It’s always been the most difficult part of holding conversation with her, Colin reflects.

Certainly there’s no flaw in what she says; loath though he would be to admit it to his sister, he knows perfectly well that Eloise is no fool, and so, it follows, neither is her dear friend - indeed, Penelope has both a sly, cutting wit and the rare ability to make one feel truly seen and heard, which, as the middle brother in a loud and boisterous family, he certainly appreciates.

No, the problem is, well...rather lower than her mouth, and as the years go by, he’s finding it more and more difficult to remain a true gentleman in the face of such grand temptation; still, he would have thought it had escaped her notice - surely sweet, charming, innocent Penelope could have no idea of the effect of her assets on the male population - until the night she smiles up at him sweetly as she holds up her dance card for his signature and says archly, “You know, Colin, sometimes it is the things we want most in life which we most scrupulously avoid looking at - quite silly, wouldn’t you agree?”