The next day, life began to return to its normal state at The Meadows, as the staff labored to remove all traces of the ball. Pieces of furniture were moved back to their original locations, the yards of decorative fabric were taken down and carefully stored for future use, and the huge house was once again cleaned and polished to a sparkling sheen. Steven and Trevor resumed their normal duties, directing the planting and cultivation of the fields, overseeing the care of the livestock and buildings, and attending to the endless flow of paperwork required for running the large estate.
Amanda and Leanna enjoyed a much deserved day of rest before resuming their usual activities. The bond of friendship between them, while still new, grew stronger with each passing day. They soon learned that they shared a similar sense of humor, and it was not uncommon for them to dissolve into fits of laughter while they were busy collaborating on the numerous daily decisions that had to be made. There was no longer any friction between them concerning the planning of menus or the allocation of resources, and all the inhabitants of the plantation benefited from having two such clever women involved in running the household.
The estate flourished as never before. Even the elements seemed to conspire to help the Grayson family, providing just the right amount of rain and sunshine and moderate temperatures. Still, Trevor could not shake a growing sense of unease. Some nights as he lay awake long after Leanna was sound asleep. He experienced the same feelings of dread as a sea captain on a red dawn. In his gut, he knew that this was the calm before the storm.
To satisfy his protective urges, Trevor enlisted the help of the household staff, taking them into his confidence to ensure that his wife was never left entirely alone. He arranged it so that someone would always be nearby in case Leanna needed their assistance.
A week after the ball, Eliza sent a note asking to bring Miranda for a visit. Trevor was instantly suspicious of her motives, and his first instinct was to refuse. Though he couldn't voice his fears, he didn't want Eliza anywhere near his wife, he simply didn't trust her. However, Leanna wouldn't hear of refusing. With her gentle persistence, she persuaded him that a luncheon would be appropriate, and Trevor finally relented and allowed her to make the arrangements.
On the appointed day, Eliza arrived with Miranda, and for once, Eliza was respectful to Leanna. A delicious repast was shared, and then the family and their guests adjourned to the music room, where the tall windows afforded a picturesque view of the grounds in early spring.
Eliza was determined that Trevor should take an interest in the child, and she directed Miranda to sit beside him on the settee. Eliza extolled the child's virtues, gaily chattering about Miranda's interests and talents as Trevor, Leanna, Steven and Amanda politely listened, rarely able to get a word in edgewise. Under a thin veneer of politeness, Eliza managed to drop numerous hints and catty remarks, doing her best to get under Leanna's skin and undermine her relationship with Trevor.
Leanna remained unruffled as she let the nasty comments roll off her back. Sitting in a chair to Trevor's left, Leanna and made every effort to be hospitable. The fact that her husband was inclined to reach for her hand, often giving it a reassuring squeeze and her a warm smile, made Leanna's task of polite endurance considerably easier.
Throughout the afternoon, Leanna continually found her interest being drawn to Miranda. Almost against her will, Leanna was charmed by Miranda. The child was beautiful, obviously inheriting her delicately perfect features from her mother, but she was painfully shy. To Leanna, the reason for the child's shyness was obvious, for Eliza was forever stopping in mid sentence to chastise Miranda in strident tones. The child sat with her large, round blue eyes down turned and listened as her mother kept up a steady stream of dull conversation. When Miranda did chance to glance around, her eyes usually traveled to Trevor, and it was clear that she was curious about him.
Growing bored with her mother's monologue, Miranda eventually wandered over to the piano and looked wonderingly at the gleaming keys. Leanna followed her and gave her a warm smile when the girl began to sidle away. Leanna knelt down to be at the child's level. "Would you like to play it?" she asked her softly.
"Miranda," Eliza said harshly, "come away from there and for heaven's sake, don't touch the piano. I'm sure Leanna doesn't want your smudgy fingerprints on it." The last thing Eliza wanted was for Miranda to become friendly with her rival.
Leanna gave Eliza a cajoling look as she answered quietly. "Of course I don't mind if she plays it. Please let her."
When it looked as if Eliza were going to refuse, Trevor quietly intervened. "It's alright, Eliza. Leave her be." Trevor's tone was low but brooked no refusal, and he gave Eliza a warning look.
Eliza could hardly press the point without appearing rude. She gave Leanna a brittle smile. "Well, alright, but only for a little while, Miranda. Then, you need to come back over here and sit beside your Daddy." Not wanting Trevor's attention to be centered on Leanna, Eliza turned to him and resumed her prattle.
Ignoring the others, Leanna turned back to Miranda and smiled once more as she repeated in a kindly tone, "would you like to play it?"
There was a long silence, as Miranda watched her, trying to decide if she should talk to this beautiful lady. Just when Leanna had begun to fear that the child wasn't going to answer her, Miranda whispered in a barely audible voice, "I don't know how."
"Hmmm," murmured Leanna, with another smile. "I could show you, if you like."
This elicited the tiniest of smiles from Miranda, and she nodded her head in agreement. Leanna placed the bench where the child would be able to reach the keys, and they sat down side by side on the seat. Leanna showed her the correct way to place her hands, and Miranda curved her dimpled, chubby hands, doing her best to imitate Leanna's more elegant finger position. Leanna patiently showed her how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, speaking in encouraging murmurs and sometimes placing her hand over Miranda's to show her the notes. Slow progress was made, but after several minutes, the child was able to plunk out the tune by herself.
Miranda turned astonished eyes up to Leanna, obviously proud of her accomplishment. For the first time that afternoon, her tiny lips curved into a genuine smile.
"I did it," she whispered in awe.
Leanna gave her a glorious smile as she whispered a reply. "That's wonderful! I'm sure you are going to be a very talented musician."
Eliza was getting increasingly annoyed as she noticed that Trevor's attention kept straying to the pair at the piano. "Okay darling," Eliza said shrilly. "We're tired of listening to that endless pounding. Now come back over here and behave yourself."
Leanna noticed that Miranda's smile promptly evaporated, and she scampered to return to her seat beside Trevor. Leanna suppressed a sigh of irritation, and also went to rejoin the group.
The afternoon passed without further incident. As they all stood in the foyer chatting while Eliza and Miranda were preparing to leave, Leanna knelt down once more and smiled at Miranda.
"I hope you will come to visit us again."
Miranda gave her a shy smile and whispered, "Me too. I like you."
Leanna grinned, replying in a conspiratorial whisper, "I like you too." Conscious that Eliza was watching them with rising ire, Leanna stood up. Glancing first at Trevor, Leanna turned to Eliza and smiled hopefully. "Perhaps you would like to come again," she offered, spreading her hands palm up, "maybe in a week or two."
