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Colin has come back from his second tour of the continent with a new look and a new personality to match. The ladies of the Ton cannot seem too get enough of the new Colin but Penelope is frankly disgusted by it. Since he has been back Penelope has been avoiding him, she has not attempted to hide that fact either. When she sees him she will turn and walk in a different direction or she will move to the farthest end of the room from him. Colin is not sure why she is behaving like this but he has had enough. At tonight's ball he is going to find out why she suddenly can't stand to be anywhere near him.
After some hours Colin got his change to speak to Penelope while went to an empty room to take a break from the heat and noise of the ball.
Colin: what is wrong Pen?
Penelope: Did you follow me?
Penelope moved as far as she could from him looking at him with a mix of rage and disgust.
Colin points at Penelope.
Colin: That! Why do you keep doing that? Keeping as far away as you can as if I am dangerous!!! And why do you keep looking at me in that way?
Penelope: I simply think it is for the best. With you high rake status I do not want to risk cathing something.
Colin: Is that why you seem to hate me, because of the attention I am receiving?..........feeling left out pen?
Penelope:No! I hate you because the last good man in the Ton is gone and it is your fault...... Colin Bridgerton is dead and you killed him.......you killed my friend, the only man I truly cared for.... the only man in Mayfair worth loving is now gone and I will never forgive you for it.
Penelope walked past Colin and stormed out of the room leaving Colin alone. As he stands there we finds he cannot seem to get a full breath of air. Colin starts to struggle to breathe making him feel weak causing him to fall to him knees. As he looks at his tears hitting the wood floor Colin has a vague sense of someone entering the room then leaving as he continues to struggle to breathe. Next thing he is aware of is his mother sitting on the floor with him.
Violet: Oh my dear what has happened?!
Colin looks at his mother with tears streaming down his face as he takes quick shallow breaths.
Colin: Mama, what have I become?