The day Elvira's family attempted to cross the border, when she got separated from them and mysteriously lost all identifying memories about them. A few days later was when she met Beckett Nightingale
Elvira started school in a small Dame school for two days until Beckett gatecrashed her classroom in an attempt to force his parents to allow her to attend his school. This worked and from then on Elvira attended a very prestigious private school.
Elvira managed to do pretty well at school, even though the last few years were more difficult due to not having Beckett's protection.
After Cavendish Sr heard about a young Dorchana girl who practiced magic in Wandswich, he was eager to send his son to recruit her into the Cavendish Corsairs, the districts militia group. Elvira leaped at the opportunity to get out of the Nightingale household, knowing full well that the parents didn't like her.