CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Samantha, Nellie," Elsa called. "Mr. Peyton Denardo and Eugene O'Reilly are here to see you."

Nellie sprang up from her chair. She needed to speak with Eugene. This was his chance. Samantha was angry at Peyton, and once angry she rarely forgave. He needed to start up the gifts and courting again, and he'd more than likely have a shot. Samantha had been chomping at the bit to give Peyton the boot, and this would be her chance.

"Bring them in," Samantha called. "Peyton is going to get what he finally deserves," Samantha said to Nellie. "He hardly deserves a girl like me anyway."

Elsa lead Peyton and Eugene into the parlor. Peyton strutted into the room as if he owned the house instead of Grandmary.

"Hey Sweetie Cake," he gushed to Samantha. He went over to give her a kiss, but Samantha pushed him away. Immediately Nellie noticed Eugene's face light up.

"She's mad at him," she whispered. "This is your chance? Did you bring her another gift?"

Eugene nodded, but was cagey with his information.

"I am not your Sweetie Cake!" Samantha yelled. "Edith Edelton is."

"Perhaps we should leave," Eugene said to Nellie.

"I want to see this," Nellie replied. "This should be entertaining."

"It's not proper," Eugene said and pulled her out of the room.

"Why'd you do that?" Nellie demanded and tried to peep through the keyhole. "She's going to give him hell, and we are missing it!"

"I hope so," said Eugene. "But if she does, Peyton would only get very angry with me if I stayed to watch."

"Why do you care so much what he thinks?" Nellie asked. "He doesn't own you."

"Yes he does," Eugene replied. "When his family took me in, one of the reasons was for me to be a confidant to Peyton. I can't ever upset him."

Nellie sighed and gave silent thanks that Samantha even though she once thought that she loved him, was very different than Peyton.

"I bet she's going to throw him out," she said. "I bet we will hear lots of screaming and Peyton being boot right out of here."

"Why the shrewish tone?" Peyton asked innocently. "I don't care for Edith Edlton."

"That's not what I heard," Samantha spat. "I heard you fancy her, her and a bunch of other girls."

"No," Peyton said. "That is absurd. The only girl I have in my heart is you."

"Maude Jeffries and Nellie both told me that you have been courting Edith," Samantha said. "I'm sure I could find out from more sources as well."

"I have been seeing Edith recently but only because until yesterday your grandmother banned us from seeing each other. I'm young, handsome, intelligent, and filthy rich. I'm not going to remain available forever. But now that I can see again, I would much rather be with you," said Peyton. "You're my princess."

"When Grandmary told me that I could no longer see you I pinned away for you. I had to heal. I couldn't just run out and find some other gentleman to throw myself out," Samantha quipped. "That is love Peyton. Not running right out and finding someone else right away."

"Sam, Edith came right onto me. She's a jezebel that girl. She was all over me as soon as she heard that Grandmary had banned us. Trust me Sam, if a gentleman had done the same to you, you would have taken up with him," Peyton explained. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. Samantha was starting to weaken.

"I don't know," Samantha sighed. "Why would you ever show interest in Edith Edelton? She isn't that pretty, and she has yellowy teeth."

Most men would disagree with Samantha and find Edith above average, and very attractive, and many people had discolored teeth, it was nothing, but even if Edith Edelton were the most beautiful woman in the world, Samantha would never admit it.

"She doesn't hold a candle compared to you Samantha love," said Peyton. "Edith might be okay for a lunch, or a pot of tea, but she doesn't have what it takes to be the wife of a Denardo. Only the most fabulous women in the world are worthy enough to bare the Denardo name, and you know what Samantha? You are one of those women."

Samantha's heart was racing, her cheeks had turned rosy. Just to hear Samantha, Denardo, and women in one sentence caused her heart to flutter.

"It really hurt me to hear that about you and Edith," Samantha said trying to milk it for just a little bit more.

"I know princess," Peyton nodded. "I am deeply sorry. I will never hurt you again. I'll buy you anything that you want. You seem to like nice jewelry. Any gem, in any setting. You pick. Or perhaps you would fancy a lovely new bonnet?"

"No I want jewelry," Samantha said her eyes began to sparkle with life again. "Nothing says I love you like jewels." Samantha couldn't believe it. She now had Peyton Denardo once of the wealthiest heirs in the country begging for her mercy and love. She had mastered the opposite sex. She thought for a minute. She already had all sorts of fine babbles and jewels. She knew it was inappropriate to ask for a ring. She wanted something extraordinary. Something that Edith Edelton would never have.

"I want a pair of diamond earrings," Samantha decided. "Four caret diamonds that dangle."

"Four caret diamonds it is," Peyton replied.

Samantha ran to hug him, and they kissed.

"I guess we can bring the other two ninnies in," Peyton said.

"Don't call Nellie a ninny," Samantha laughed.

"Well Eugene is," Peyton replied. "He's a big ninny."

Nellie felt so bad for Eugene when Samantha retrieved them back into the parlor and there was Peyton grinning and sitting by her side. She had a bad feeling about Peyton, she knew very well that he probably was going to go straight to Edith's house after he grew tired of seeing Samantha for the day. When it was time for them to leave Samantha walked Peyton out. She was all upset, upset that he was leaving and she wouldn't get to see him again until tomorrow. You would have never have known that she had been furious with him earlier. Nellie saw Eugene discreetly slip something in Samantha's book of piano music. Must be another gift. She wondered what it was. All she knew was that Eugene looked very lost and wistful as he did so.

"That's it," he said to Nellie. "That is my last gift. I'm through with the roller coaster ride known as Samantha Parkington."