The potential for scandal reaches new heights in the trailer for the second half of Colin and Penelope’s love story

The ton is abuzz with the news of a surprising engagement between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington — but their engagement bliss is set to be tested.

In the trailer for the second half of Bridgerton season 3, Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) have happy news to share with their families, as the first half of the season concluded with a late-night romp in the Featherington carriage and a seemingly out-of-nowhere proposal from Colin. Yet, trouble is brewing.

As word of the engagement spreads, so too does a sense of collective shock — and the potential for scandal, as Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) threatens to reveal Penelope’s most treasured secret — that she is Lady Whistledown — to her brother. “He will find out,” Eloise warns her former best friend in the trailer, after Penelope begs, “Eloise, please do not tell him.”

Meanwhile, Colin’s brothers have questions as to why the “sudden” proposal. “I have known her a very long time,” Colin tells Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), “but perhaps it did all happen rather swiftly.”

“Swift because you?” Anthony asks, before Benedict interjects with a reference from season 1, “Are you going to duel your own brother?”

Despite their engagement bliss, Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown — which Eloise discovered at the end of season 2 — looms heavily over her relationship with Colin, as he questions why there’s ink all over her hands and she lies, telling him she’s been writing letters.

Eloise continues threatening to force her hand. “Until he knows the real you, he cannot possibly love you,” Eloise says, while Penelope insists, “Colin cannot discover my secret. Whistledown is power.”

Colin grows suspicious of his betrothed, too, asking Penelope, “Is there some secret you are not telling me?”

“Colin, I can take care of myself,” Penelope rebuffs, prompting her future husband to wonder, “Then what good am I to you?”

While the potential for a scandal is high, there’s still an undeniable chemistry between Colin and Penelope, who tells her betrothed, “I have always loved you, Colin. There is nothing that makes me happier than being with you.”

But even still — the reality of a marriage looms large in her mind.

“Your duty is to cater to your husband’s dreams,” Lady Featherington (Polly Walker) tells Penelope, who asks, “What about my dreams?”

“Ladies do not have dreams,” her mother replies. “They have husbands.”