As the fire crackled in the hearth and the scent of roasting chestnuts filled the room, Elladora pulled out a letter that would change the course of her life before the new year arrived. She had received it this morning but for whatever reason had waited to read it till lunchtime – since then she had been absorbing the contents privately, silently and with a large glass of mulled wine to help digest the news.

Now though, sitting quietly with Ursula, the children and Phineas absent as they always were, she thought it best to mention something. There would be a necessity of relaying the news soon, of course, but it felt only appropriate that she tell Ursula first. (She would unpack that detail later, when more wine had been consumed.)

"I received this earlier," she announced, quite calmly, to her fireside companion. She opened the letter and read the words again, as she had been doing since she had received it; there was no use beating around the bush. “My mother died yesterday.”

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fabulous set by Lady <3