You're the One – Shane MacGowan & Maire Brennan
You fill my sweetest dreams
You fill my sleep
You fill my heart with love
You make my life complete
When all is said and done
Darling I know you're the one
Lying in my lonely bed
Thought about you as the moon
Listening to the sad songs down below
Thought about you as the tune
Wish that I could let you know
I think about you as the sun
So you're everywhere I go
My darling I know you're the one
The one I long to see
To drown myself in you
Surround myself safe in your arms
Forever
Darling I know you're the one
Funny how the circle turns
Funny how the flame still burns
Now that all is said and done
Darling I know you're the one
Darling I know you're the one
Darling I know you're the one
Darling I know you're the one
The ring was burning a hole in his pocket. He was a mixture of excited and concerned. This was not the same as when he proposed to Marina. He could not picture a future without Penelope in it. Every moment he spent without her by his side felt like years. He could not recall feeling that way with Marina.
It had terrified him when Penelope had fainted at their engagement party. He had wasted so much time not seeing her as anything but a friend that the thought of her being ill left him cold.
While he waiting for Lady Featherington to fetch Penelope, he ran through the past few days in his head. Penelope had tried to tell him something at their engagement party and also at their new home. He prayed they still had time.
Relief rushed through him when Penelope walked in the room. "Pen." She had some colour in her cheeks which was a good sign.
"Colin." He loved the way her face lit up when she saw him. Strangely he hadn't realised until recently that it was one of the reasons he sought her out at every social assembly. The joy of someone happy to see him, just for being himself, not because of his surname.
"Are you well?" She looked well. "I have been worried."
"I am well enough, Colin." She doesn't seem comfortable with her mother in the room. In fairness, this was the first time Portia Featherington had felt the need to chaperone them. "But perhaps you should not be here, in case it is catching."
"There is nowhere else I would rather be. I know there is something you wish to tell me. But I am happy to be patient until you are ready to unfold. Whatever it is you are feeling." If Portia thought she was being discreet, she was doing a poor job.
"I cannot speak about it now." She glanced over at her mother. "But I certainly did not swoon because of anything you did." Thank God. "Because of Cressida Cowper and her insane claims to be Whistledown." He should have insisted Cressida leave their engagement party as soon as she arrived. He had no idea why Cressida had even wanted to be there.
"It is rather remarkable. All the unkindness she has written about you and me and our families, and then to unmask herself at our engagement party." No wonder Penelope had swooned.
"Do you think it is really her?" If he compiled a list of people who could be Lady Whistledown, Cressida Cowper would not even make the top ten. "I always imagined Lady Whistledown might be more … clever, perhaps." Lady Whistledown could be witty. Cressida Cowper could not. She was just cruel. "I shall let you rest. But before I go, I have something for you." He did not want to wear Penelope out if she still felt ill, but he wanted to make sure she had the ring. "The jeweller has just finished setting it."
"Oh… oh, Colin, it is beautiful." Thank goodness she liked it. He has looked for something that was the opposite of anything her mother and sisters seemed to favour in the form of jewellery.
"And yet, still only half as beautiful as you." As he slipped the ring onto her finger, he noticed her hand was covered in ink. "What is all this ink? Have you been writing?" Who could she have possibly been writing to?
"Yes. Um … letters. To uh… to share our happy news." That was strange. Who outside of the ton was she informing of their engagement?
"Of course. I shall leave you to it. Good day, Miss Featherington. For now." He kissed her hand, conscious of her mother still being in the room with them. He wished it was just the two of them, but there was time for that once they were married.
Thankfully, Penelope had recovered enough to attend church. He could barely take his eyes off of her. Luck was in his favour as she lingered after the service so they could have a moment alone. "It is good to see you looking well." Not to mention he was incredibly relieved she wasn't seriously ill.
"I am feeling much better." She had a glow about her and he hoped she was looking forward to their wedding as much as he was.
"And soon, we shall officially be married. If you will still have me?" Lord Debling had proven that not all of the men in the ton were oblivious to what a catch Penelope Feathering ton was.
"Colin, in what world would I not?" In the world where she had almost been proposed to by another man. That was what world.
"I know there is something you have been meaning to tell me." They always seemed to be interrupted or just recently her mother seemed to be present. Until they had become engaged, he hadn't realised how often they had been alone without anyone batting an eyelid. Now it was rare they didn't have at the very least Penelope's maid with them.
"In fact there is something I've been meaning to tell you for a very long time." He was both nervous and intrigued by what she had to tell him. "That I have loved you since the moment we met. An embarrassingly long time, really." Had he been so blind for so long? "Even the years I pretended to be your friend, I was, but … I loved you in secret. I have always loved you Colin."
"I will spend a lifetime begging your forgiveness for not seeing you sooner." Even as he spoke he could recall a number of times that Penelope had tried to speak to him and either there had been something or someone that had distracted him and by the time he thought to ask her what she was going to say, she seemed to have lost her courage to say it.
"There is no need. There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than being with you." He couldn't resist pulling her into his arms. "Colin, what are you doing?"
"Dancing, with my future wife in the church where we will be married." He twirled her enjoying her giggle before bringing her back into his arms again.
"Were you ever punished as a child?" Not that he could recall which brought forth another giggle.
He could have happily stayed there in their own little bubble forever, but someone from either of their families could come looking for them soon. They would be married soon and he could have her all to himself then.