When I went to Annabel's room that morning, I couldn't find her, but soon enough I learned she was in the garden, having breakfast with Willabelle. That was unusual, because she had never liked Willabelle very much. Of course, she had never said so outright, but I could sense it from the way her eyes looked at her.
So, I told the servants to take me to them. When I reached the garden, I saw the two women seated across from each other, sharing breakfast amidst fragrant flowers, within the white pavilion of the camellias. Willabelle seemed more at ease than usual, while Annabel was, as always, cheerful.
Magnus and Lucareth, oddly enough, were playing together in a corner. Strange. I had thought they didn't get along very well. Perhaps children could sense who their mothers favored or disliked; and since Annabel and Willabelle seemed to be getting along better these days, their sons had followed suit.
