February 24th, 1892  — Dempsey Estate

'So who was it?' Christabel asked, as she stalked into the sitting room, tossing the envelope with it's pale yellow paper and lurid pink wax seal onto the side table.  She hadn't even opened it, but there was no mistaking the seal, nor indeed the owl that had delivered it, complete with it's bright pink bow.  The timing of the delivery and the recent edition of Witch Weeklys publication of lonely hearts could hardly lead to any other conclusion as to the contents of the letter sitting before her. 

'So?' she pressed 'Who put this in my name?'  her tone was lower now - not angry shrill but a dangerous control, like the crack of ice on a frozen lake.  'Which one of my darling siblings decided to meddle in my affairs?' with each word her toe tapped the shiney parquet flooring.

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