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“Ah-” Henry looked into the distance. “I don't suppose you have any more secrets you want to share?”
“Henry!” I snapped.
“Alright-”he covered his eyes with a hand. “Cedric.”
“Cedric.” I took a deep breath. “Alright; Cedric.” I leaned forward and dipped a finger in my tea- it was getting cold anyway. Between us on the tablecloth, I drew a dispelling sigil. Henry blinked, but nothing happened.
“I recognize that one-” He said. “You thought I was bespelled?”
“Better safe than sorry. So what does our old pal Cedric have to say that has you rushing over to see me?”
“That you took something of his.”
Saki said something very rude, that I expect he'd learned from the stagehands. Henry, quite properly looked shocked. Unrepentant, Saki blew hair out of his eyes. Suki moved over and grabbed her brother's hand.
“Do you want to know?” I asked, seriously. The twins looked at me, and moved, sitting on the carpet, and resting their heads on my knees. “You may not be under a geis, But that doesn't mean that you're going to like what we have to say.”
“By God, Xan, do you think I'm going to disbelieve you?”
“I don't know.” I drank some tea as I thought. “Do you really want to know; I can assure you that I've taken nothing from Cedric; though I don't really think you thought I had.”
“But I had to check.”
“I know you did. “ That was the way Henry was; sort of the reason he'd gotten into magic, even though he's since given it up. He didn't like to just take things at their face value. He wanted to see himself. The only time he would let something go was when it was personal; like my business with Edward. I wondered how much Henry guessed. I decided I didn't like thinking about that at all.
“I don't know why you're so worried about what I think, Xan.”
“When it comes down to it Henry, it's a class thing. You love me like a cousin, but in the end, I'm the son of a lawyer. And I'm an actor; not a bad one, but still as good as a whore.”
“Xan!”
“And what I'm about to say is not kind to Cedric. You might not know him as well as you know me, or love him; but he is of your class. A Lord. A respectable man.” I looked at him calmly, and set my jaw. “And the property he implies I took from him are the twins.”
“What?”
“Is it alright to tell him?” I suddenly asked the twins, who had turned to look up at me. “It's your pain I'm airing here, not mine.”
“If you trust him;” Saki said, slowly.
“Then we will trust you.” Suki finished. “He doesn't have a bad soul.” she continued thoughtfully.
“That's a stunning recommendation.” Henry commented dryly. He would have gone on, except the twins turned to look at him.
“You don't understand.” Saki said scornfully.
“But that's alright.” Suki finished. “You don't need to.”
“I don't think I understand either; if it makes you feel any better.” I offered confidentially.
“He wanted to eat our souls.” Saki said “He wanted to do it to get our power; and make his powers stronger.”
“Oh come now!” Henry started to stand up. “That's preposterous!”
“Do you have any evidence that it's not true?” Suki asked.
“As if you have any that it is!”
“Why are you so desperate not to believe?”
“Why do you?”
“I would have believed anyway, but it was Cedric that cast the elfshot.” I blinked at my sudden surety; but it was true. Just saying the words, I could taste the honesty of it. From the look of it, Henry could as well.
“My father wants me to be better friends with him.” Henry said in that direct way of his, skipping preamble. When he did that, your ind scrambled to figure out where he had come from, but once you had, it made perfect sence. It was how you could tell something was bothering him. When he was feeling playful, henry could wear you out with preamble; talking about things that only vaguely related to the subject at hand; a good way to fill time when you had to spend time with people you didn't really care for. Which, as far as I could tell, pretty much defined the leisure hours of the aristocracy.

I am, and was even then (at least at times) glad I didn't need to be bothered with it.