CHAPTER TEN

Nellie and Samantha were both thrilled about their accomplishment with Eddie Ryland, however the next morning Samantha came flying into Nellie's bedroom as she was dressing for breakfast.

"Nellie we have a problem," she said.

"We?" asked Nellie.

"Yes we," Samantha said. "You said that Eddie was going to call on your around noon?"

"Yes," replied Nellie.

"Well he can't call on you," said Samantha. "Helene Fitzgerald doesn't exist, she doesn't live here."

"Oh dear," Nellie said. Samantha was absolutely right. She had been so caught up and in shock that Eddie had even asked her to lunch that she had completely missed that. "What do we do?"

"I think I have an idea," said Samantha. "What we will do is put you out on the front lawn ready to go at quarter to. Just be early, have Eddie meet you before he gets to the house. He is no gentleman, trust me he won't insist on asking Grandmary's permission."

Samantha was probably right. If Grandmary was annoyed with Eddie leaving cigarette butts in the lilac bush, he probably wasn't too keen on seeing her.

"Plus, you are my friend," said Samantha. "He doesn't know that we are sisters, so it's not like Grandmary's permission is really mandatory. If he teases you for being early, she tell him that you believe in being punctual."

So all was settled again. Samantha rambled on about how Nellie was to conduct herself in front of Eddie. Nellie thought if she were a boy, she would have made an excellent sports coach.

"Try not to eat too much," Samantha said as they went to breakfast.

"But Sam," Nellie argued. "I'm going to a restaurant. I haven't had a chance to try any of the restaurants in Mount Bedford. I have to eat."

"Helene Fitzgerald doesn't eat much," Samantha hissed as they walked down to breakfast.

Nellie didn't care. She was planning on eating a great deal at lunch today, after all it sounded as if Eddie wanted her to. She went easy at breakfast to leave room for her lunch. Samantha barely touched her plate of food. She was on a hunger strike to try and make some statement to Grandmary, but Nellie didn't see how it accomplished anything.

"Samantha darling eat," Grandmary said. "The gentlemen won't fancy you if you waste away."

"I'm not allowed to see any gentlemen anyway," Samantha replied.

Nellie was actually quite happy to get out of the house. The tension between Samantha and Grandmary was high and uncomfortable. Plus Grandmary was getting on her case for reading too much again.

At 11:45 Nellie or Helene Fitzgerald had been dolled up in an attractive simple yet highly sophisticated navy with white striped summer day dress and a huge navy hat with a plume of peacock feathers, and out on the front lawn ready to go.

Eddie approached at five to noon. Samantha peered from the lace curtains of the front windows watching, making sure that Eddie behaved himself.

"I didn't notice how big he got," Samantha thought to herself. "He has to be one of the biggest men I have ever seen. What a shame Eddie is so annoying, it might have been fun to add a big, strong, fellow like that to my repertoire of men. Samantha what are you saying? You wouldn't see Eddie Ryland if he were the last man on earth. Don't be blinded on how big and strong he looks. He has a huge thick neck, and is probably a clumsy, lumbering, dolt."

Samantha was a master at reading the thoughts of men. Nellie had no trouble persuading Eddie not go inside the house and formally ask Helene to go to lunch.

"You must be starving," he said. "Why I'm even five minutes early," he greeted.

"I believe in punctuality," Nellie replied, pulling on her gloves.

"You look nice," he nodded. "So should I go in and ask the Old Goat if it's alright if you go to lunch with a savage such as I?"

"Oh no," replied Nellie. "It's fine. Grandmary is really only interested in watching out for Samantha's actions."

"Well she sure isn't doing a very fine job is she?" Eddie said with a smile. "Shall we proceed?"

Nellie nodded, and Eddie offered her his arm. Samantha thought they looked quite cute as they went strolling down the street. Eddie towered over Nellie, who only came up to the middle of his chest. Samantha decided it was a lovely day out so she took her book The Count of Monte Cristo and settled down in one of the big whicker chairs on the porch. She had been reading for about an hour when she spotted Eugene strolling up the walk.

Oh no! She thought. He mustn't find out that Nellie is out with Eddie. I can't upset him, it's about time Nellie has found a man.

