Birth of Adam (Artificial Intelligence Book 2) (22 page)

When Amanda returned downstairs with Luke, her professors seemed more at ease now that they had stripped the first floor of all valuables.

Amanda looked at the boxes of wine placed by the dining room wine rack, then Bastion. “Are these from downstairs?”

“No, they are not from your wine cellar. You have nothing suitable in your collection to serve the indiscriminate palates of students. I sent Simon out to purchase appropriate wines.”

She found and thanked Simon for buying the wine and asked him how much it had cost. She was shocked by the low cost given the quantity of bottles.

“Wait until you taste it,” Simon warned.

When she tried to pay him, he shook his head. “Andrew covered the cost.” Before she could hunt down Andrew, Adam spoke in her ear and assured her Andrew had a credit card, which Adam covered, for such expenses.

She tried to help Sondra prepare the cheeses, but she was shooed away. She finally located Martin, introduced him to Luke, and asked her small friend if he’d help her teach Luke to play Mille Bornes.

Their fun ended upon the arrival of the European crowd. The students condemned the wine and cheese and declared the house no more than tolerable. They recalled her warning of heirlooms not to be damaged and loudly pondered what she thought was so fine.

The only way she could shut them up was to converse with them. And the only thing she had in common with them was music. She knew discussions on composition could not be interesting to Luke, but he never gave any indication that he minded.

Bresnan asked about her composition. “Have you made any changes?” He was smirking, probably thinking she hadn’t had any time to work on it. Had she and Simon not finished it early, before she was slotted to sing the aria, he would have been right.

“I have. Would you like to hear it?”

Bresnan sipped his wine and winced at its taste. “Actually, I would.”

When she walked to the piano, everyone stopped talking. She explained to Pinchot she had been asked to play the changes to her composition.

Pinchot’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t forbid her.

She pulled out the rewritten sheet music and sat down to play the piece. Pinchot stopped her. “Your playing is not up to the task. Let Bresnan play it instead.”

The young man took a moment to study the music, clarified a few notes and instructions, then began. She had been pleased with Simon’s playing, but Bresnan was magnificent. She applauded when he finished.

Bresnan turned and stared at her, clearly appalled. “You applaud your own music?”

She laughed. “No, silly, I’m applauding you. That was beautifully played.”

His expression changed to one of admiration. He approached, took her hand and kissed it. He then eyed Luke. “I challenge you to play it better.”

“I don’t think that’s even a possibility,” Amanda assured him. “Thank you for bringing my piece to life so beautifully.”

“It was a pleasure to play. I would like to use it at my next recital if you do not mind?”

“I would be honored,” she assured him.

Simon, overhearing her response, came to her rescue. “You must ask permission from Jules,” he warned her.

She sighed. “I would be honored—but allow me to ask Jules for his permission.” She walked over to Jules, who stood with Anon and Bastion.

“Jules, Bresnan wants to play my piece at his next recital.”

“No,” he replied.

“Why?”

“Because I said no. And why did I not know of this piece? Why are you always causing me trouble?”

Bastion placed his hand on Jules’ shoulder. “It is only a class assignment. How would she know it deserved your attention?”

Jules stormed across the room. He yanked the sheet music from the piano, ripped it in two and tossed the pieces into the fireplace. The room fell into complete silence.

“You will focus on your voice!” Jules demanded.

Amanda was very thankful when Luke’s arm went around her, for it gave her the strength to endure the humiliation and anger swirling inside her.

In an attempt to soothe her, Adam reminded her she still possessed the original version, plus he had recorded the song as Bresnan had played it, and could recreate the sheet music for her if she wished.

That did soothe her. While she had remembered the existence of the original copy, she hadn’t looked forward to rewriting it. She would never have remembered all the changes she’d made.

She finally looked up at Bastion. “I haven’t forgotten your offer. Does it still stand?”

He glanced at Jules. “Absolutely, but Jules is correct. Right now you need to focus on your voice. Will you sing the aria, so I can rest at ease that it remains perfect?”

“I’m a bit upset presently,” she admitted.

“I know, my dear, but you must be able to sing even under the worst of conditions.”

He was no doubt thinking of the hell she would endure on opening night.

“Should I consume some poison as well?” she asked, but neither Luke, Anon, nor Bastion seemed to think her question funny.

“Just sing,” he ordered.

She sighed and asked Simon if he would play for her.

He placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered, “You will gravely insult Bresnan if you do not ask him first.”

She returned to Bresnan and sat beside him on the piano bench.

The young man shook his head in dismay. “Sorry. I had no idea he’d react like that.”

“He was nicer in the States,” she softly replied. “When is your recital?”

“At the end of summer.”

“Well, I’ll try to change his mind by then.”

“Do you have a second copy?” Bresnan asked, his brow furrowed with worry.

She nodded.

He sighed with relief. “You would never have been able to recreate that as perfectly. Under no circumstances tell Bavard about the copy, or he will destroy it as well. From his reaction, I am certain your contract doesn’t include control of your compositions.”

“That’s true,” Adam said.

“I know. I was just trying to be courteous. Bastion wishes me to sing Don Carlos’ aria now. Would you be willing to accompany me?”

“Let me see the sheet music again. Assuming I’m not expected to follow your part, I might give it a try.”

A tug at her hand brought her attention to Martin, who had evidently been close enough to hear their conversation. “I would like to accompany you as well. I’ve been practicing.”

She kissed the boy on his forehead. “Then go get your cello.”

“So I’m being tossed off?” Bresnan asked, with more than a little annoyance in his voice.

