Since you all don't want another bad chapter. Here's another bad chapter :D
Disclaimer : I don't own the recognizable characters from DA and I don't own the song either.
And I don't appreciate you calling him to reminisce
The only reason is you're seeing how much better off he is
The house was turning into chaos. The servants hurrying around to settle everything for Lady Alice's birthday. The guests will be arriving soon. Alice walked out of her room to look if the dinner table was set up in a way she wanted it to be, she wants everything to be perfect this evening. A few minutes later, the first guest arrived turns out it was Charlie Griggs and Richard Carlisle with their hired muses for the evening. She walked down the stairs to meet them.
"Charlie, Richard how good to see you" She greeted smiling at them.
"My,my, you look beautiful this evening. If it's not your birthday you will be the centre of attention" Charlie complemented as he bent down to kiss the back of her hand.
She just smiled at him then led them to their living room. As they sat down, their butler entered announcing the next guest. Alice wondered what happened to Charles, it's not like him to be late. Her thoughts was suddenly broken by their Butler's voice.
"Lady Elizabeth Hughes and Lord Carson" What a start to my party? She rolled her eyes.
"Happy Birthday Lady Alice" Elsie warmly wished. For Alice it seems that she already forgotten what happened a few days ago. The young woman was clearly innocent and nice even though it hurts to admit it's best to accept it.
"Happy Birthday Alice" Charles refrained himself for kissing Alice like he used to before because the circumstances were rather different. Now that he was pursuing Elsie he didn't want to make another bad impression.
Alice was a bit hurt when Charles didn't kissed her cheek like they used to do with each other and she knew it was Lady Elizabeth's another influenced. Gritting her teeth she entertained them a bit before making her round to thank her guests for coming.
"In case, I haven't told you yet. You really look beautiful, you're always beautiful " Charles smiled as he saw her blushed.
"You already told me that, five times now" she replied as she fetch a glass of wine.
"And I'm not going to stop now" he said enjoying her blushed further.
Alice watched as the two interact with each other, she was suddenly struck by a feeling of envy. She knew she shouldn't have because she had no hold at Charles but seeing him with a woman after years that he's been single and never noticed her, what else would she feel. She followed Charles with her eyes leaving Elsie standing with Charlie Griggs, it seems the man's already starting. Seeing Charles talking to another guest, she decides to make her way to Elsie.
"I'm so glad you could come" Alice thanked fakingly.
"It's nice for you to invite me here " Elsie smiled.
"Well either invite you here or Charles will probably ask you if you can accompany him" she smiled back with hidden meaning which Elsie choose to ignore.
"I've never saw Charles with a woman before. I don't know what you did to make him your pet who followed you everywhere" Grigg snarled making Elsie took a step back.
"I didn't do anything" She replied in a shaky voice.
"Really? " Alice asked with venom in her voice.
"Yes, really" She affirmed.
Alice watched as Lady Hughes face painted with look of curiosity. She must've been wondering why are we interrogating her she thought. The truth is why did Charles fell on this lady, that's the big question. She's beautiful alright but naivety doesn't attract the Lord Charles Carson.
Charles was talking to Lord Andrews when he saw Alice walking towards Elsie in the corner of his eyes. He wondered what Alice up to now. The last time the two interact with each other, it left Elsie crying. Alice might think that he didn't saw what she did when Elsie offered her hand as an introduction and among other things.
The butler suddenly announced that the birthday dinner was ready and after that there were going to be a little party hopefully nothing extravagant. When they got to the dining room he saw that Elsie was seated between Charlie Grigg and Richard Carlisle. This is not good he thought worriedly. But thankfully he was seated on the other side of the table apparently in front of Elsie.
He flashed Elsie a reassuring smile and went to sit down. The dinner was finished as quickly as it started and now they are on their way out of the living room. Carlisle went to Elsie's side and started to talk.
"So Lady Elizabeth how long have you known Lord Carson? " he asked clearly wanting information to start blackmailing them.
"Almost three weeks Mr. Carlisle" Elsie replied without looking at the man for she was busy admiring the arrangement of the hall.
"Do you know that Lord Carson had lovers during his boarding school? " This time this information gets her attention.
