Eleanor hesitated. She had spent years keeping this truth from Grace, believing it was the only way to protect her. But now, looking into her daughter's determined eyes, she realized that withholding it any longer would only hurt her. Besides, now that they knew of her existence, who knows what they would do?
She parted her lips, but no words came immediately.
Grace patiently observed her mother although the silence that followed her question was enough to answer for her.
"Please, mother, you shouldn't be scared about anything. I will do my best to protect Grace. Nobody can harm her while I'm around. I can assure you of that."
Eleanor's wariness was clearly seen as she turned her gaze toward the seemingly confident young man sitting beside her daughter.
"I don't know much about you yet, but I can tell you're influential… However, those people—" her voice lowered almost to a whisper "—they are powerful. You don't want to cross them."
