Brave – Josh Groban
Wake up, wake up the sun cannot wait for long
Reach out, reach out before it fades away
Yu will find the warmth when you surrender
Smile into the fear and let it play
You wanna run away run away and you say that it can't be so
You wanna look away look away
But you stay cause it's all so close
When you stand up and hold out your hand
In the face of what I don't understand
My reason to be brave
Hold on hold on so strong
Time just carries on
All that you thought was wrong is pure again
You can't hide forever from the thunder
Look into the storm and feel the rain
You wanna run away run away and you say that it can't be so
You wanna look away look away
But you stay cause it's all so close
When you stand up and hold out your hand
In the face of what I don't understand
My reason to be brave
Go on, go on
You wanna run away run away and you say that it can't be so
You wanna look away look away
But you stay cause it's all so close
When you stand up and hold out your hand
In the face of what I don't understand
My reason to be brave
Another ball and yet even less attention heading in her direction. Any gentleman she approached merely mocked her. Glancing across the room she saw that there was plenty of attention in Colin's direction. The hero of the hour. Deservedly so. But she couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the women who nobody would question being so close to him.
"Indeed, Mr Bridgerton, wherever did you find such courage?" She almost laughed out loud at the young lady's ignorance. Colin did not have to find courage when it came to those he cared about. He acted on instinct. He would always come to the rescue of anyone he felt needed his assistance.
He looked passed all the young ladies, straight into her eyes. "Well, I believe that um…courage is within us all. As long as we are honest with ourselves and about our feelings, it is possible to do anything." It was as though he was speaking directly to her and no one else was in the room.
Time to be brave. She nodded, took a deep breath and walked over to Lord Debling. It was easier to be upfront and honest with him when she didn't feel as though she were competing with Cressida Cowper. It turned out that was how Lord Debling preferred her: Upfront and honest.
It was refreshing to not have to hide her true self. Or at least the Penelope Featherington half. That was the half which few people cared to know. Strangely enough, everyone wanted to know the Lady Whistledown half. Would that still be the case if it were found out that Penelope Featherington and Lady Whistledown were one in the same.
Colin joined her once Lord Debling briefly left her side. "Colin, finally free from your admirers." He had a strange look on his face and kept looking at her lips. Did she have something in her teeth? "Are you well?"
"There is a question. I have been needing to ask you." He sounded so urgent. What could he possibly need to ask? Colin knew her better than almost anyone. Eloise used to hold that title.
"Colin?" This was an intense amount of eye contact when he wasn't staring at her mouth. It was as though he were looking into her soul for the answer to his so far unspoken question.
"Miss Featherington." She hadn't noticed Lord Debling returning and Colin still hadn't asked his question. "I believe it is time for our dance." She didn't receive enough requests for dances to be choosey but she so desperately wanted to hear his question.
"Of course, my Lord." She placed her hand in his. The Lord's gaze flickered between her and Colin as he seemed to be trying to decipher what was going on between them. Good luck. She had no idea what was going through Colin's head so how could anyone else work it out.
She was torn between the man she was dancing with, who may be able to give her the freedom she so longed for. And the man she had loved from the moment they met as children. Being grown up was so confusing. Colin would never see her as anything but a friend, but it didn't stop her from wanting so much more. Wanting did not make it so.