“Study your sheet music,” she said, and stood, clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“We are going to perform Don Carlos’ aria. I have a cello and a pianist. Would anyone else like to join us?”

Mark had evidently arrived during her conversation with Bresnan. “Wait one minute,” he pleaded, and left the house.

Jules snared her arm. “Once again, you act without my permission!”

Luke placed his hand on Jules’ wrist. “Please remove your grip on Amanda’s arm.” From the speed with which Jules released her, she was certain Luke had used pain as a motivator.

“You’re fired. Get out!” Jules yelled as he cradled his right wrist.

“You didn’t hire me,” Luke reminded him. “I can’t stop you from scolding her, but you are not allowed to cause her physical pain.”

Jules’ skin flared red and his eyes narrowed even as he smiled. “Enjoy your song, my dear. It will come to nothing.” He stormed over and spoke softly to Bastion. She could tell from the head master’s increasingly furrowed brow that he did not like whatever Jules was saying.

Martin set up his cello while Bresnan worked through a few complex parts of the song with the assistance and admiration of the other pianists. Even Simon had migrated to the piano to provide advice.

Since Mark had not reappeared, she turned her attention to Luke. “My knight in shining armor.”

“I don’t like this situation,” he said.

“You see why I’m rethinking my singing career?”

He nodded, then frowned. “Isn’t that the young man who was in your room at college?” he asked as Mark rushed into the room, carrying his violin case.

“Mark Hammer, yes. I didn’t like him back then, but he turned out to be a very nice guy. He lived here with me until Jules made him go back with Beth. I expected her to come to the party just to cause trouble.”

She frowned as Jules approached Mark. Whatever the man said angered her friend. To her shock, if she’d read his lips correctly, Mark had just told Jules to fuck off. He then joined Martin and his cello.

“Amanda, you need to ask Bastion to direct, so this can be considered a school event and thus outside Mark’s contract,” Adam warned her.

“Monsieur Bastion, please direct your students, or we’ll never stay in sync.”

Bastion smiled and asked if she had a baton. Martin declared he did and ran off to find it.

Jules grabbed Bastion’s arm and was now sniping at him. Bastion removed Jules’ hand and cheerfully chided him. When Martin returned with the baton, Bastion’s mouth fell open. He lifted the slender wood from the boy’s hands and stared at it as if it were a treasure beyond riches.

“The baton belonged to Don Carlos,” Adam informed her.

With the musicians and Amanda poised and ready, Bastion spoke to the small but attentive audience. “When Don Carlos was alive, we often had impromptu concerts in his house, although never such a bold endeavor as this. Let us all aspire to perfection, but enjoy the journey as well. Allow only the love of music to occupy your heart. There will be no grade, no critique...all I ask of the musicians is that they do their very best, and of the audience that they open their hearts to the beauty and miracle of music.”

He then turned to his musicians, gave them a count, and Mark’s violin began, followed by the cello and piano. Ten bars later, Amanda entered and lost herself in the absolute perfection of the song, made even richer by the added instrumental tones.

When they ended the aria, Bastion approached her, kissing both her cheeks. “You have given me a gift I will never forget tonight.” Tears ran down his face.

Noticing the baton in his right hand, she wrapped her hands about his and gently squeezed. “Keep the baton to remember this moment.”

Amanda turned to her orchestra and first went to Martin, giving him a hug. “You were magnificent! When have you been practicing that?”

Martin smiled but remained mute with shyness. He glanced at Mark to rescue him.

“We’ve been working on the song since you auditioned,” Mark replied, and glanced at someone behind her.

She glanced back, fearing it was Jules, relaxing when she saw only her protector. “Mark, this is Luke,” she explained, then leaned in and whispered, “He’s my new security pretending to be my boyfriend.”

The relief in Mark’s eyes touched her.

“Where’s Beth?” she asked.

“You didn’t hear? Hamilton pulled the funding for the grants, and a foundation stepped in, but they required an audit to verify the grants had been properly assigned. When they discovered Beth had received a slot when she was not the next most qualified musician, she had to leave. We’re expecting her replacement tomorrow.”

“I’m happy for you,” Amanda said.

Pain flickered across his face, then he glanced at Luke. “I need to tell you some things, but this isn’t the place or time.”

Bresnan approached, beaming with pride. “Not bad, Hammer—we made the old man cry.”

“You made him very proud.” Amanda kissed Bresnan on the cheek.

“Don’t encourage Bresnan—he fancies himself a lady’s man,” Mark warned her.

“And you don’t?” Bresnan challenged. “And while I think you’re a complete moron for dropping Amanda, I give you points for telling Bavard to fuck off. If he drops you, I’ll talk to Chevaux. He hates Americans, but he’ll love your talent.”

“I appreciate that, but I think I’ve got my future squared away. I just need to focus on making my violin sound as perfect as Amanda’s voice.”

“What about you, Amanda? I’d make a call for you as well,” Bresnan offered.

“To be honest, I’m thinking about switching to composing.”

“Well, Chevaux handles some of the best composers in the world. However, you’ll need more training before he’ll take you on.”

Amanda laughed. “I should hope so. And when I acquire significantly more experience, I’ll call you up and remind you of your promise to introduce me.”

Bresnan glanced at Luke standing politely at her side, then leaned in so he could whisper in her ear. “Feel free to call me as soon as your friend goes home.”

She kissed him on the cheek and promised she would.

***

It was nearly four a.m. when the last students left. Her professors had stayed to the very end to ensure the house survived. Bastion asked if she wanted help returning the antiques to the first floor, but she assured him she would take care of it tomorrow.