Cobalt Cauldron

Excerpt from

Cobalt Cauldron

 

Chapter One

 

1894 Egypt

 

“Mom, I’m getting dirty.” Violet Manchester pouted. The six-year-old accompanied her parents on a dig in Egypt, and everything Egyptian fascinated her.

“Today is our last day digging in Luxor. Next, we’ll go to the museum in Cairo.” Bartholomew, Bart for short, held his daughter’s hand. “You’re being a very good girl.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Staring at her father’s adoring face, capped with long blond hair, she admired his magical eyes—one green and one blue.

Violet inherited the Manchester family trait of magical eyes. She inherited her long black hair and ivory complexion from her mother. But she’d yet to come into her powers of witchcraft.

“That’s my big girl.” Picking her up, he placed her on his hip. “What’s your favorite part about Egypt?”

Basking in her daddy’s attention, she contemplated his question with her index finger touching her chin. “Hmmmm, the pyramids and the Sphinx.”

“Those were my favorite things, too. But we’ll see some cool stuff tomorrow, like mummies.”

Violet fainted, and a vision flashed through her head.

 

A gold mask with the image of a handsome boy appeared. The gold mask was part of an ornate sarcophagus. A mummy was placed inside of it, and the room was surrounded with treasure. The walls were painted with pretty pictures, including two Egyptian figures. The burial chamber’s entrance was sealed with stone doors covered in hieroglyphs. The vision of the tomb zoomed out to the surrounding landscape of the desert.

 

“Tutankhamun,” she whispered.  

“What’s wrong with her? What happened?” Olivia, Violet’s mother, wailed.

“I don’t know. Her eyes went blank, and then she fainted.” He knelt next to his little girl.

“Is it the heat? Give her some water.” Olivia held her daughter’s hand.

When Violet opened her eyes, her parents huddled above her with worried expressions. “Mommy? Daddy?”

“Oh, thank God, Violet. You’re awake.” Her daddy sighed.

Sitting up, she asked, “Who’s Tutankhamun?”

“You mumbled his name. Tutankhamun was the Pharaoh of Egypt from 1332-1323 B.C. They called him King Tut for short. He ruled at the age of nine, but died when he was only eighteen. He married his half-sister when he was only nine.” Daddy handed her a full canteen of water.

“Married at nine? I thought ladies weren’t wed until fifteen?” She sat up and drank from the canteen.

“That’s true now, but things were different three thousand years ago. Why did you say his name?” Picking her up, he plopped her on his lap like he was about to read her a bedtime story.

“I had a vision. I saw his tomb of a gold mask with blue stripes. It’s beautiful.” Violet wrapped her arms around her daddy’s neck.

“How do you know that? They’ve never found his tomb.”

Olivia held her hand to her throat and gasped, “Her powers! She must have the power of foresight.”

“Of course, my mother had the same power. And you received it so young.” Cooing, he hugged Violet.

While hugging her father, her gaze went to the same hill formation she saw in her vision. “We’re digging in the wrong place. We need to dig over there.” She pointed.

“Oh, honey. We’re just digging for fun. It’s how these Egyptian men make a living, taking wealthy adventurers on a dig. We never expected to find anything,” Mommy reasoned.

“But those hills. I saw them in my vision when I zoomed out of the tomb. That’s where we need to dig.” Standing on her tiny legs, she pointed. “Can we dig over there, Daddy? Pretty please?” She clasped her hands together, begging.

Smiling down at her he said, “Of course, my darling, Violet. Let’s go dig over there.”

 

Chapter Two

 

“Look, Daddy. It’s the entrance to Tutankhamun’s tomb.” Violet pointed excitedly at the stone door they’d reached after only an hour of digging.

“How in the world are we supposed to move this stone door? It must weigh a ton.” Daddy dropped his head, defeated.

“Bart, dear, remember my powers.” Mommy referred to her telekinetic powers. She moved her hand across the stone door, and it slowly opened with a loud scraping sound.

“Thank you, my dear. I’ll go in first.” Daddy lit his lantern and ducked into the tomb.

“Wait for me, Daddy.” Violet picked up her lantern with one hand and grabbed her daddy’s hand with the other.

A room filled with treasure greeted them. Gold jewelry, cobalt jewelry, coins, plates, and pottery filled the room, all ready to follow King Tut into the afterlife, or so the Egyptians believed.

“Wow, this is amazing.” Mommy followed them into the tomb.