There she was. Eugene almost turned around. What if he said something stupid in front of her? There she was on the front porch, alone, Samantha. He couldn't turn around. She saw him, it would be very rude. His heart speed up so fast that he thought he might pass out.

"Hello Eugene," Samantha called brightly. The way she said his name so sweet, so full of life. Everything that Samantha Parkington did was wonderful, from the way she said his name, to the way she held her book in her lap. She was in a cool white dress trimmed with light blue. Eugene thought that the whiteness made her look like an ethereal angel. God! She was so gorgeous.

"Hello Samantha," he gushed. He grabbed on to the porch rail to help himself up, it would be mortifying to collapse at her feet.

"You must be looking for Nellie," said Samantha as she stood to greet him. "She's actually out right now, having lunch with a few friends. She has been gone awhile and should be back soon."

"Oh," Eugene replied. He was clutching a small package and another note for Samantha. Now what would he do with it?

He's so sweet, Samantha thought. He looks so disappointed that Nellie isn't here, and he brought her a present too.

"Honestly, she should be back shortly," Samantha said cheerfully. Her smile made his heart tingle. "Why don't you come in the house where it's cool, and wait in the parlor."

"Uh okay," Eugene said nodding stupidly. It was an honor just to be able to follow Samantha inside the house. "What are you reading?" He managed to ask, gathering all of his courage. Samantha turned and gave him another sweet smile.

"Dumas," she replied. "The Count of Monte Cristo. It's an amazing read, not very serious, but fun. It's my decadence."

"It's a wonderful book," Eugene exclaimed.

"You've read it?"

"Twice," Eugene said,

They were now in the parlor.

"Can I get you anything?" Samantha asked.

Eugene shook his head. He couldn't have the great Samantha bring him anything. He gave the piano a quick glance, but Samantha caught it.

"Eugene, you said that you play. Why don't you play for me?" She asked.

"Oh no, I couldn't." Eugene replied. He'd be so nervous.

"Oh come on," Samantha pressed, took his hand and led him over to the piano.

"I don't have any music," Eugene said lamely.

"Grandmary has a huge library of music," Samantha said. "Especially for a woman who never plays. The Admiral plays a little."

Eugene began to thumb through some of the music books.

"She doesn't have much recent material," he remarked.

"You mean Debussy?" Samantha asked. "She hates it."

"Why? It's fantastic music," replied Eugene.

Samantha shrugged.

"She's always had an old-fashioned sense of taste. Doesn't like anything new-fangled."

Eugene had to laugh at the way Samantha said "newfangled" in a sarcastic way. Her wit only made him fall more for her.

"She has some Liszt," Eugene said surprised.

"It's treacherously hard," said Samantha.

"Oh I know," answered Eugene.

"I love Sposalizio," Samantha said. "It's one of my favorites."

"It sounds a bit like your Debussy," said Eugene. "Play it for me."

"I haven't looked at that in years," Samantha laughed. "It would sound awful. You are the one who studies music. You should play it."

"I haven't learned it," Eugene retorted.

"Well let's read it together," Samantha suggested and she propped the book up on the piano. "I'll take the left hand, you take the right."

Eugene could hardly contain himself sitting so close to Samantha on the piano bench. Why, he was so close he could brush her fingers. He tried to glance over at her, looking for any sense of a sign of interest from her. To his dismay, she showed nothing but a platonic air.

What does Peyton have that I don't? Thought Eugene. Is she that obsessed over the fact that he's a Denardo. I hope that doesn't truly love him, because he doesn't love her. She will get hurt.

They're music was a mess, and they were making quite a racket. Samantha was laughing hysterically every time one of them hit a sour note, which was most of the time.

He's so adorable. Thought Samantha. Those big brown soulful eyes are priceless. And he is so sweet bringing her a present and he loves good music. Nellie is really lucky.

After a while, Eugene and Samantha began to play a little piano duel with each other where one would make up a passage to play, and then the other would try to make up one that was harder. After twelve rounds, Eugene let Samantha win. She was actually very proficient, and he was impressed. He just wanted to spend more time talking with her.

"You are very good Miss Samantha," he said. "You must practice a lot," he said.