"No but I'm Charles will tell me soon" She wanted to stay positive. She didn't want to think any false remarks from anyone especially if she didn't know the person.
"Do you know that one of them is Lady Alice? " He carelessly said. His statements were scripted, almost all of them were lies but they had hoped that this will turn off Lady Elizabeth of Lord Carson. He wants his performance exceed so that Lady Alice will pay him upon their agreement.
"No. But Charles told me that they are only friends" Elsie did not know why this information unsettled her maybe from the reason that Charles lied to her or from the fact that Charles and Alice was lover when they were young even though it was improper of them. But Elsie wants to hear it from Charles not from must anyone.
"Maybe that what he wants you to think" he paused " You said yes too early without knowing who are you saying yes too" he finished and left without any goodbye. Then suddenly out of nowhere another voice was heard from behind her.
"I agree with him. Charles is not a nobleman before and now, he just used his title to get away form things. His previous lover who are running after him, after giving money to them he'll give them a threat" Grigg stated without any emotion. Elsie felt her heart constrict from what he said. Sure Charles wouldn't do that she thought but her other side replied Maybe he do but you don't know him long enough to know the truth.
"Why are you saying this to me? " No matter how much she wants to believe them she still want to know their motives.
"Well we can see that you're going to be the future Lady Carson" this made Elsie smile inside but he continued " I'm just warning you. There are a lot of woman who are running after him one of them will be your greatest enemy. So if I were I'm going to extract any connection from Lord Carson anymore, if you don't want to hurt a lot of people" He said then he was gone leaving Elsie with tears at bay.
Elsie didn't know what to do. She was hoping to God that it was not true. She'll ask Charles about it. Her thoughts was suddenly broken by the mentioned man coming her way, she tried to smile at him but failed seeing a frown suddenly form on his face.
"Are you okay? " He asked worriedly.
"I'm fine" Elsie,after a lot of consideration, push the questions away. She'll ask him but not in this party, she can do it tomorrow. Charles didn't believed this statement, when he saw Richard Carlisle walked away from her then Grigg talking to her, he knew something happen. He hoped that they did not try to make false information which he knew they always do. If they did, especially if those statements will ruin Elsie and him, they hoped they wouldn't been born.
"You sure? " He looked at her with inquiring eye hoping to catch her eyes but she avoided them, something has been said. He watched as she nodded and smiled but not reaching her eyes.
It was 9 o'clock when they party finished. The guests were leaving the manor. Alice was standing between Carlisle and Grigg, watching her guests depart.
"Have you done your job properly? " She asked. Excited from what the two man have done.
"Yes,she seems a bit shaken up specifically when we told her the lies about you and Lord Carson being a lover" Carlisle answered.
"Good. Let's just if it would take effect then we can apply our other plan" She informed before leaving the two man.
CECECECECECECECECECECE
Charles and Elsie was sitting on a bench over viewing the garden. Elsie had asked him if she can talk to him which made him happy because it only means that he's not going home clueless. Elsie folded her hands on her lap a sign of nervousness. She tried to alleviate it but failing.
"Do you have a lot lovers before? " She questioned not looking at him.
"What? I haven't even with anyone" Charles was astonished. So that's what Carlisle and Grigg informing her.
"Really? Not even Alice" Elsie was still unsure.
"Really,not even her. " He affirmed. "Who told you about this? " He asked grasping her hands.
"No one" she tried to take her hands away from his grasp but he was holding it tightly.
"Elsie" his voice held a warning.
"Alright. It was Mr. Carlisle and Mr. Grigg " She said looking away ashamed for believing what they had said to her.
"Do you believe me? " he asked and watched her nod" then you must believe me when I tell you that what they had said to you is not true" Charles wouldn't dream lying to her. His mother had taught him to not lie to anyone and he was not going to start now.
"Okay" she was reassured by that. She felt like Grigg and Carlisle was trying to ruin but she won't or they won't going to make it easy for them.
Charles walked Elsie back to the house before going home himself with the thought that Grigg and Carlisle wouldn't get away from what they did.
"X" is the shape I drew through your face
In permanent marker
Oh, yeah
Just like the mark you knew you were making
Who do you think you are?
To write on his heart in
Permanent marker
Sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoyed reading and I would appreciate a review or two. See you on the next chapter. Mwah :D