by Anna Adams
That day, Harriet was as radiant as a young woman of her station could allow herself to be. She no longer worried about her age or Peter’s. Her happiness was complete, her road to the White House a sure thing, she thought as she fondly stroke her diamond ring. Just a matter of time.
The Baldwin girls left their wedded cousin to her blissful illusions and decided the only way to get through the day was to stay away from their new acquaintances as much as possible.
But around five o’clock, an unexpected event occurred.
Jazmine, Cynthia, and Maude were dancing, free as bumblebees, when Jazmine froze.
Jonathan walked to them in jeans and a T-shirt, holding a bouquet of red roses. For passion. Or so he thought.
“What are you doing here?” Jazmine asked.
“I miss you.” It was as simple as that. No grand declaration, no overwhelming speech, just three little words.
“Doesn’t Harriet have security?”
“She does. But they took pity of me when I told them my goal was to win back the only girl I’ve ever loved.”
“Laura isn’t here,” Jazmine crossed her arms across her chest.
“I wasn’t speaking about Laura.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“Are you still seeing that movie star?”
“So that’s what this is really about? That’s been over for months.” It wasn’t surprising that Jonathan should be apprised of this gossip months after it was all over.
Relief swept over Jonathan. He handed her the bouquet.
Jazmine made no gesture to take it.
“As an artist, I love a good scene. I could stamp my feet, take your bouquet, and throw it in your face, I could tell you how badly you acted, how you broke my heart, twice. Instead I’m giving you five minutes to leave the premises quietly without a fuss.”
Jonathan hesitated, but Jazmine’s set face decided him. He dropped his bouquet and turned heel.
“Jazmine, I’m proud you acted with such uncommon restraint. That is very mature of you,” Cynthia patted her on the shoulder.
“Mature? Try selfish. How long would Peter have lectured us about behaving properly in public if we’d embarrassed him in front of his political friends at the Plaza?”
“Him and Harriet lecturing us together. That’s how it’ll be from now on,” Maude added with a shudder.
“At least we won’t have an annual ‘why don’t I have a husband?’ sorrow fest.”
“I enjoyed it. I only saw it once. Too bad.”
“Well, we’re three single gals now,” Jazmine acknowledged.
“ And proud of it,” Cynthia added.
“A future kickass lawyer, a singer, and a future rock star. That last one’s me.” Jazmine lifted an imaginary glass.
“To us Baldwin/Laurent gals! We rock!” The three girls toasted, their imaginary glasses gleaming under the sunlight.
“We should toast to something else, too. I received an envelope this morning from Lexie. She renounces her rights to write a book about me. She seems to ignore she had no rights from the start, but whatever. She sent a signed contract, and she even sent me the manuscript. No one will know a single detail about my life in Carvin.”
“How is that possible?” Cynthia asked.
“I have no idea. She said she had bigger fish to fry or something like that and that she wanted to respect the peace of the recently dead.”
The girls toasted again, a bit dazed this time.
The party lasted well into the night, but when the Baldwins returned home that night, they were greeted by an unpleasant surprise.
“What are all these people doing here, Dad?” Jazmine asked pointing towards the crowd gathered in front of the Baldwin house.
Her question was soon answered.
The reporters noticed the taxi filled with half of the Baldwin clan and rushed to it. They banged on the roof, against the windows, their faces smashed against the glass panes.
“There she is!”
“Maude, is it true your relationship with Thomas Bradfield was a hoax?”
“Are you and Thomas really dating, or have you been lying all this time?”
A thousand questions fused in confusion before James ordered the driver to leave. He drove away with caution, avoiding the more fearless elements of the crowd who brazenly stood in the car’s path. Other reporters held on to the door, banging the windows, taking pictures, and calling to an agitated Maude, attracting her attention at any cost.
Maude was too stunned to say anything.
What she’d feared had happened. Yet again scandal followed her trail.
“Take us back to the Plaza. We’ll stay there for the night.”
“Cool!” Jazmine exclaimed. “I mean, you know, not cool,” she toned down her enthusiasm.
“I’m sorry, Maude,” James soothed.
“Who told?” Jazmine asked.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Alan were behind this.”
“Or Lindsey,” Maude put in. Either one was capable.
They spent the night at the Plaza to Jazmine’s delight, but Maude remained in a restless state of agony. The morning after, a loud knock rattled against Maude’s door. It woke Maude up with a start. She rubbed her eyes. She’d had another nightmare with Mrs. Ruchet in it. She should probably get used to them. It was her penance for denying peace to a troubled soul on the threshold of death. Maude opened it, expecting room service, but seeing instead a tall and stately Ms. Tragent.
“Glad you’re up after the night you’ve had.” It wasn’t the first time Ms. Tragent saw Maude in pajamas, and Maude easily got over her initial embarrassment.
Ms. Tragent entered the room and shut the door firmly behind her.
“We have important things to talk about. Many opportunities are before you Maude.”
“What kind of opportunities? I only see scandal.” Maude slumped her shoulders and dropped her body on her bed like a potato sack.