“Look at these paintings on the walls. They’re exquisite.” Bart held the lantern higher which illuminated the large drawings on the wall.

“I saw those in my vision.” Violet sang and skipped around the tomb with glee. “I have my powers. I have my powers. I can see the future.”

Stopping suddenly, her eyes focused on a beautiful cobalt cauldron. She was drawn to it. She’d never seen anything like it. Picking it up, she rubbed off over three millennia of dust. The brilliant cobalt-blue color mesmerized her. Although heavy in her tiny hands, it was smaller than the ones her parents kept in the attic.  She was normally a good child, but a devious moment consumed her. She just had to have this cobalt cauldron. Now compulsion dictated her. While her parents studied the paintings on the walls, she slipped the cobalt cauldron into her knapsack.  

“Where’s the mummy?” Mommy asked, scanning the room.

Violet pointed to a set of engraved doors like she saw in her vision. “He’s in there. That’s the burial chamber.”

The trio stood in front of the shrine doors engraved with hieroglyphs. “Wait, what if it’s cursed?” Mommy stepped back.

“Remember my powers, my dear.” He could reverse any curse or spell. Standing, he raised his hands above his head. Closing his eyes, he said, “I remove all curses and spells from this tomb of Tutankhamun, Pharaoh of Egypt.”

“Now it’s your turn, my dear.” Daddy nodded towards the shrine doors.

Again, Mommy waved her hand, and the stone doors opened at her nonverbal command.

“Me first, me first.” Not waiting for permission, Violet walked through the opening holding the lantern above her head. The lantern illuminated the room, and a gold mask with King Tut’s youthful image appeared.

“Hi, Tutankhamun. It’s nice to meet you.”

Another vision filled her.

 

The boy king’s spirit floated above the cobalt cauldron. But not here in his Egyptian tomb, he floated above the cauldron in her room at their home in New Orleans.

 

“Violet? Are you alright?” Bart knelt next to her.

“Uh, huh. Daddy, this is King Tut.” Pointing, she kept her vision to herself.   

“I see that. You were right, my dear. You’ve discovered his tomb.”

“Are we rich now?” She grabbed her daddy’s hand.

“Violet, we’re already rich because of the Manchester dynasty.”

“Bart, dear. We can’t keep this, any of it.” Mommy stood next to Daddy and admired the gold sarcophagus.

“I know. It belongs to the people of Egypt. Won’t they be thrilled to have such a beautiful collection to add to their museum in Cairo?”

“We can’t tell anyone. We can’t disturb the dead, or let anyone else disturb it.”

“Of course, my dear. Violet, take one last look at Tutankhamun.”

She studied the ornate coffin. “Goodbye, King Tut.” Smiling, she thought of her cobalt cauldron and her last vision. She’d see King Tut again.

“Perhaps a spell is in order, Bart. We should protect this from looters and grave robbers. The dead need to rest.”

“Of course, my dear.” Daddy raised his hands above his head and said, “Protect this tomb of Tutankhamun. I curse it with an early death to all who open it, hereafter.”

They exited the tomb and outer chamber. Once outside, Mommy waved her hands, and the stone door moved back into place. After walking over a mile away, Mommy waved both hands. A sandstorm blew in and covered the tomb’s entrance under a mountain of sand. 

 

Chapter Three

 

“Daddy, why can’t we take the boat back home?”

A few days later, Violet and her parents stood in their hotel room in Egypt, surrounded by their trunks.

“We’re going to Eo Ire Itum home.” Daddy picked her up.

Eo Ire Itum, Latin for ‘to travel’, referred to the instant travel method available to witches and wizards.

“Okay, Daddy. I like traveling that way. It’s so fast.”

“Me, too. Do we have everything?” he asked.

Violet nodded, thrilled to take her cobalt cauldron home with her. She couldn’t wait to play with it. “Daddy, can I have a kitten when we get home?” she pleaded. Even at six, she knew her daddy couldn’t resist her magical eyes and innocent face. That’s what Mommy called, ‘wrapping him around her little finger.’

“Of course, Violet. Anything for my, baby girl.”

“Ready?”

Violet and Mommy nodded.

Daddy chanted, “Eo Ire Itum. Manchester Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana.”

They arrived at their destination instantly—the attic of their mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans. The attic topped the three-story mansion, four including the basement. Plenty of room for more Manchester witches which often visited from their ancestral home in Scotland.

