PS: Your dress for this ball needs to be a stunner. That’s all I’m saying.

Text from Luke to Izzy:“Melted chocolate”? You two are gross.

Izzy:Hey, if you know, you know.

Luke:Or you’re just surrounded by lots of people who really don’t know.

Izzy:Maybe you’re the one surrounded by people who don’t know.

Luke:I’m surrounded by dogs for a reason.

From: Penelope Edgewood

To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood

Date: October28

Subject: Re: The royals

He does have a great voice, doesn’t he? Swooning for hours! Iwonder if his kiss is as decadent as his voice? Oh dear, I shouldn’t have written that. Not so much to protect Luke’s virgin eyes but more to keep my thoughts from turning in the kissing direction of Matthias Gray! I can’t think about him that way. I can’t! I’m leaving. And he may not even care about me in a romantic way.

And, Izzy, the Captain von Trapp analogy did NOT help with my attempts to keep my mind in a neutral space. At all! Though, if I’m being completely honest, Matthias would look fabulous in those classic suits. ACK! Stop, brain! Stop!!

Clearly, me and neutral thoughts are not working.

On a different note, Alec was so complimentary about the museum. He said he’d never realized the lengthy and touching history behind the theater, and this visual representation really brought it to life. I’m not sure what to think about him. He seems more emotional than most girlfriends I’ve had. Back and forth. One moment debonair and charming, and the next kind of sullen. It’s so weird. Anyway, he said that Grandpa Gray and the theater group should do something for me as a thank-you, but I really do just love doing what I get to do. I’m not sure why that surprises Alec so much, but I guess he hasn’t experienced it before. I hope he gets a chance someday. I think he’s just so caught up in his own... self, that he hasn’t recognized what a great family he has and how important deeper things really are. Having money and looking great aren’t the only ingredients for a successful life. Though, as a caveat, you all know how much I adore looking great. I mean, the shoes! And hats! And lipstick!

Matthias and I talked about that type of love this afternoon while we had tea together and went over final info related to our parts of the ball. I think, at one point, Matthias truly loved what he did (even accounting, which I find completely shocking), but he’dlost that love . . . until recently. And the dance lessons with Jamie have really changed things for him. I think he’s even considering teaching classes again in the new year.

In fact, last night after-hours, I was leaving later than planned because I’d helped Kinleigh create a proposal for her internship. Anyway, I noticed lights on in the Gray Theater. Heard music too. I snuck into the back of the house and there Matthias was, performing the entire “Singin’ in the Rain” choreography done by Gene Kelly. He even used the lamppost from Narnia. It was beautiful. I knew he could dance, but this... wow!

I snuck out before he caught me watching, but truly, y’all. He has a gift!

And really nice arms.

Penelope

PS: Luke, you have great hair. Thick and wavy. It’s your beard that’s the trouble.

Text from Luke to Penelope:I might point out that the king of Skymar has a beard.

Penelope:Yes, but he actually trims his more than twice a year. You know, clean-shaven looks really good on you. Women adore a cleft chin.

Luke:And now I will aim for a Gandalf beard forever.

***

Text from Penelope to Izzy:You won’t believe this! Grandpa Gray gave me a dress for the ball. And not just ANYdress! He took me to a special closet in his house filled with elegant, vintage-style dresses that used to be his beloved wife’s and he asked me to choose one for myself.

Izzy:What? That’s amazing. Is it amazing? I mean, I know you like vintage, but it’s a nice vintage dress, right?

Penelope:Amazing. Better than I could have afforded, unless on consignment. And I couldn’t make up my mind between three of them, so I asked him to choose. He chose the one his wife loved best. Isn’t that THE SWEETEST THING EVER!! It makes me adore the gown and the man even more.

Penelope:Here’s a photo I took last night, but of course, I need different shoes than my red sneakers.

Izzy:Penelope! Pale blue. It sparkles like starlight. You remind me of a redheaded Arwen. Wow! The color contrast is perfect.

Penelope:Don’t you think silver heels would be superb? I’m going shopping during my lunch break to look nearby. Squee! A handsome man, a borrowed dress, and a ball!! I’m living a fairy tale.