Samantha laughed.

"Actually now I do practice a lot. Ever since I was eleven. I have been playing since I was six, but back then I hardly ever practiced. I hated it and Grandmary had to bribe me to get me to practice."

"Why the change of heart when you turned eleven?" Eugene asked.

A devilish grin surfaced on Samantha's face.

"I was living in New York City and I got a new piano teacher. I thought he was incredibly handsome. He was the first boy well man that I ever liked. I thought that if I practiced hard and got really good he would notice me as a lady and not an eleven-year-old girl."

"Did it work?" Asked Eugene.

"No," Samantha sighed. "He introduced me to his fiancé and I was so upset that I went to Nellie and cried and cried. But he was still handsome, so I still kept practicing piano."

Eugene and Samantha locked eyes. For once Samantha actually felt jealous of Nellie. She also immediately felt guilty. Why she had had tons of boys take interest in her, while Nellie had none. She shouldn't be feeling jealous over Nellie's first. She had stood back many times when gentlemen would come. They usually would come in pairs, friends or brothers, and Samantha usually took a shine to all. But she thought that Nellie was very lucky indeed. No Eugene wasn't a Denardo, but he was still well educated, part of the Denardo clan even if he was adopted, handsome, and very sweet. She also was a little envious of the connection that he and Nellie must have because they had both been adopted into wealthy homes. They were a perfect match.

"So what is that little gift that you have for Nellie?" Samantha gestured towards the small box that Eugene had set behind him on the piano bench.

"It's nothing really," Eugene answered. Now there was no way he could give Samantha the gift now. He tucked it away in his jacket pocket and began to wander around the room.

"You are really a sweet person and I am so happy for you and Nellie," said Samantha. "You have to promise me that you'll be good to her. She deserves the best."

Eugene was stupidly shocked.

"Nellie?" He said absently.

"Yes, the girl you've been calling on. My sister," said Samantha. "She's a great girl. Sometimes little too bookish, but a good heart."

Oh no! Thought Eugene. How could I have been so foolish! Why I've been calling on Nellie so I could give her the presents to give to Samantha, and now she thinks I love Nellie. No wonder she's been distant with me.

It all made perfect sense. Eugene had noticed when Samantha went to parties that even though she seemed in love with Peyton, she still liked to flirt and joke with the other boys, but she had always kept clear of Eugene.

Eugene had noticed a beautiful photograph of a woman sitting on one of the parlor tables. He picked it up and looked at it closer. It wasn't just her beauty that drew him to it. It was the fact that the woman looked a lot like Samantha.

" Is this your mother?" He asked her.

"Yes," Samantha answered.

"She's beautiful," Eugene replied.

"Thank you," Samantha said. "I always thought so."

"You look a lot like her," said Eugene nervously.

"Is that a compliment?" Samantha asked.

There was an awkward silence. Peyton never let in awkward silences.

"Is she going to come in for a visit?" Eugene finally asked.

"Oh no," said Samantha. "She's dead."

"But I thought she lived in New York City. Isn't her name Cornelia?" Eugene asked surprised.

"That is my Aunt Cornelia," Samantha replied. "Her and my uncle took me in."

"I'm so sorry," Eugene stammered.

Wow. He was really blowing it. What an imbecile. Not only had he made an awkward silence after telling Samantha she was beautiful in a round-a-bout way, but now he had mentioned her mother. A mother who was dead.

"Don't be sorry," said Samantha. "You didn't know. Her and my father died in a boating accident when I was five."

"I'm sorry," Eugene mumbled again.

"I don't remember them much," Samantha shrugged.

"I don't remember my mother at all," Eugene said. "She died when I was not even a year old."

"That's so sad," Samantha breathed.

"At least I had my father, until I was twelve," Eugene went on. "Then he caught consumption."

For a moment Samantha felt guilty for not wearing long underwear like she should have. But she did at least have something besides music and The Count of Monte Cristo in common with Eugene.

"That's awful," she said. "You poor thing."

"You're the poor thing," Eugene replied.

"We're both poor things," Samantha said.

They grew quiet. The clock in the parlor now read two o'clock. Where on earth was

Nellie? Could Eddie Ryland really be that interesting?