The dark and dusty room contained a round stained glass window overlooking the sidewalk leading to the house. The attic, with shelves lined with potions and cauldrons, was where her parents worked their magic. By the window stood a podium topped with their Book of Spells.

“Ah, it’s great to be home.” Mommy shook her limbs and kicked her legs, shaking off the travel cramps which often accompanied Eo Ire Itum.

“Can I go play with my dolls in my room, Daddy?” she asked.

“Of course, my dear.” He set her down.

Grabbing her knapsack, she ran towards the stairs. Turning she hollered, “Don’t forget my kitten, Daddy. Promise?”

“I promise.” He beamed.

She ran down the stairs to her pink bedroom on the second floor. Closing the door behind her, she plopped on her white canopied bed with a pink bedspread and matching curtains. Picking up her favorite doll, Anne, she hugged her close.

Remembering her cobalt cauldron, she jumped off the bed and sat on the rug between her bed and her window. If her parents came in, they wouldn’t see her because the door was on the other side of the bed.

Removing her new treasure, she held the cauldron in her hand. “You’re dirty. Let’s give you a bath.” Picking up a towel from her washing table, she dipped it into the white porcelain water bowl. Rubbing the wet towel along the side of the cauldron, she wiped it clean. Dipping the towel into the water again, she rubbed more dirt off the cauldron. After repeating the action three more times, she admired her clean, beautiful cobalt cauldron. The cobalt felt cool against her skin, and she hugged it close.

Thinking of Tutankhamun, it saddened her that he died so young. She wanted to talk to him and tell her how sorry she was. Remembering she had a power now, she wondered what else she could do. Her parents made magic look so easy. They simply waved their hands, and then said what magic they wanted. Sometimes they used the Book of Spells, but other times they didn’t need to.

Placing the cauldron before her, she sat her doll against the wall to watch. “Want to talk to King Tut, Anne? Let’s summon him.”

Waving both hands over the cobalt cauldron, she said, “Tutankhamun, I, Violet Manchester, summon thee.”

Closing her eyes, she waited. Squinting one eye open, she saw nothing. Disappointment filled her.

“Of course, I need a potion.” She slid the cauldron under her bed and ran upstairs to the attic. Getting an empty soap box crate to stand on, she stepped up to the podium which displayed the Book of Spells. She turned the pages, grateful her parents taught her to read so young. A picture of a cobalt cauldron was painted into the left-hand side of the page. Drawings of Egyptians surrounded the cauldron. On the right side of the page, it read, “Talking to the dead.”

The page listed the ingredients and words to invoke the spell. Violet quickly memorized the list and closed the spell book. Grabbing the ingredients from the shelf, she ran back downstairs to her room and closed the door.

Pulling the cobalt cauldron back out from under the bed, she dumped the ingredients into the cauldron, waved her hands over the potion, and recited the spell, “From beyond the grave, come to me now. Tutankhamun, I summon thee.”  

 

 

Chapter Four

                                          

The potion turned the same cobalt blue as the cauldron. Then a cobalt-blue gas rose from the cauldron, just above the rim. Violet stared in awe, excited that it worked, yet fearful, too. The gas formed in the shape of a human head, like the one she saw on King Tut’s golden mask.

Shaking, she asked, “Tutankhamun? Is that your spirit?” The intricate details of the gaseous image amazed her.

His image nodded.

“It worked! I summoned your spirit. My name is Violet, Violet Manchester.”

“Hello, Violet. Are you a sorceress?” his voice echoed.

“Sort of. I’m a witch, but a good witch. I just got my powers.”

“So young, and yet so powerful to summon spirits.”

“You’re the first spirit I summoned.”

“Why me?” His eyebrows arched.

“We found your tomb. Well, my parents and I did. But I helped with my power to see the future.” Boasting, she held her shoulders back.

“How dare you desecrate my tomb.” His voice turned angry, and his nostrils flared.

“Oh no, we didn’t touch anything. My parents put a spell on your tomb, cursing anyone who opens it. Then my mommy buried your tomb deep in the sand.” She explained, scared that she’d angered him.

“Thank you. You can see the future? Such an extraordinary gift.”

Nodding, she beamed at the compliment.

“I wish you were with me in Egypt. You could’ve foreseen my early death and perhaps prevented it.”

“I’m sorry that you died so young. It makes me sad.”

“I was murdered for my throne.” His anger showed again.

“I’m sorry. Your angry voice scares me. You won’t hurt me, will you?” She scooted a foot away from the cauldron.

