CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Samantha's odd taste in new French music was always well accepted in Gard and Cornelia's home. Cornelia was fond of Debussy, and could play piano, but she didn't have Samantha's expertise, so she had to depend on listening to her niece.

Samantha had stuffed away the music Debussy from Eugene. She kept it in a box with the rest of the little notes and trinkets he had left for her, but she was embarrassed by her conduct over the summer, she must have hurt him multiple times. She learned how to play Voiles and then tucked it away for good.

However, he piano teacher had given her the same Debussy prelude book and had wanted her to learn Voiles. He was very surprised when Samantha's supposed read through was very accurate note wise.

"You must have worked on this?" He had said amazed.

"A friend gave me a copy over the summer," admitted Samantha. "My sight reading didn't get this good. I have worked on it quite a bit."

"Well since you have learned the notes we will work on expression and perhaps you can play it in the upcoming recital," said Mr. Godfried.

Samantha didn't argue, but she wasn't too keen on playing the music that Eugene had given to her in the recital. To her it was much too personal for that.

Cornelia loved to listen to Samantha's current repertoire, so Samantha had choice but to drag out the copy of Voiles that Eugene had given her, and immerse herself in it for hours a day, especially if she was going to have to memorize it for recital. Samantha hated memorizing music. What was the point of going and buying perfectly good editions of music only to memorize it?

At least then I don't have to look at Eugene's love letter, staring at me in the face. Samantha thought as she pounded away.

Samantha had always prided herself on having any man that she wanted, but she realized that she had lost Eugene. She hadn't lost Eugene because she had wanted to loose him, she had lost him because she didn't know that she had wanted him. If she had known his feelings, instead of being so wrapped up in Peyton, they could have had something beautiful. As she thought back on that summer she had actually been unhappy with Peyton. He was always telling her to hold her tongue if she wanted to mention a political view, and Samantha thrived on opinions and politics. He was always putting down her family, once he had said that her parents had deserved to drown because they were so stupid going out on a boat during a big storm. He didn't know that they had actually gone out on a beautiful day, but the storm came on quickly, and they wanted to get back to their young daughter.

The only reason Samantha had stuck around with Peyton wasn't even for his money or social status, well at first it was, because she had never been with a man so outrageously wealthy but it wore off and then the only motive because of her competition with Edith Edelton. Samantha knew the opposite sex like the back of her hand. She knew very well that Peyton was seeing other girls. Why he could hardly keep them straight and once he had even called her Clarisse. Still, Samantha hated Edith Edelton for always being nasty about her and Nellie, thinking that she was better than everyone else, and for being pretty. Samantha wasn't used to much competition in the looks department and she didn't like it. Unfortunately, her riff with Edith had cost her possibly a wonderful man, who loved her.

She shook her head with shame as she had read the latest letter from Maude, mentioning that Peyton and Edith were engaged, with a date set for next summer, and the ceremony was to be unimaginably lavish, and held out in the Hamptons, where they would be moving.

"I can hear her playing," said Nellie as she and Eugene piled in from the cold January air, and into the warmth of the foyer.

"She practices hard," said Eugene. "I should be. I really need to get my act together music wise. I have been bad about practicing since moving in with Eddie, he's too noisy all the time, and keeps inviting me to do other things."

"Cornelia," Nellie greeted as Aunt Cornelia came into the foyer with Bridgette right behind.

"Nellie is that a boy with you?" Bridgette asked her eyes glittering at the chance to poke a little fun at her sister.

"Last time I checked," Nellie replied.

"Cornelia this is Eugene O'Reilly," Nellie introduced. "And this is my sister Bridgette. Don't mind her."

"A real boy," Bridgette gasped.

"Enough Bridgette," Cornelia laughed and shook Eugene's hand. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Eugene is studying at Columbia," Nellie put in.

"Oh my," replied Cornelia. She immediately thought of Samantha. That day when Samantha had arrived back in New York City, the girl had cried and cried on her shoulder. She knew who Peyton Denardo and Eugene O'Reilly were.

I can't believe Samantha wasn't all over this chap, she thought. He's as cute as well as handsome as can be with those big brown eyes. I know she at one point thought he was seeing Nellie, but I'm surprised she didn't jump into his arms at first sight. Peyton must be really something.

"We'll fix you some tea," offered Nellie as she took Eugene's coat.

"We just had coffee," Eugene replied. "I'll be up all night."

"Not Nellie," chirped Bridgette "She can drink a whole pot of coffee or tea and fall right to sleep."

"It just keeps me warm," Nellie replied. "Would you rather have hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate sounds grand," said Eugene. "I'd rather be on a sugar buzz than a caffeine one."

"I'll have Gertrude bring it into the parlor," said Cornelia. "Make yourself at home. Don't mind Samantha's practicing."

"Why she's playing Voiles!" Exclaimed Eugene.

"What's a Voile?" Asked Nellie.

"I think it's one of those avant-garde French masterpieces," Bridgette answered in an academic voice, pleased that she had learned a fancy new word at school, the same swanky school that Samantha had attended.

"I don't know if I should bother her," said Eugene. "What if she hates me? I shouldn't have come here."

"Samantha Parkington doesn't stay available for long," said Nellie. "You let Peyton take your chance this summer, don't let another gentleman take it now. She is not mad at you, if anything you should be mad at her."

"I could never be mad," replied Eugene. "I'm nuts about that girl."

"She is nuts," said Bridgette.

"Bridgette," Nellie said. "Why don't you go and get us some avant-garde cookies to have with our chocolate?"

Though Bridgette loved to tease her sisters, she did know when to stop. She curtsied to Eugene and then scurried off to the kitchen to pester Gertrude.

Eugene took a deep breath and pushed open the parlor door. Samantha was too caught up in the passion to notice that Eugene had walked in. Nellie hung back, to give them a few moments alone.

Eugene waited quietly standing behind her, watching as her fingers danced along the keys, he waited until she stopped before saying anything. Just the sight of her was angelic enough, but to see her making beautiful music struck a chord deep within him. Even if she did hate him, he vowed right then and there that he would die an old bachelor, for Samantha was the only girl he would ever give his heart to. He cleared his throat.

Samantha whirled around on the bench, to face him. Her mouth dropped completely open.

"Hello Samantha," Eugene said. "You sound absolutely lovely, you look lovely."

Gee that was lame, thought Eugene. That's the reason right there why I can't get a girl.

Samantha stared at him for a long time. She didn't know what to say. Usually she could always find something to say that would charm and flatter a gentleman, but for now she couldn't say anything. They sat silently. Finally Samantha patted the spot on the piano bench next to her.

"Come here," she said. "Sit. Let's play."

Eugene on weak knees made his way over to the piano bench,

They did more than just play piano.

Nellie peeped through the slightly open door, smiling to herself for Eugene and her sister as Eugene and Samantha exchanged a kiss. She quickly turned away embarrassed that she had peeped in on that. She thought that Eugene and Samantha were absolutely perfect. It was fate, meant to be. Why else would have Eugene transferred?

She knew that if she were ever to even approach Eddie Ryland again she would need much more than fate.