“Perhaps in your pop career. But your performance in Aida impressed people.”
“Were you impressed?” She felt that mattered more to her than any other strangers.
“Maude, when will you learn to stop caring about what other people have to say about you? What do you want to hear? That you were great? You’ve probably heard it a thousand times from other people by now. That your performance was atrocious? There’ll be plenty of people to tell you that if you pursue a classical music career.”
“I don’t have a classical music career to pursue.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Two prestigious music schools are interested in completing your musical education. One is Julliard in New York, the other is The National Academy of Arts in Paris.”
Rebecca Sylvester’s school.
“Paris versus New York yet again,” Maude whispered. “Don’t I have to pass an entry exam?”
“Not after what they saw that night.”
“Representatives of each school were present that night?”
Ms. Tragent nodded.
“Just for me?”
“Not just for you. The arrogance of the young mind. I have my own affairs to manage as well.”
“But you knew they were coming and didn’t tell me?”
“I believed in you, and I was right.” And Ms. Tragent loved being right.
“Ms. Tragent, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
“To which one? And will they allow me to pursue a pop career? We’re about to launch my international career with Soulville.”
“I don’t know if they’ll let you have both. Remember Nathan Leopold. Some people in the classical world are ten times worse than he is. But it’s up to you to decide if you’re up for the fight. If you’re willing to do what it takes to get both. However, it doesn’t seem as if the pop world has been very kind to you of late.”
“And a new scandal is brewing,” Maude added. Escaping to Paris seemed like a good idea.
“You should
take some time to think it over. Do whatever feels right.”
Ms. Tragent paused, her eyes resting over her beloved Maude’s troubled head, before letting herself out.
Maude remained on lockdown at the Plaza for two days. Then, she decided it was time to organize a press conference to explain her Thomas situation.
That day, Thomas came in the hotel looking for her.
“Before you go through with that conference, I just want you to know that you don’t have to tell the truth or rather we can turn this lie into truth. What I mean is, why don’t we really go out? You and me.”
“Thomas, your offer is tempting. Escaping scandal yet again. But this wouldn’t work. I’m sick of lying, I’m sick of my life being dictated by the paparazzi. I will tell the truth, no matter the consequences. I will face retribution if I have to. I’ll leave you out of it, if you want. I’ll say I was the only one who schemed and you knew nothing about it.”
“I won’t let you do that. I know you think my ambition has no bounds. But I’m here to prove the contrary.”
Maude nodded and squeezed his hand grateful for his support.
“This is it,” she said.
Maude walked into the room full of buzzing reporters. She took a seat next to her Uncle James.
“I want to thank you all for coming. Considering the circumstances I will be short. I did date Thomas Bradfield to promote my career. I was ill advised, but I went with it anyway. I am truly sorry for my actions and hope you’ll find it in your hearts to forgive me. All of you and all my fans. I hope you’ll eventually be able to trust me once more. Do you have any questions?”
Reporters yelled out questions in confused excitement but only one retained Maude’s attention. A reporter in a blue baseball cap and jeans stood up, holding a Dictaphone in one hand, and Curiosity in the other.
“After your triumph with Aida there’s been talk about you pursuing a classical career. What of it? Will you pursue both a classical career and a pop one or will you abandon one altogether? Will you move back to Paris or stay in New York?”
Maude smiled. The world was at her feet no matter what she chose. And she knew what she wanted.
She leaned towards her microphone and whispered her answer.
The French star had spoken.
*****
Other titles
A French Princess in Versailles (The French Girl series, #3)
Determined to escape a failed pop career and focus on her classical training, Maude Laurent moves back to France and enrolls at the prestigious National Academy of Arts.
Between balls, concerts, and navigating in the French elite, Maude has to prove she’s cut out to become a professional opera singer in a world where pop music is regarded with disdain.
Though she fights it, her past catches up with her when she meets an English teacher who takes her down an unusual musical journey where the risk is great and the reward uncertain and forces her to see a world beyond the safety of the Academy. When a chain of events bring her and Matt back in the same town, Maude will learn that music can bring people closer or tear them apart forever.
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Aria’s Journey (The Aria series, #1)
Fifteen-year-old Aria Thompson has always dreamed of studying opera in France and with her unique voice she knows she’ll be a star one day.
When she’s accepted at the Académie Nationale des Arts-the National Academy of Arts, she leaves New York despite her father’s disapproval and moves in the Academy’s beautiful castle in Versailles.
But between her rivalry with the cute and popular Maxime who dislikes Americans, her rebellion against the school’s ban on pop music and her discovery of Paris and Versailles, Aria will have to fight to find her true place in the opera world.
Aria’s Journey is available for preorder at half-price for a limited time right here!
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About the Author
Born in France, raised partly in the United States and in France, I grew up loving stories in French and English. I currently live in Paris.
I’m the author of the French Girl series and the Aria series. When I’m not writing, I enjoy traveling in Europe and dream of going to Asia and Africa.
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