“Of course, not. You are very beautiful and wise.”

“What happens when you die?”

“There is the afterlife. It is beautiful. But then the spirit gets reincarnated.”

“Have you been reincarnated?” she asked, curious that there is a heaven after all.

“Yes, many times. But I keep dying young.”

“Oh, that is sad. Are you in the afterlife now? Or are you reincarnated again.”

“I am reincarnated again. I’m a seven-year-old boy named Toliver who is sleeping right now. He is dreaming of talking to you.”

“Will he remember me?”

“I hope so.” He smiled.

“Can we talk again?” Hope filled her to talk to the handsome spirit.

“All you need to do is summon me.”

“I will. Maybe one day we’ll meet. I don’t know anyone named Toliver. I hope fate crosses our paths.” She smiled.

“Me, too. I hope we meet one day. You are a beautiful child and will grow into a beautiful, powerful witch.”

“Thank you. You’re cute, too.” Blushing, she dropped her chin.

“Maybe with your powers, you can stop this curse of me dying young.”

“Violet? Are you okay?” Her father knocked on her closed bedroom door.

Startled, Violet said, “I have to go. Goodbye, Tutankhamun.”

“Goodbye, Violet Manchester.”

Waving her hands over the cauldron, the image disappeared. She shoved the cauldron under her bed and grabbed her doll.

Her father opened the door. “Who were you talking to, my dear?”

“Hi, Daddy. I was talking to my doll, Anne. I missed her and told her all about Egypt.

“Well, I have something for you.” He brought his hand from behind his back and revealed a black kitten.

“My kitty! You brought me a kitty.” Grabbing the tiny fur ball from her daddy’s hand, she clutched it close.

“A promise is a promise, my dear. Now, you’re going to take good care of her, right?”

“Yes, I’ll take good care of her. Oh, thank you, Daddy! Thank you.” Petting the kitten, she squealed when the tiny creature purred.

“What are you going to name her?”

“Raven.” Beaming, she sat on her bed and let the kitten explore her new home. Raven’s pure black fur accentuated a pair of bright, yellow eyes.

“Raven, I love it. A perfect name for a black cat.”

“I’m so happy, Daddy.” She hugged him.

“Violet, my dear, I have a question for you. When you spoke to your doll, why and how were you speaking ancient Egyptian?”

 

Chapter Five

 

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” Violet screamed the next morning.

Daddy burst through the door, out of breath. “Violet, my dear, what’s wrong?” Appearing relieved to find her unharmed, he probably wondered what’d upset his baby girl to warrant such a screaming panic.

Mommy walked into her room. “Violet? Are you hurt?”

“Raven. I can’t find her.” She walked towards her closet.

“Is that all? You scared Mommy and Daddy. Please don’t scream like that again over a missing cat. We thought you were hurt.” Mommy hugged her.

“Well, this is a huge house. She could be anywhere. But my guess is that she found a nice place to hide and fell asleep. Kittens get scared, especially when adjusting to a new environment.”

Hoping to find a tiny black ball of fur, Violet pulled her stuffed animals off the shelves. “She must be here somewhere. I kept the door to my room closed all night.”

“We’ll help you find her. If we don’t find her right away, perhaps we can lure her out with a sprig of catnip.” Daddy knelt by her bed. “Did you check under your bed?”

Violet froze. She’d checked under the bed and knew there was only one thing under it—her cobalt cauldron. “I already checked under my bed, Daddy. I think she’s in the closet.”

“Well, while I’m down here, I’ll check again.” He peered under the bed and asked, “What’s this?” He pulled out the cobalt cauldron. Inside, the balled-up, black kitten slept peacefully. “Found her, told you Raven hid somewhere and fell asleep.”

“Oh, Daddy, thank you.” She snatched the cauldron out of his hands and hoped he wouldn’t notice the container which held the sleeping kitten. Turning her back, she removed the cauldron from his line of sight. But now she faced her overbearing mother.

“Let me see the little darling.” Mommy peered into the cauldron.

Raven’s internal motor purred in her sleep, but she remained curled up in a ball with her head resting on her tiny black paws.

Peering into the cauldron, Mommy got a closer look at the kitty. “Ahh, she’s adorable. You did a great job picking her out, Bart. I’m surprised you found her so quickly.”

“Thank you, my dear. Something about a pure black cat caught my eye. What’s a family of witches without a black cat?” His gaze dropped to Raven.

