I don't own American Girl! I'm not a very good writer, but if you want me to continue, I shall. I just love Sameddie

Samantha clasped her tiny hands behind her back as she waited for Grandmary to descend from the staircase. She looked like a queen, poised and cool in her rustling silk gown.

"You must be Elsa"

"Yes ma'am! Elsa De'Smithy's my name ma'am." Elsa replied with a stiff curtsy. She swiveled around to face Samantha.

"And… I'm Samantha" Samantha curtsied.

"Pleased to meet you ladies. Make yourselves comfortable on the sofa." Grandmary spoke as she settled down on an armchair.

"Would you like some tea?"

Elsa shifted on the dark green sofa.

"Oh no thank you ma'am. "

Grandmary set her teacup down onto the table. Without a rattle, Samantha noted.

"You will start work on Wednesday, Elsa. Welcome to my home"

Samantha nearly fainted from shock. Elsa the witch was going to live with her!

"Grandmary, why?" the little girl squeaked. Oh woe, these were the first words to her Grandmother that never wanted them to be!

"Children are to be seen and not heard" Grandmary sharply reproved. "Elsa is going to work for us from now on, and I shall hear no such other nonsense ever again"

"Yes, Grandmary"

Samantha sunk down on the sofa in shame as embarrassment and hurt washed over her.

The witch was never going to leave her alone.

The next day…

Samantha awoke to the sound of Lottie knocking on her door. "Miss Samantha! Come out, will you! Samantha! Breakfast's been ready already an hour ago!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" She stretched on her white fluffy bed. Resisting the urge to fall back on her warm soft bed, Samantha got up and padded to the wash basin. The previous night before, a servant named Lottie had showed Samantha her room and new clothes that Jessie, the seamstress, had made for her. They weren't as pretty as the ones that Papa and Mama gave her. The dresses were more practical, and not so frilly. Sam really missed her frilly clothes.

Lottie entered Samantha's room. "Have you chosen your dress yet, miss?

"Oh, maybe the blue one!

Lottie helped Samantha into her dress and slipped a pinafore over it. "You are very beautiful, miss. Do you like your first day here?" she inquired as she glided a comb over Samantha's locks.

"It is alright, well what I mean is that there are no girls to play with" the little girl pursed her lips.

Lottie laughed. She tied a bow on Samantha's hair and smiled.

"Don't worry, little girl. There will be plenty of playmates for you! You will be going to school this year, so do not worry!"

"Really? I would really like to meet them!"

"You have to eat your breakfast first, miss" Lottie smiled as she led Samantha down the stairs and into the dining room.

Grandmary was buttering her white bread as Samantha entered with a curtsy. "Where were you all this time? From now on, you will descend from the stairs at exactly 9 o'clock. Mercy, it's already 10! Where are your manners?"

"I'm so sorry Grandmary" Samantha looked down.

"Well, have a seat. You shall have your lesson in manners soon. Elsa told me that you were never educated in embroidery or housekeeping."

"No, ma'am, Mama wanted me to start when I was 7"

Grandmary sniffed disapprovingly.

"You will start school in the fall. I will instruct you proper behavior for girls in society. You will begin your piano lessons, 1 hour per day. After that, you may do as you like, but return and embroider with me the afternoon. "

The piano lesson wasn't hard. Monsieur Francis taught Samantha the basic keys and told her to practice them for him tomorrow. He was nice in a gruff way, and Samantha liked him. Pretty soon the hour of piano was over, and Samantha was free to do what she liked.

She skipped towards the entrance when Elsa called out, "Put on your coat, miss, it's chilly out."

Samantha impatiently waited as Elsa slowly walked to the closet and helped Samantha put on her coat.

"Mind you, stay away from the gardens" Elsa warned.

"Yes, ma'am" Samantha was happy to go outside and meet new friends.

The heavy mahogany door slammed behind her as she walked down the steps. Samantha decided to look at the rabbits in the hedge. Maybe a nice girl owned them, and she could be her friend!

"Hello!" Samantha softly called out into the hedge. Something rustled inside it.

"Go away!" a male voice called out.

Samantha jumped back. "Who's there!?"

"No girls allowed." Replied the voice, which made Samantha angry. She stepped forward and moved a few branches outside. A pair of blue-green eyes met her brown ones.

"I said go away!" the red-headed boy sneered again.

"Grandmary said I can do whatever I want to." Samantha put her hands on her hips.

"So you're the new girl, eh?" the boy squinted. "What's your name, girl"

"For your information, I'm Samantha.. and you should talk to me with respect because I am ..

"What? Very rich girl?" Eddie scoffed. "Eddie doesn't like stuck up rich girls."

"I hate you Eddie." Samantha glared.

"No girls allowed in the hedge." Eddie scooted away from Samantha in the hole.

"I can do whatever I want to" Samantha piped up, and peered inside. The hole in the hedge was large enough to fit two people.

"Well, too bad!" Samantha pushed herself into the hole amidst Eddie's struggle to push her out.

Eddie's POV

He had never met such a free-willing stubborn girl. She was so annoying! She had no business doing anything in the hedge….. and being alone with her kind of made him nervous and angry at the same time.

"Eddie! Come here!" Eddie's mother called out in her shrill voice.

Eddie threw a warning look at Samantha. She stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm not leaving"

"Coming, Mommy!" He threw Samantha one last look before he climbed out of the hole. "This is my spot, Samantha! No girls allowed!"

And that's how their lives continued until Samantha moved away with her uncle and adopted sisters to Mount Bedford.

PREVIEW FOR NEXT CHAPTER!

Fast forward…Eddie and Samantha when they're both 15

It was the next day after Elsa's discovery. Elsa hadn't said a word to Grandmary, of course. She was keeping the information as a weapon to use against Samantha at any moment. The ripped stocking had been mended by Minchy, who scolded Samantha for ruffing around.

After her conversation with Eddie, Samantha did not really want to talk to him.

"Sam, please wait!"

"What you want, Eddie?" Samantha asked coolly. The scorching hot sun did not help her state of mind.

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