Love Gives Love Takes – The Corrs
Just when I thought it was safe
You found me in my hiding place
I'd promised never again
I wouldn't give my heart but then
Closer, closer I moved near you
The way I want you makes me fear you
Love breaks and love divides
Love laughs and love can make you cry
I can't believe the ways
That love can give and love can take away
I find it hard to explain
It's crazy but it's happening
And I'm falling again
Much farther that I've ever been
I'm falling deeper than the ocean
I am lost in this emotion
Love breaks and love divides
Love laughs and love can make you cry
I can't believe the ways
That love can give and love can take away
Love breaks and love divides
Love laughs and love can make you cry
I can't believe the ways
That love can give and love can take away
So many emotions were running through her like toddlers on a sugar high. The man she loved had proposed to her but her former best friend was still made at her for being Lady Whistledown. Something she would need to tell Colin about. Would he still want to marry her when he found out? She felt thrilled that he had proposed, terrified that his family would not want him to marry her, sad that Eloise would feel betrayed over this union, relieved that there was hope of getting out from under her mother's thumb.
She hesitated as Colin realising she was not following, reached out for her hand and led her through the house into the drawing room where most of the family was. "We are engaged." The briefest thought flickered through her head that he should speak to her mother first, but perhaps it was best if she waited to see how Colin's family reacted to the news first. Besides this was like being a spectator in someone else's dream.
Violet Bridgerton turned to see what her son was talking about and broke into a huge smile when she saw Penelope. Hyacinth got to her first and hugged her tightly. So this was how a loving family reacted to news of a betrothal.
"Hyacinth, I do not think Penelope can breathe." Although he looked pleased by his youngest sister's reaction.
"It is just … we've known Penelope for all these years and now she will be my sister!" Hyacinth hugged her again. So this was what it was like to have a loving sister who was happy for you for no selfish reason.
"I am delighted for you both." Violet Bridgerton hugged not quite so tightly as her daughter, but with the same affection.
"Thank you Lady Bridgerton." She would put money on this not being the same reaction she would receive from her own mother.
"What is your sour expression for?" Francesca's question could only be directed to one person in the room.
"I cannot believe you shall be married before I am old enough to go to one tavern with you." Gregory complaint she assumed, was typical of a younger brother and distracted the other's in the room from Eloise's disapproval.
"Mmm. I'm sorry about that brother." Although Colin looked more amused than sorry.
"Excuse me." Eloise walked out the room. Unfortunately her reaction wasn't a surprise. She should have given Eloise some sort of warning. She could have asked Colin to wait to share their news. Hindsight was a wonderful thing if not belated.
Colin moved to follow her but it would be better if she spoke to Eloise herself. "Let me. Please." She hurried after her. "Eloise. Eloise wait."
Eloise spun around so quickly that Penelope almost ran into her. "My brother? Are you quite serious?" She had expected Eloise to be angry but she was furious. "For how long has this been going on?"
"It is very new. I am as surprised as you are." Everything was going so fast. Twenty minutes ago she was convinced Colin had ruined any chance of her being wed and now she was engaged.
"For how long have you had feelings for him?" She had always worn her heart on her sleeve so it was surprising that Eloise would even ask. "Do not answer that. I do not want to know. You cannot marry him!"
"Eloise." It was just as well that they had not told her mother first if Eloise was going to fight her on this. It just be one more failure in her mother's eyes.
"Does he know? That you are Lady Whistledown?" Eloise did not forgive her for being Lady Whistledown so how could she expect Colin to?
"No. He does not know. Please. Eloise, please do not tell him." This should be the happiest moment of her life but instead she anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Colin is not like Lord Debling. He will not be gone for years at a time. He will find out. And until he knows the real you, he cannot possibly love you." That was what she feared. Eloise was right. Colin would find out and he hadn't actually said the words 'I love you'. She had been careful but Eloise had still found out.
"You are right. But … please. Just let him hear it from me. I just need a little time to find the right moment. But I will tell him. You have my word." She just needed to find the right way to tell him.
"Very well." Eloise stormed off.
Colin caught up with her as Eloise left. "What happened?"
"She is upset, understandably." She missed having Eloise as her friend. And with Eloise's friendship with Cressida, it meant she had to be even more careful. There had been a time when she would have talked this through with Eloise and planned her wedding with her.
"All will be well. I am sure of it." Colin seemed so certain. She wished she could be so sure, but with this secret hanging over them it seemed unlikely.