So far, so good, Violet thought. Maybe they won’t notice the cauldron. “I’ll just put her back under the bed and let her sleep.” She turned in a hurry, ridden with guilt for keeping the cobalt cauldron from her parents.

“Violet? What’s that blue thing Raven is sleeping in?” Mommy reached for the kitten-filled cauldron.

“Oh, it’s just some old pot I found.” Gulping, she held her breath and prayed that her guilt didn’t show on her face.

“What’s wrong? Are you hiding something?” Daddy asked. He’d always been perceptive of her emotions.

“Nothing.” Shaking her head quickly, she bent down to put the cauldron back under her bed.

Raven’s head popped out. Startled, she jumped out of the cauldron and scurried under the bed, leaving Violet holding only the empty cauldron.

“Look at that beautiful blue pot.” Her mother took it from Violet’s hands. Admiring it, she added, “It’s exquisite.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it. But it’s shaped more like a cauldron than a pot.”  Daddy touched the rim of the cauldron with his index finger.

“Where did you get this?” Mommy’s evil eye bored down on Violet.

Shrugging her shoulders, she answered with a guilty tone, “I don’t know?”

“Violet, please tell me where you got this.” Mommy’s tone and expression grew angry. 

Staring at the ground, she rocked back and forth, with her hands gripping her nightdress. “I found it.”

“Violet Manchester, tell me right now where you got this or I’ll take Raven away,” Mommy threatened.

“Daddy, don’t let her take Raven away, please.” Bawling, she threw herself into her daddy’s protective embrace.

“Shhh. There, there. No one is going to take your kitty away. But it’s really important that you tell us the truth. The worst thing you can ever do is lie to us. Lying is even worse than the act you lied about. Your mother and I just want to keep you safe.” Daddy stroked her hair like a cat.

Snuffling her tears, she wiped her wet face with her nightdress and looked into her daddy’s loving eyes. “You promise you won’t be mad?”

Daddy nodded, produced a handkerchief, and wiped the tears off her face.

“Egypt.” Dropping her head, she waited for the worst to be over.

“Egypt. Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Thank you for telling us the truth.” He cupped her cheek. “You found it in Egypt. Now think really hard and try to remember exactly where you found it in Egypt. This cauldron could be very powerful. It’s important that we know its history so we can study it and learn what its powers are.”

“I found it in King Tut’s tomb. I’m sorry, Daddy. Please forgive me for taking it. It was just so pretty.” With tears flowing again, she fell into her daddy’s forgiving embrace.

“What? You stole it?” Mommy’s rage scared her.

“That’s enough, Olivia. She told us the truth and apologized,” Daddy snapped at Mommy.

Violet cried uncontrollably.

“It’s okay, baby girl. We forgive you. But you know that stealing is wrong, right?” He pulled her out of the hug, and his eyes bored into hers.

She nodded. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I won’t steal again, I promise.” 

“Let’s go upstairs to the Book of Spells,” Mommy said.

“Oh, oh, oh. I know its powers. I already found it in the Book of Spells.” Clapping her hands, she jumped excitedly.

“Wow. Barely six and she’s using the Book of Spells. Tell us, what are the cobalt cauldron’s powers?” Standing, Daddy picked her up and placed her on his hip.

“It summons spirits. I spoke to Tutankhamun. He told me he was murdered.”

“What? You used it?” Don’t ever practice magic without us. It’s very dangerous. You could’ve summoned an evil spirit!” Mommy yelled.

“Stop yelling at our daughter!” Daddy scolded.

“You spoke with King Tut? That explains why I overheard you speaking ancient Egyptian yesterday.” He set her down.

“Although I’m impressed with your use of magic at such a young age, you are still in trouble for stealing the cauldron and using it alone.” Mommy tucked the cauldron under her arm and walked towards the door.

“Mommy, no! I want to talk to him again. He’s nice,” Violet screamed.

“I’m sorry, but your mother is right. We must take this away until you’re older. Plus, we’ll want to study it and consult with our Manchester Clan in Scotland.” Standing, he picked up Raven and handed the kitten to her. 

Violet hugged Raven, flew herself on the bed, and cried into her pillow.

 

 

Chapter Six

 

1904

Ten years later

 

Violet bolted out of bed on her sixteenth birthday. Raven, who’d slept on her pillow each night for the last ten years, stood, arched her back, yawned, and curled back down into her original position.

