The next few weeks passed at an agonizingly slow pace for Jula. Though no one knew about the incident with Wade except for her sister and the Tavingtons, Jula still felt shunned out of society. Lady Tavington barely made conversation with her anymore, except for the usual greetings, and though they did talk to one another during the girls' lessons, it was formal conversation. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Col. Tavington, who already spent more time with her sister, decreased his already lacking communication with her; but worst of all for Jula was Jae, who hadn't even talked to her sister since the incident except to be formal during lessons. She hardly even glanced at Jula anymore, and when she did, her stare was cold and foreboding, identical to the one that Col. Tavington often had in his own stone cold eyes, and Jula began to wonder how much more she could take before it all drove her over the edge. She hated getting in fights with people, especially her sister. It tore her up inside.
How can she be so cold an unfeeling? She's just like the colonel! A female carbon copy of him! she thought bitterly to herself after a particularly awkward supper sitting right in between her sister and Col. Tavington.
But to this, Jula wasn't completely correct, for the events had also taken a toll on her sister as well. Not talking to Jula for so long had torn Jae up as well; in fact, for one reason or another, she seemed to be taking it harder than her sister, yet she was still too angry and afraid of anyone finding anything out to say so. Her food intake had decreased, and she hadn't been getting much sleep due to stress. This caused her to become ill, but she hid it, or at least, tried to hide it. Obviously, the colonel had noticed and questioned her about it, but she shrugged it off, so he let her be, continuing to monitor her behavior in silence, only telling Mary what he noticed after both of the girls had gone to bed; and as time wore on, he began to notice how pale Jae had gotten to be. Too concerned to simply ignore what was happening, he pulled her aside one evening after supper.
"Jae, what is wrong with you? You're pale as a ghost, and you've barely touched any food at any of your meals for two weeks."
"I'm fine." Jae replied numbly.
"No, you're not!" snapped the colonel suddenly.
Jae glared at him and he sighed.
"My apologies. But Jae, I really don't like this. I know you're not well."
"No you don't."
"My dear, you haven't been eating as much as you usually do."
"So?"
"Everyone can see it."
"I'm not eating any more food!" Jae snapped.
"Then at least get upstairs and rest."
"Alright, I will..."
Jae started towards the stairs and walked slowly up them, feeling shaky and weak.
"Jae?" questioned Col. Tavington from down at the bottom of the stairs.
Jae was about to turn around and answer him when suddenly a wave of dizziness overcame her and her surroundings began to spin as everything seemed suddenly happen in slow motion. Her legs felt like lead as she felt herself slowly fall towards the ground, faintly hearing the swift footsteps of the colonel as he made his way up the stairs in a whirlwind of speed and panic, just in time to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Jae?"
No answer. She had passed out.