Separate Ways – Daughtry ft Lzzy Hale
Here we stand, worlds apart
Hearts broken in two, two, two
Sleepless nights, losing ground
I'm reaching for you, you, you
Feeling that it's gone, can't change your mind
If we can't go on to survive the tide
Love divides.
Someday, love will find you
Break those chains that bind you.
One night will remind you, how we touched and sent our separate ways.
If he ever hurts you, true love won't desert you.
You know I still love you
Though we touched and went our separate ways.
Troubled times, caught between confusion and pain, pain, pain.
Distant eyes, promises we made were in vain, vain, vain.
If you must go, I wish you luck
You'll never walk alone, take care my love
Miss you love.
Someday, love will find you
Break those chains that bind you.
One night will remind you, how we touched and sent our separate ways.
If he ever hurts you, true love won't desert you.
You know I still love you
Though we touched and went our separate ways.
I still love you Babe
I still love you Girl
I really love you Babe
I really love you Babe
Someday, love will find you
Break those chains that bind you.
One night will remind you, how we touched and sent our separate ways.
If he ever hurts you, true love won't desert you.
You know I still love you
Though we touched and went our separate ways.
Though we went our separate ways
Though we went our separate ways
Though we went our separate ways
Though we went our separate ways
Though we went our separate ways
Though we went our separate ways
Another season has arrived and although Eloise had kept her secret regarding Lady Whistledown, she had felt nervous about this season. She and Eloise weren't on speaking terms. Also Colin's words from last year still stung. Prudence had managed to secure a husband and although her brother-in-laws certainly treated her better than her sisters, she had no wish to remain in their company for long periods of time. They weren't the smartest of duos so they of course were perfect for her sisters.
The first edition of Whistledown for the season had been received well. Colin Bridgerton had arrived back in town. She had not responded to any of his letters although she had followed his travels even if only by the postmarks on each letter.
She couldn't help watching him flirt with the flocks of eligible women. Eloise had struck up a friendship with Cressida Cowper of all people, so this outing with her family was particularly torturous.
"Pen. It is good to see you." She had been paying too much attention to Eloise and Cressida to be able to keep avoiding Colin and so he had managed to sneak up on her.
"Is it?" Surely he was exaggerating. Perhaps he just felt sorry for her considering she was an outcast in her own family and that had never been more obvious than this season.
"Truly. It has felt like I've been absent years instead of months." That had been how she felt when he had toured Greece the year before.
"Much has certainly changed in that time." For one she wasn't reading more into every look or smile he cast in her direction. He had dashed any dreams she had once had of being Mrs Colin Bridgerton so there was little left for her.
"A good deal, I know, but it was all the rage in Paris." Wonderful. He thinks she is speaking of his clothes.
"You look distinguished. But, then again, you always have." Who was she kidding? Colin Bridgerton couldn't look bad if he tried. Even covered in mud he had made her heart skip when they were children.
"When all is said and done, it is merely clothing." If he had said that last year, she would have argued it was the man wearing the clothing. "Whereas elsewhere, things seem to have fundamentally changed. Am I mistaken, or was Eloise walking arm in arm with Cressida Cowper." And the knife in her heart twisted again.
"As you said, sometimes time moves rather quickly." She walked away relieved to find her family were ready to leave. That relief was short lived upon her mother voicing her opinion that Penelope would never marry and therefore would be keeping her company in her old age. Could her day get any worse?
Drastic steps would need to be taken. She would need to take a husband and her chances of being successful were slim to none wearing the ghastly citric colours her mama insisted on. She could afford a whole new wardrobe and would simply tell her mama that she had saved up her pin money. Madam de la Croix enjoyed the opportunity to dress her in the designs she had created for women in Paris. So it was a win, win situation.
So there she had been, dressed in emerald green getting more attention than she had ever gotten. Unfortunately she wasn't prepared to speak to possible suitors and then the one gentleman she was able to converse with, the conversation was cut short by Cressida Cowper purposely stepping on her new dress ruining it.
The sad part of the evening was that it had still been the most successful of her three seasons on the marriage mart. Signalling for her carriage, she struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
"Pen." Great. Just what she didn't need. Colin must have followed her out. Had he seen her make a fool of herself trying to talk to suitors or just the inter-action with Cressida?
"Colin. What are you doing out here?" What was taking her carriage so long?
"I am just …getting some fresh air." It was the first time she had ever seen him look uncertain around her. "Why are you leaving so soon? Especially in such a charming dress." It was hardly charming with a noticeable chunk torn from it thanks to Cressida.
"Do not mock me please." She should have known it would not be as simple as just changing what she wore. A new dress didn't stop her from tripping over her tongue when gentlemen spoke to her.