Quickly dressing in her black dress with puffed sleeves, Violet laced up her black heeled boots over her stockings. She picked up her cat, cradled her like a baby, and walked downstairs.

Emerging from the grand staircase, her feet hit the marble floor of the grand foyer. The house was built in 1875. She was the third generation of Manchester witches to live in the mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans.

Her grandparents built the home to set roots in the New World. Plus, they’d have a place to stay when they visited from Scotland. But her aging grandmother missed Scotland, and gave the home to her only son, Bartholomew, and his bride, Olivia.

Born in this house, Violet had learned every nook and cranny of the four-story mansion. She stepped into the formal front parlor and sat in one of the gold wing-back chairs in front of the fireplace. Raven curled up on her lap. Violet could barely distinguish where the pure black fur stopped and her black velvet dress began.

A Persian rug covered the hardwood floors. Manchester portraits lined the walls with her ancestors and their magical eyes. Above the fireplace hung an enormous portrait of St. Michael the Archangel, her family’s patron saint. She waved her hand across the fireplace, and the logs ignited, just one of her many powers. Raven purred from Violet’s strokes and the warmth of the fire. “I think in my next life, I want to return as you, Raven. You have quite the life.”

Violet’s eyes closed, and her head flopped back into the wing-back chair. Another prophetic vision filled her mind.

 

The cobalt cauldron appeared with a gaseous cloud. Tutankhamun’s image floated in the cobalt-blue gas, only without the headdress part of his gold mask. Just a man with dark hair, dark eyes and a goatee on his chin.

 

Opening her eyes, she shook her head. She hadn’t thought of the cobalt cauldron and King Tut in years.

Her Dad entered the room carrying a beautifully wrapped package. “Ah, there’s the birthday girl.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead, nodded towards Raven, and said, “Don’t get up and disturb Her Royal Highness. Happy birthday, my darling baby girl.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’m sixteen. How much longer are you going to call me your ‘baby girl?’” she asked, eying the birthday present her dad placed on the end table. Now that she was all grown up, she referred to her parents as ‘Mom and Dad’ instead of ‘Mommy and Daddy.’

“You’ll always be my baby girl. Trust me, you’ll appreciate the sentiment when you’re old.” He winked.

“Now that I’m the ripe old age of sixteen, can I taste my first champagne?” Crossing her fingers, she hoped her great relationship with her dad never changed.

He walked to the mahogany cabinet containing the cocktail hour paraphernalia and retrieved two Waterford crystal flutes. “Don’t tell your mother.”

Grabbing a champagne bottle, he unwrapped the silver wrap and untied the wire mesh. Pressing his thumbs against the cork, he aimed towards the ceiling.

“Don’t tell your mother what?” Mom walked into the room carrying a large dress box tied with a cobalt-blue ribbon.

“Uh, er,” Dad said.

Pop.

The cork hit the ceiling, and bubbles flowed from the bottle.

Pouring the champagne into the flutes he said, “That I forgot to get a third glass. Have mine, dear.” 

Violet took the flute from her dad, and her mom took the other one.

“Happy sixteenth birthday, Violet.” Holding up the bottle, he toasted each of their glasses.

Cold bubbles hit her lips and fizzled on her tongue. Tingles slid down her throat and she said, “Mmm. This taste wonderful.”

Dad gulped directly out of the bottle.

“Bart, manners,” Mom scolded.

“I am being a perfect gentleman by not letting the ladies drink from the bottle.” Grinning, he held the bottle to his lips and drank more.

“When is the clan due to arrive?” Mom asked.

Pulling his gold pocket watch from the pocket of his black, three-piece suit, he said, “Within the hour. I sent the carriage to the dock to meet them.”

“The Manchesters are coming?” Violet jumped out of her chair. Excited, she forgot about the sleeping cat who jumped off her lap and slinked under the chair.

“Yes, my dear. We’ll open your presents when our guests arrive.” Dad set the champagne bottle on the mahogany end table.

Clasping her hands together, she begged, “Dad, can I please open just one present now?” Working her magic with her pleading eyes, Dad’s resolve easily melted.

“Of course, anything for my baby girl. Which one would you like to open first?”

Knowing the dress box held a new frock, she pointed to the smaller package her dad brought. “That one.”

“Excellent choice. But I fear this gift is so wonderful that all of the others will pale in comparison.”

“That’s okay.” She untied the delicate shiny ribbons and tore off the paper. Opening the box, she gasped. Inside was her cobalt cauldron.