"Now, do you care to tell us what it is that you couldn't say in front of your other daughter?" Geoffry asked while he continued to look down at Evelyn.
"That's enough Geoffry," Duke Aurthur snapped before he turned back to look at his friend.
"No, he has every right to be upset. I know that I would be given the situation," Duke Henry began. "There is a very good reason that Evelyn is not a member of my wife's former coven, and it is not because we have anything to hide," he stroked Evelyn's hand in reassurance and smiled sweetly at her, silently asking her permission to tell the entire story.
Evelyn looked up at her father, her cheeks now stained with her freshly stained tears and nodded her head. "Very well," her father smiled back at her. As he turned to face the men in the room his face turned serious. "I simply ask that once I begin, you do not interrupt me, and once I am finished this topic is never to be brought up again nor will it be discussed outside of this room."
Duke Aurthur, Max, and Geoffry exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. "You have our word," Geoffry took the liberty to reassure him.
Duke Henry lightly squeezed Evelyn's hand, "what I am able to tell you is not my story to tell, and Evelyn can stop me at any time if she becomes uncomfortable."
The three men nodded in agreement before Duke Henry began recounting what happened to his daughter 12 years ago…
- - - -
"Henry, I heard you wanted to see me?" Aunt Carol greeted her late brother-in-law when he entered her study.
"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced, but I needed to speak with you urgently," he replied as he took a seat in front of her desk.
"Is everything okay with the girls?" She could sense his anxiety and she immediately began to panic.
"Well, I need to talk to you about Evelyn."
Panic was written all over her face, "what is going on, Henry?"
"Calm down, Carol. She is not in any danger, but I need to talk to you about some things."
Carol's shoulders relaxed and she nodded for him to continue.
"Last week Evelyn had been over near their water fountain when the pool started to overfill as the fountain went out of control. Charlotte came for me immediately and I initially asked Peggy if it was her, but it was not. "
"Okay," Carol gave him a questioning look.
He dragged his hands down his face, "then it happened a few days later when the bath overflowed and flooded three rooms before it stopped. Evelyn was the one being bathed at the time, and it confirmed my suspicion that her powers were awakening."
As Carol listened to Henry telling her what was happening, she could not prevent a wicked smile from forming on her face. She knew that she needed to take her with her right away to see what all she was capable of. If her thinking was right, her type of power would be invaluable to them, and she was not going to waste any time in confirming her suspicions. "In that case, I should take her to the coven with me next week."
"What do you mean, Carol?" He noticed the change in her mood and instantly regretted his decision to tell her about the true nature of events because they were far more powerful than the subtle changes that had happened to Peggy. He has been especially worried because he remembered all the stories, he had her his wife tell him about when her powers first woke and how she needed to learn right away how to use her powers safely to prevent from anything serious from happening. The things that were just starting to happen were eerily similar to those that happened to Lauren, and she was said to be more the powerfully witches before her death.
"You heard me, Henry. I will be taking her with me next week."
"Yes, I heard you but I'm not sure why you are taking her with you when you visited our home previously to guide Peggy? I came here because I trusted you to help her, not to take her away from her home!"
"What are you thinking, Henry? I will be helping her," Carol sneered.
"Don't be coy with me Carol. I can see it all over your face that you are not doing this for Evelyn, but for yourself!"
"Think what you'd like Henry, but I will be taking her with me next week whether you like it or not. It is very important that I do. You don't want something to happen, do you?"
"You will do no such thing!" Henry stormed out of her office.
It was exactly a week later that Duke Henry, Evelyn, and Peggy were enjoying their breakfast in their garden when Aunt Carol arrived at their estate. Henry's face instantly darked upon seeing her, "Good morning, Carol."
"Good morning, Henry. I have come to take Evelyn with me."
"I don't remember hearing that you were taking her anywhere today."
"Don't you remember when I told you last week?"
He rose from his seat. "I told you that you will not be taking her," he growled at her as he closed the distance. "It's best for you to take your leave now, Carol."
"I'm sorry, Henry but I will be taking her with me whether you want me to or not. Now, step aside," she smirked.
"I said no!"
"That's too bad, Henry. I had hoped we could do this peacefully," she said. Vines began creeping up around his ankles and legs to hold him in place. "Evelyn dear," she smiled at the small girl that had paused from eating her breakfast to watch her father and aunt.
"Evelyn, go to your room," Henry instructed his daughter. She nodded her head and began to leave the table.
"Come now, Henry. I already have everything ready for her," she chided him. "Come Evelyn dear, we have somewhere to be today."
"I expect her home by dinner," Henry seethed before nodding to Evelyn to tell her to follow her aunt.
"I'll see what I can do," Aunt Carol replied as she took Evelyn's hand to guide her to the carriage.