"Mock you?" Now he looked confused which was also annoyingly adorable. "I assure you I am quite serious. The colour rather suits you."
"Good night Mr Bridgerton." Finally her carriage was here. Where had they parked it? In the next county?
"Do you not need a chaperone?" Was he joking? At this point she was lucky to have a maid, not that her family seemed to think she needed one.
"Spinsters do not need chaperones." Surely that was obvious.
"You are not a spinster." Clearly he was still exhausted from his travels to not have noticed that she had no prospects.
"I am in my third year on the marriage mart, with no prospects to show for it. What would you call that?" His obliviousness was annoying now. All she wanted to do is make a quick escape and he was preventing that.
"Is there something wrong, Pen?" Finally he seemed to notice. "Between us, I mean. I wrote to you this summer as I always do. And … well, you did not respond. Admittedly, very few did. But …" It must have come as quite the shock to him after her responding to every letter the previous year. "If you are going to make me say it out loud, I miss you." He looks quite pleased with himself which just made her more angry.
"You miss me? You miss me, but you would never court me. Is that correct?" Did he really think she would be that easily impressed?
"Pen, I…." Now it was clear that he was trying to work out how she had found out about his comment.
"I overheard you … at my mama's ball last season telling everyone how you would never, ever court Penelope Featherington." She could have sworn the colour drained from Colin's face.
"Perhaps we should talk somewhere more private." Clearly she was drawing too much attention to them. The two gentlemen who had just walked past with expressions that obviously said they could not understand why Colin Bridgerton would be seen anywhere near Penelope Featherington much less waste any time talking with her.
"Because I embarrass you? Of course you would never court me." Even when she used to dream of marrying Colin, she still knew it was exactly that, a dream. It would never become a reality. "I am the laughing stock to the Ton, even when I change my entire wardrobe. It just never occurred to me that you, of all people, could be so cruel." At least she was able to make a successful dramatic exit. She appeared to have managed to render Colin Bridgerton speechless.
In hindsight, writing her Lady Whistledown column when fuelled with anger was not her best move. Showing the wallflowers of the Ton for the jewels they are if given the time to shine however was.
She hadn't expected Colin to go anywhere near her for the rest of the season so it was surprising when her maid found her reading in the garden. "You have a visitor Miss."
"I'm sorry for intruding." This had to be the first time he looked uncertain of the reception he would receive from her. Or waited for a maid to present him.
"It's alright." Her maid looked as though she wanted to stay for moral support but by this time Penelope was used to being by herself.
"And I am very sorry for my callous comment here last year." It was not his finest moment. "It pains me to see you upset."
"Then perhaps you should not have come." Or made such comments on the grounds of her own home.
"I am not the man I was last season." Well, she had adored that man right up until he had announced he would never court her." And I'm most certainly not ashamed of you. The opposite is true, in fact. I seek you out at every social assembly because I know you will lift my spirits and make me see the world in ways I could not have imagined. You are clever and warm and … I am proud to call you my very good friend." That made her thaw a little. Colin always had been good with words around her.
"It has been vexing … watching you walk back into society with such ease. When every year, I pray I might finally feel that way amidst the marriage mart, and that comfort never materializes." She had not meant to reveal so much to him.
"Well, if a husband is what you seek, then let me help you." His courage seemed to have returned as he sat beside her. Did he have to be so eager to find her a husband? And how would that even work?
"Help me how?" What was he going to do? Line his acquaintances up as possibilities?
"I was in 17 cities this summer, and what I have learned is that charm can be taught." He sounded both wise and ridiculous at the same time. Colin Bridgerton had always had charm by the bucket loads anyway.
"Colin, I cannot have you with me, whispering into my ear in every ballroom." Although there was some appeal to that.
"You will not need that. We will have lessons. Any you will quickly master them, I am certain." He had more faith in her than she did. "There is nothing more I want than to earn back the favour of the one person who has always truly made me feel … appreciated. What do you say?" He stood and offered her his hand. He had to be joking. Did he think this was some sort of business deal.
"You want me to shake your hand?" She couldn't believe she was even considering this. But if she couldn't marry the man she was in love with, perhaps she could find someone who would at least allow her the freedom to continue Whistledown. Not to mention, get her away from her toxic family.
"It is perhaps unusual, but … are we not friends?" That's right, she wasn't a woman. She was a friend.
She stood and slipped her hand into his. "Friends." What did she have to lose?
"I shall see you soon." He walked away. Maybe this could work. At least she still had one friend. When she heard one of her sisters ask about the latest issue of Whistledown, she recalled what she had written in anger. She really should have slept on it before taking it to the publisher. There was no taking back the contents now.