She always met his kiss with desperate need. Was something wrong? - he thought.
"Colin…" her voice sounded warning, not her usual tone.
"Is something wrong?" He felt more confused than ever. Did he scare her in the garden with his declaration? But she was so giggly in that ballroom after… Dancing and drinking, conversation was so light and easy, just like old times.
"I'm just really tired and I would like to head home. I know it won't end with just one kiss. Can we just go? Please?" She knew. How could she know? She left a quick, almost to quick kiss on his lips and pulled him to the front door.
They left the house and were somewhere in the middle of their houses, when he suddenly stopped, not letting go of her hand, pulled her to turn directly at him and kissed her passionately. When he broke the kiss, he also broke the silence.
"You know you could share anything with me, right, Pen?" he asked looking deeply into her eyes, even thought it was so dark he could barely see.
She leaned closer to him and whispered. "I know. And I will. Meet me tomorrow in my garden, midday." And with that she was gone.
He was bewildered by the change he witnessed. But at least she said they shall talk tomorrow. Tomorrow is good he thought. He went straight to his study. Reaching for a bottle of dark liquid, standing on his desk, he noticed a carriage outside of her house. That wasn't one of her family carriages. He watched her put the gown over her red head and get inside.
What the hell was going on and where would she go alone in the middle of the night? He quickly put the bottle down and ran out of his study.