Ursula's track record being what it was Elladora had always kept a healthy skepticism about the paternity of the children. She had never asked - and never would - but as there was the possibility she might become fond of three boys of potentially dubious parentage if she let her guard down Elladora had strictly kept her fondness for the two she was sure of.

Nobody who saw Belvina could ever doubt she was one of them. She was Ursula in miniature and even though Phineas didn't see much use in a daughter Elladora had quite a different outlook on the matter - despite herself she forgave her brother this opinion and put it down to his equating female behaviour with Ursula and Iola, neither of whom were paragons.

Not that he knew the extent of either, of course. Some things were best kept between women.

"You must never, and I cannot stress this enough, never allow your brothers to know about this," Elladora said severely, slightly undermined by a frog ribbiting as it jumped out of the mildewing pond behind her and towards the cool, clear water of the ornate, fountain she had made bigger with a flick of her wand. The result was an edge large enough to seat oneself on comfortably, with a jug of lemonade between them, and the privacy to dip their bare feet into the water.

"Or your mother," she added for good measure.

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fabulous set by Lady <3