After dinner was over, Nicholas waited at the dining table until his mother and the children went out of the dining room, carrying their little siblings in their arms. They knew Nicholas wanted to talk to Sophie about something important.
Once the servants closed the door and left, Nicholas got up and turned to Sophie. He looked at the woman carefully and studied her expression.
"How well do you know Catherine?" he asked her.
Sophie looked at Nicholas and wondered if anything bad had happened to Catherine from the way he asked that question.
"I know her quite well..." Sophie said softly. "I have known her since I was twelve."
The first time Sophie met Catherine was 14 years ago when the witch was invited to come to her aunt's home to teach Valerie and Lucia, her cousins. Initially, it was to help them pass the entrance test to attend Cawden Academy.
