Christabel gave an approving nod at Miss Daphnel's comment about other houses having intelligence. Certainly, she liked to think that she was intelligent. She wasn't so niave as to miss Miss Daphnel's barb directed to her brother - she gave her own brothers enough hell to recognize it in others. She took a drink to hide her smile. It was good to see the dynamic existed in other families too. The expression on Victors face spoke of murder, and she tried, wordlessly to tell him it was alright. That the Dempsey's were made of sterner stuff, that it would take more than some sibling rivalry to scare them off. That she certainly wasn't offended.

Their interactions had been so easy and fun, but seeing him clearly anxious about how this dinner was progressing was difficult. She wished she could give his hand a squeeze, some physical sign of reassurance that it wasn't going badly. That it was going to be okay.

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