The Artistic Pursuit

Chapter 19 - Colin Sulkington

Colin had been up in his room for almost a day. He refused food and drink. Violet was becoming worried for his welfare.

"Colin, mother is worried. Can you please come downstairs"

"El, I think I may be coming down with something"

El's eyebrow shot up disapprovingly "Please. You've been like this since Ben returned, you really believe I don't know why"

Colin growled "I don't know what you mean"

"You do brother. Pen is your friend. You are jealous. You want more than friendship but Ben is courting Pen. You need to stop this sulking"m

"I do not know what to do, El"

"For a start, bathe. You smell like rotten meat. After that you need to get off your ass and interact with society, before the ton think you have been inflicted with some sort of plague"

"Just leave me be, Eloise. I'm not in the mood"

"Colin, you are to get up and go speak to mother before she has a nervous breakdown. If you do not. I will gather up our siblings and drag you out, so help me god"

"You cannot talk to me like that I am older"

"Yet, you're the one acting like a child"

Eloise storms out.

She walks into the drawing room.

"Do you think it worked?" Kate asked Eloise who was looking very controlled. She was faking her temper to shift her foolish brother back to the land of the living.

"Give it four minutes sister, possibly five" Eloise crossed her arms looking rather impressed with herself.

Gregory and Hyacinth sat at a small table. Watching Anthony's pocket watch. Anthony watched them with an amusing smile. They did a countdown from the last minute,

Greg and Hyacinth kept their tone low so Colin would not here "Three, two, one"

Almost as if El could see the future, in walked Colin. Anthony and his two youngest sibling have a round of applause. Looking at Colin.

He gave them a blank expression.

"Finally you're up Colin" Violet walked in touching his cheek "No fever and your limbs all seem intact, perfect. I need a favour"

Colin smile looked strained "What can I help you with mother"

"I'm chaperoning John and Francesca as they are courting and I would like you to pick up a box from the modiste"

"Me? Could you not ask Anthony to do that"

"I am asking you" She looked stern.

"Very well"

Colin sulked up, very undignified. Getting into a carriage. He chose to meet Will at Whites first. He was rather annoyed that the Mondrichs no longer had their bar. Benedict was courting Pen and Anthony had been busy since being home. He needed a drink with a friend.

WHITES - GENTLEMANS CLUB

"Mr Mondrich"

"Bridgerton! I heard you had finally been coerced from your room. I had to see it before I believed it"

Mondrich passed him a drink "So what bothers you my friend?"

"I do not know" he lied