#dramatic exit

“Is not this song worth staying for?” said Anne, suddenly struck by an idea which made her yet more anxious to be encouraging.

“No!” he replied impressively, “there is nothing worth my staying for;” and he was gone directly.

What is that word "impressively" doing there? I'm imagining him flipping a cape over his shoulder as he declares "No!" and then twirling around to storm out. Basically this:

Exhibit 1.

The Queen's Garden Party Escape:

Colin comes up to Penelope and tries to impress her with his new persona and clothes, tries to engage with her over Eloise being friendly with Cressida, but is just left confused in the dust when she leaves without a proper friendly goodbye or even a half-hearted smile. Boy is practically slack jawed inhaling her dust.

Exhibit 2.

The Danbury Ball Exit:

Here, we have take two of Colin's attempts to charm Penelope. He lies about having come to check on her, compliments her, tells her she cannot be a spinster when she attempts to flee his presence with a bit of grace, says he misses her and gets the shit slapped out of him with his own words... and again is left grasping for words and coherent thought as Pen gtfo's.

Exhibit 3.

The Kiss Run:

Penelope thought this was her only kiss she would ever have. It was glorious. It was beautiful. And she ran from any awkwardness that could have crashed that memory. But the result is the same, Colin left in a muddle of his brain & bits short circuiting while she Cinderella'd the fuck out if there.

Exhibit 4.

Under the Willows:

The boy is all tangled up in his underpants after the kiss, so this one wasn't too hard. But he barely said even one truly honest thing that he wished to say before she was just goooone. And again, sad boy left looking confused af.

Exhibit 5.

The Day of Francesca & John's wedding:

Penelope exits their bedroom fully dressed, gloriously cool and unbothered. She lets Colin know that she is going to see her mother and spare him the carriage ride with her to Bridgerton House and is gone before he can even say a word. He looks so wistful and puzzled and like he had so much he was ready to say. And this time, THIS TIME, he does something about it. He goes and rereads her letters.