Chapter 8: Diner at Carlton Place Inn
The dining room was a modest oval shaped room, with only two windows. It was usually a bit more filled than on the night that the Bingley's, Hurst's, and Everhart decided to dine there. But for their convenience all the smaller tables had been pushed together as one, and covered with a beautiful red and gold table cloth. A fire was put in the hearth, and all the candles in the room were likewise ignited. Rain pounded against the window, and it couldn't be denied that the room had a bit of a romantic air to it. It also couldn't be denied that David Everhart looked, in the words of Jane Bingley, quite dashing.
His hair was combed back off of his face, which showed off more of his features. And his dark eyes looked twice as dark and mysterious in the candle light. His new attire did him justice as well, he looked very handsome, indeed. Even Louisa kept looking at him, despite herself.
Caroline was the last to emerge from her room, and said very little when she arrived in the dining hall. Upon seeing David, she blushed, and averted her eyes, which unfortunately Louisa noticed. So it was thus that dinner proceeded. Light conversation was made on the weather, their grim experience so far, and their hopes for tomorrow. Charles and Jane made sure to include David in everything that was being said, much to Louisa's indignation. Mr. Hurst said nothing at all (as usual) and everyone (excepting Caroline) was pretty much their normal self. When….
"Mr. Everhart the difference in you is absolute, If I saw you walking down the street I am sure I would mistake you for a gentleman. Do you not think him a rather handsome young boy Caroline?" said Louisa. Caroline who had partaken very little in the conversation at all until that point looked up rather alarmed. And much to her own horror and Louisa's delight Caroline's face turned as red as her hair. Louisa beamed, and continued.
"Ha, yes well that just about answers the question. Mr. Everhart I fear my sister is quite smitten with you." Louisa said it playfully, but Caroline knew better. Her sister had a deeper motive, and it terrified the daylights out of her.
Upon Louisa's comment Charles and Jane laughed good-naturedly, and Mr. Hurst merely lifted his eyebrows whilst taking a bite of his pork. Caroline was trying to decide how to defer her sister from the subject when Louisa spoke again.
"But then who couldn't be smitten with you, Mr. Everhart. Tell me, have you many admirers in your own class- well actually don't tell us that, Caroline will be terribly jealous…." She fluttered her eyes lashes at him. David looked, in truth, a little bewildered. He looked from Louisa to Caroline wishing he could find a way to save Caroline from further embarrassment. Charles was oblivious to any awkwardness and fell for Louisa's prank, smiling pleasantly. And Jane was the same, though she didn't trust Louisa quite the same as Charles did.
"Louisa, I think you'd better find an alternative victim to torture, isn't it obvious that Mr. Everhart doesn't know what to say, he's used to better manners than yours." Caroline spat back at her sister, though remembering to smile afterwards, if not a little tightly. Louisa however didn't lose a second.
"See, I told you she was smitten." She laughed looking furiously around the table at everyone. "Defending him against your own sister, I thought we promised never to let a man come between us."
"I dare say, quite a many more things have come between us, and will continue to." There was no tight smile to follow this remark, and the two thicker than thin sisters were suddenly staring at each other with outright abhorrence.
"Gracious me, I am quite full I think I am going to retire, Charles?" Jane said standing suddenly. As soon as she was off her feat, all the men followed suit, and the awkward stare between the sisters was broken.
They all retired then, though some a little more reluctantly than others. David was suddenly quite worried, perhaps, he thought, he had brought something very unpleasant down on Caroline's head. Wishing he had spoke up and stopped that vicious intercourse he headed to his room. Tomorrow, he thought, I will apologize to Caroline. Though exactly for what he wasn't entirely sure.
