One morning a few days after Davina and Cassie had returned from Netherfield, Genevieve ordered the harvest girls inside her study. She wanted the girls there to inform them that this evening a "good" dinner was prepared for she expected a guest to arrive. And although she felt that not every witch residing at Longbourn needed to hear the reason for the visit of this guest, the harvest girls needed to know because it concerned their coven. And seeing how one day they would become elders it was her job to also educate them on all the ins and outs of the coven they were allowed to know.

As for the reason of the visit of this guest, she wasn't pleased about it at all. Longbourn was in her family for generations. The woman of Genevieve's family were tasked with taking care of the young witches who had become of age. Teaching them all the things they had to know about magic and securing a good future for each and every one of them. For a lot of witches this meant marriage. But they never forged a witch into marriage. Although the coven needed to give a witch permission they always had their own say in who they choose to marry. For some witches who didn't found a husband a good place in the household of Longbourn was offered.

Even though Genevieve was running the household she wasn't the rightful owner on paper. Her father who's still alive was. Her parents were blessed with three children. Two girls and a boy. But unfortunately Genevieve's brother past away a few years. A fever took him and he never had the change to start a family of his own. This unfortunately meant that when Genevieve's farther died they would lose Longbourn. Genevieve could never inherited Longbourn because she was a women. The witches living at Longbourn would be out on the street if the rightful heir would wish it so. Of course they would have a backup place to go, but it would never be as large or a fine house like Longbourn.

The letter she received a few days ago, she told the harvest girls, was from Josh Rosza, the rightful heir of Longbourn. In the letter Josh asked for the permission to visit his distance cousin. Over the years after it became clear to him that he one day would inherited Longbourn he apparently had felt very guilty about the consequences this situation brought with it to Genevieve and her coven. He wanted to talk to Genevieve in person about this whole unpleasant situation. The letter went on about when they could expect him.

After Genevieve informed the harvest girls they were ordered not to talk to the other witches about this whole ordeal. The information did tempered Davina's good spirit quite a bit. She knew that there would be a change that she herself would have moved out of the house before they would lose it. But she couldn't help think about what would happen to the other girls who would still life here.

At precisely five o'clock, just as Josh stated he arrived. When Davina first laid her eyes on him she could easily tell that he was a vampire. This made things worse for the witches, knowing they would lose Longbourn to a vampire. But he wasn't like most vampires she met. He was actually extremely shy and really nervous. At dinner he told them how he actually had a great deal to thank for to the witches. He was fortunate enough to fall under the good graces of a powerful witch in the neighborhood he recited. Dahlia was the reason why he, even as a vampire managed to become a clergyman in her patronage.

There was still a lot of tension at dinner, Davina couldn't help but see how uncomfortable the whole situation Josh made. But also how shy he was with getting female attention. When dinner ended Josh had the honor of reading a passage from the bible. Genevieve felt it was logical since he was a clergyman after all. But Davina knew there was more to it. She knew Genevieve also felt how uncomfortable Josh was. And him reading in front of all these girls was quite a punishment. Every time he stuttered because of his nerves all the girls in the room couldn't help but laugh.

Finally the evening came to its end. The only girls still downstairs where the harvest girls who were busy with reading, knitting and playing the piano. Josh took the opportunity to talk to Genevieve alone. He told her how he wanted to make things right with her and how Dahlia urged him to find a wife. Genevieve new exactly where he was going with this and asked him witch girl had caught his eye. Josh couldn't help but notice how nice Cassie had been to him. She had said a few nice things to him at dinner indeed. But this was because she was still in such an incredible mood because of her feelings for David.

Genevieve had to stop him right there. "Unfortunately" she told him "Cassie is soon to be expected to marry. However Davina is equally in both age and beauty to Cassie". Josh had only to change from Cassie to Davina —and it was soon done. Genevieve wasn't happy about losing harvest girl to a vampire but it was better than to lose the house. And if it should end up trough marriage in the hands of another witch, it was better for it to be a harvest girl. She didn't want a random witch to end up in such a high position. Besides Davina never really seemed interested in finding a husband anytime soon unlike the other girls.

XXX

The morning after Josh arrived Monique and Abigail where making plans to go to Meryton to buy some new ribbons for the ball the Mikaelson's where hosting in a few days. Josh anxious to get out of the house and away from all the attention he received from the girls living there, offered to go with them. Because of this Genevieve ordered Davina to go with them to make sure Monique and Abigail would behave around their guest. Of course Genevieve's real reason was that it allowed Josh to spend more time with Davina. Cassie decided to come alone to give Davina some much needed company.

After what seemed like hours of finding the perfect ribbons Monique and Abigail where ready to go back to Longbourn. But they weren't even out of town before Monique and Abigail ran into Jackson. A wolf and officer from the regiment that was stationed nearby. They've talked with him a few times, but their interest in him romantically ended when they found out he was engaged to another wolf. He was however not alone and his friend actually seemed quite charming.

Jackson introduced his friend. Apparently his name was Oliver, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice. David and Kol were ridding down the streets. When David noticed Cassie he immediately road towards her, forcing Kol to follow him. David told Cassie he was on his way to Longbourn to inquire at her. He hadn't had the opportunity to see her to ask her about her health after she returned home.

Kol corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Davina, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Davina happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed color, one looked white, the other red. Oliver, after a few moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Kol just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know. Kol immediately road of and forced his friend to take his goodbye as well. Monique shouted at David when he road of that he also should invite Oliver and Jackson to the ball as well. David not able to deny this request told Monique they were more than welcome to come and then he tried to catch up with Kol.

