She Wants to Dance With me – Rick Astley
There's a girl I've been waiting to see
And I really get the feeling that she likes me
Cos she said so, but not in so many words
I've got to tell you what I've heard
She don't want no wild romance
When she's with me she only wants to dance
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll hold her so tight next to me
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll let her be what she wants to be
Now I know I've been out of touch
And I never meant to hurt my baby oh so much
Cos I love her and I think she loves me
And that's the way it's got to be
When we're together we never fight
We've got better things to do tonight
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll hold her so tight next to me
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll let her be what she wants to be
She wants to dance
She wants to dance
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll hold her so tight next to me
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll let her be what she wants to be
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll hold her so tight next to me
She wants to dance with me
Cos I'll let her be what she wants to be
It was strange how the pressure was less attending balls when you had a special someone by your side. He could spend the entire evening dancing with just Penelope instead of trying to avoid young ladies and their pushy mamas. Something Benedict was still doing.
"I must say. This dance does not compare to a private waltz in the church where we will be married." Penelope was glowing tonight. He couldn't help but notice that when she had walked in with her mama she had not looked as though she had wanted to attend. But she had beamed at him when he approached her. He aimed to keep her glowing when she was his wife.
"Well, perhaps we shall have to add some flourish." He twirled her, delighted when she giggled.
Her face fell when they saw Cressida and Lady Cowper walk in. He knew Cressida had made many of Penelope's attendances at the balls a misery in the past. What Cressida had failed to notice or at least acknowledge was that Penelope had achieved what she could not and that was secure a proposal. "I will not let her ruin our night." The lateness of their arrival seemed to indicate that they had not actually been invited. Not that that seemed to stop Cressida. After all she had invited herself to their engagement party as well.
"Yes. You are right." But she seemed to have lost some of her spark. And her concentration apparently when she stepped on his foot.
"Ow." It was more surprise than pain. Penelope was normally an accomplished dancer.
"Oh! Apologies. I'm not used to dancing so much." That made sense although he was certain that Cressida's presence was not helping.
"That is all right." It didn't happen regularly and in future they did not need to attend any function which Cressida would be at once they were married. "I've been meaning to tell you. I've been editing my travel diary into a manuscript. With your encouragement." If Penelope had not been so complementary and encouraging he would not have even thought of publishing.
"Have you?" Her excitement boosted him even more.
"Very nearly. I'm still removing some of the more … personal passages." He was uncertain those parts would go down well with the ton and he wanted his future bride to be proud of him.
"Why? This is what I so enjoyed about the part I read." That was a surprise. He was learning so much about Penelope.
"Well, those parts are only for you." Perhaps they could even re-enact them once he put a wedding ring on her finger.
"Perhaps I could edit them for you. If you wish. Before you send them to a bookseller. I do so enjoy writing letters and what have you." He loved that she was so eager to see him published. He could not be marrying a more supportive woman. But that was no surprise. She had always been supportive of him even as a friend.
"Well, you do write the very best letters. But I might like to prove to myself that I can do it on my own." It would be nice to be known as something other than just another Bridgerton. "And to you. I want to be worthy of you, Pen." After the foolish things he had said last season he would forever be making it up to her.
"Of course you are worthy." His attention was caught by Cressida and her mother being summoned to speak to the Queen who looked unimpressed by the pair. So much so that he stepped on Penelope's toes. "Oh!"
"Uh, forgive me. It seems the Queen has summoned Miss Cowper. It may finally be time for Lady Whistledown to meet her consequences." Although he still found it difficult to believe Cressida was Lady Whistledown. Cressida was cruel and deliberately so. Whereas Lady Whistledown although sometimes cutting was also witty something Cressida had never been accused of. Nasty was a word associated with Cressida, but Lady Whistledown, even if you didn't like what she was saying in her writing, did not appear to go out of her way to be spiteful or vindictive.
A team of servants flowed into the room with trays of Lady Whistledown columns. In the chaos of ball attendees trying to grab an issue, he and Pen got separated. He grabbed a copy himself to see what the fuss was about.
Dearest Gentle Reader,
It is said that there is no rest for the wicked. If that is true, this author must be rather virtuous, for I have been enjoying a much-needed respite from observing all of you. Not to worry, I am back and shall return soon enough with a full issue. You may now know my name, but have no doubt, I know you even better.
Yours truly,
Lady Whistledown
Or forever now, Cressida Cowper
There was something different about this column. It was vaguely threatening and rather conceited which it hadn't been before. Almost as though it had been written by a bad copycat. He searched the room for Penelope, only to see her grab Eloise's hand and walk out of the room. What was going on? Why did Eloise look so upset? Did she know what Cressida was going to write in the next column?
The two of them were gone for some time before Eloise appeared again, but alone. She still looked quite distressed which made him even more concerned that Penelope had seemed to have disappeared. Rushing out the door which Eloise and Pen had previously gone through, he caught sight of her leaving in a carriage, through a window.
Fear surged through him as he raced outside, waving down his own carriage to follow her. Various scenarios ran through his head as to why she had left the ball without a word to him. Had she changed her mind about marrying him? Had her driver abducted her? Was this all too much for her? Penelope usually kept to herself at the balls. Communicating only with those whose last name was Bridgerton. He knew at least some of the time it was out of choice.
Now she was disappearing into the night. God knows where. And possibly against her will. When the carriage stopped he became confused. Watching from a short distance in case Penelope need assistance, he saw Penelope step down from the carriage and knock on the door to a printers shop. She wasn't in danger. She was there on purpose.