Chapter 28 A Slip of the Tongue
It was so noisy, Samantha couldn't sleep past dawn. There were carriages and motor cars and street vendors. She raised the shade and tried to memorize the scene before her. London was spectacular. She looked back to the figure sleeping a few feet away. Her mother tossed and turned most of the night and Samantha knew it was all her fault.
Back in May she had made Nikolas swear that no one would ever know about what Aunt had done. It was he who tended her wounds and made excuses for them to have class out of doors or shortened lessons, when he saw the pain etched into her face.
"We must tell someone. If not Cousin, we can tell Uncle Stefan."
"I can't tell anyone Nikolas…you shouldn't even know. She'll send me away and Cousin too."
"Uncle wouldn't let that happen."
"Uncle cares about you Nikolas, he loves you." Samantha had hissed. "Anyway, it doesn't really hurt that much anymore."
"Don't lie Sam. I won't tell if you don't want me too, but don't lie. Don't be like the rest of them."
"I'm sorry."
"What will happen when I'm away at school? What if she does this again? Promise me you'll tell someone…Uncle or Alice or someone."
"I promise." Samantha lied.
"Good morning Miss. Miss Morgan wanted to let you know that breakfast is ready, if you'd like to join her."
"Oh, well, my cousin is still asleep."
"Miss Morgan thinks she may need to have a bit of a lie in. Go on now child, Miss Morgan's waiting."
"So what would you like to do today Samantha? This is your first trip to London isn't it?"
"Yes ma'am. I think Cousin has some errands to run."
"She does, I was thinking perhaps we could let her take care of things, and we could go exploring."
"I…I wouldn't want to be a bother. I could just stay in my room if Cousin doesn't want me to join her."
"Oh Samantha, you wouldn't be a bother. I love London and I'd love to show you around." Chloe watched the girl's hesitant expression. She clearly didn't know what to do, and the last thing Chloe wanted was to alienate her. "Well, there's no rush, the city isn't going anywhere. We'll wait till Alexis is up to decide."
"Alright. May I be excused?"
"Alexis tells me you are quite the pianist. We've just had ours tuned, would you honor me with a song?"
Samantha had noticed the baby grand the moment they entered the parlor the night before. She sorely wished to play it, but hadn't dared hope she'd be allowed. "Are you sure, it's early yet, it might disturb someone."
"Well let's see it's me and you, Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, Cook and Lilly I don't suppose any of them would find music bothersome. And if your mother can sleep through the noise on the street…"
Chloe stopped suddenly. All the color was gone from Samantha's face. She stood quickly and backed away. "I…I think I should go upstairs…I…"
"Samantha!" Chloe called to the fleeing child. "Brilliant Chloe, just brilliant."