Oliver and Jackson walked with the girls and Josh to the door of Longbourn. Despite Monique demanding they should come in they took their goodbyes from the party. When they were alone in the room they shared, Davina related to Cassie what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Cassie would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such behavior than her friend.

XXX

The next evening Genevieve, the harvest girls and some others from their coven were invited to a party at the O'Connell's. When Davina arrived she was happy to notice that Oliver and some other men from his company were invited as well. Davina now had a mission. She was dying to find out what exactly happened between Oliver and Kol. She was glad Kol didn't accompanied his friend this evening to the O'Connell's. It would only complicate her mission further and he wasn't exactly her favorite person.

When it was time to go to the game tables Davina managed to seat herself to the same table as Oliver. The only downside was that Monique also joined them. Knowing Monique she would probably demand Oliver's full attention but surprisingly enough she was too occupied with the game itself. Oliver took this as an opportunity to talk to Davina, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told—the history of his acquaintance with Kol. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity, however, was unexpectedly relieved. Oliver addressed the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in a hesitating manner how long Kol had been staying there.

"About a month," said Davina; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, "He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand." "Yes," replied Oliver; "his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself, for I have been connected with him in a particular manner from my infancy." Davina could not but look surprised.

"You may well be surprised, Miss Claire, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Mikaelson?"

"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Davina very warmly. "I have spent a week in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."

"I have no right to give my opinion," said Oliver, "as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish—and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. Here you are in your own family."

"Upon my word, I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighborhood, except Netherfield."

"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Oliver. "I wonder," said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, "whether he is likely to be in this country much longer."

"I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans will not be affected by his being in the neighborhood."

"Oh! no—it is not for me to be driven away. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim before all the world, a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is.

"My father devoted his whole life to take care of the Pemberly property. Even in the time his master died and a year later returned from death in the body of a witch, he still devoted himself to his task. Kol was very grateful for what my father did in his absence. He knew that as a vampire he was a very dangerous employer and knew what my father had to endure all these years under his employment. My father never spoke of all the cruelty he saw. And when my father soon after Kol's return from death was dying himself, Kol promised to take care of his only son to show him his gratitude for his fateful service. Kol promised my father that he would provide me with the position as a clergyman in his patronage as soon as it became available. But less than a year later when it finally did it was given elsewhere."

"Good heavens!" cried Davina; "but how could that be? How could your father's will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?"

"There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. But I can say for sure that I cannot accuse myself of having really done anything to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and I may have spoken my opinion of him, and to him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort of men, and that he hates me. Maybe it also had to do something with me being a wolf. My father wasn't but my mother was. As a vampire he always was disgusted by wolfs and I believe his feelings didn't change when he became a witch."

"This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly disgraced."

"Some time or other he will be—but it shall not be by me. Till I can forget my father who always held him in high regard even with his monstrous behavior as a vampire, I can never defy or expose him."

Davina honored him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than ever as he expressed them.

"I had not thought Kol to be so bad as this—though I have never liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him. I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this."

Oliver reminded Davina that he once was an original vampire with quite the reputation. The things he did back then where far worse than what he did to him. He had heard stories about his cruelty from his father. He was once a murderous monster. Davina never heard the stories about Kol's exact crimes but she did always knew that his hands weren't clean either. Still she insisted that his crime to Oliver was also to be considered worse because he wasn't a vampire anymore when he didn't.

"I am astonished at his intimacy with David! How can David, who seems good humor itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, be in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? Do you know David?"

"Not at all."

"He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Kol is."

"Probably not; but Kol can please where he chooses He can be a conversable companion if he thinks it worth his while.

Even though Davina would have loved to continue the conversation it was time to break it off because it was time to break up the game.

Oliver's attention was caught; and after observing Josh for a few moments, he asked Davina in a low voice whether her relation was very intimately acquainted with lady Dahlia.

"Lady Dahlia," she replied, "has very lately given him a living. I hardly know how Josh was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long."

"You know of course that Lady Dahlia is a decedent from Esther's line. The mother of the Mikaelson's"

"No, indeed, I did not. I knew nothing at all of Lady Dahlia's connections. I never heard of her existence till Josh mentioned her."

"Her daughter will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and Kol will unite the two estates."

This information made Davina smile, as she thought of poor Mary-Alice. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already self-destined for another.

Davina and Oliver continued talking together, with mutual satisfaction till supper put an end to it, and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Oliver's attentions.

XXX

When they were alone Davina related the story Oliver told her to Cassie. Cassie listened with astonishment. She refused to believe that Kol was so unworthy of David's friendship. Sure she had heard stories about his cruelty, but him being a witch now did changed him according to David. David had told her a little bit about his friendship with Kol. According to David he still had his wicked ways from time to time, but he seemed much more in control of them. His monstrous behavior was partly caused to deal with the loss of his magic when he turned. Apparently to David, Kol was quite the thrill seeker. And when he couldn't get it from magic he looked elsewhere. It didn't help that he until recently always had felt left out by his family. Now that he had returned as a witch he still wasn't someone you should cross, according to David. He still was dangerous and didn't seemed to care about much or anyone. He was still selfish and cruel when he needed to be, but he had been good to David because of what he did for him. The reason why David agreed in the first place to bring him back was to save his sisters life. But after that a friendship in some sort of way formed. He was the only one that could call Kol a friend. And because of David she didn't wanted to believe such a story about his friend, even though she realized he was more than capable of it.

"They have both," said Cassie, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side."

Davina wasn't quite convinced with Cassie's last words. She could try all she wanted but it was impossible for both man not to be the bad guy in this story. And if Davina had to put money on who the bad guy was going to be she would have put it all on Kol.