“Eloise,” Penelope said, somewhat breathless from trying to shake offHyacinth.“Penelope.” But Eloise’s voice sounded curious. Which did notsurprise Penelope; Eloise was no fool, and she was well aware that herbrother’s normal modes of behavior did not include beatific smiles in herdirection.“Eloise,” Hyacinth said, for no reason Penelope could deduce.“Hyacinth.”Penelope turned to her husband. “Colin.”He looked amused. “Penelope. Hyacinth.”Hyacinth grinned. “Colin.” And then: “Sir Phillip.”“Ladies.” Sir Phillip, it seemed, favored brevity.“Stop!” Eloise burst out. “What is going on?”“A recitation of our Christian names, apparently,” Hyacinth said.”

“I’ve already instructed theothers to keep their mouths shut.”“Even Hyacinth?” Penelope asked doubtfully.“Especially Hyacinth.”“Did you bribe her?” Violet asked. “Because it won’t work unless youbribe her.”“Good Lord,” Colin muttered. “One would think I’d joined this familyyesterday. Of course I bribed her.” He turned to Penelope. “No offense torecent additions.”“Oh, none taken.”

“I do love it when I am right,” Hyacinth said triumphantly.“Which is fortunate, since I so often am.”Penelope just looked at her. “You do know that you areinsufferable.”“Of course.” Hyacinth leaned toward Penelope with adevilish smile. “But you love me, anyway, admit it.”“I admit nothing until the end of the evening.”“After we have both gone deaf?”“After we see if you behave yourself.”Hyacinth laughed. “You married into the family. Youhave to love me. It’s a contractual obligation.”“Funny how I don’t recall that in the wedding vows.”“Funny,” Hyacinth returned, “I remember it perfectly”

“Hyacinth,” Lady Bridgerton said in a vaguely disapproving voice, “do try to speak in complete sentences.”Hyacinth looked at her mother with a surprised expression. “Biscuits. Are. Good.” She cocked her head to the side. “Noun. Verb. Adjective.”“Hyacinth.”“Noun. Verb. Adjective.” Colin said, wiping a crumb from his grinning face. “Sentence. Is. Correct.”

“Phillip looked to Eloise. "Perhaps introductions are in order?""Oh," Eloise said, gulping. "Yes, of course. These are my brothers.""I'd gathered," he said, his voice as dry as dust.She shot him an apologetic look, which, Phillip thought, was really the least she could do after nearlygetting him tortured andkilled, then turned to her brothers and motioned to each in turn, saying, "Anthony, Benedict, Colin,Gregory. These three," she added, motioning to A, B, and C, "are my elders. This one"—she waveddismissively at Gregory—"is an infant.”

“Eloise, whose mouth was as sharp as Hyacinth’s (though thankfully tempered by some discretion), hadremarked that they had best get Hyacinth married off quickly or their mother was going to become analcoholic. Lady Bridgerton had not appreciated the comment, although she privately thought it might betrue.”

“Gareth?” Hyacinth said softly.He turned to her, wondering how long he’d been standing there, pondering his options. “Hyacinth,” he said.She looked at him expectantly.“Hyacinth,” he said again, this time with a bit more certitude. He smiled, letting his eyes melt into hers. “Hyacinth.”“We know her name,” came his grandmother’s voice.Gareth ignored her and pushed a table aside so that he could drop to one knee. “Hyacinth,” he said, relishing her gasp as he took her hand in his, “would you do me the very great honor of becoming my wife?”Her eyes widened, then misted, and her lips, which he’d been kissing so deliciously mere hours earlier, began to quiver. “I…I…”It was unlike her to be so without words, and he was enjoying it, especially the show of emotion on her face.“I…I…”“Yes!” his grandmother finally yelled. “Yes! She’ll marry you!”“She can speak for herself,” he said.“No,” Lady D said, “she can’t. Quite obviously.”