In the music room, Sebastian Harrington sits at the piano, his fingers flying across the keys with technical perfection. The notes of Liszt's La Campanella fill the space with impressive speed and accuracy. Yet something essential seems missing from the performance.
Victoria watches from the doorway, nodding with satisfaction. "Wonderful, darling. Judge Montgomery won't be able to ignore your obvious superiority." She makes a note on her clipboard. "I've already spoken with the foundation board about your future at Juilliard."
Elsa passes the open door with a tray of tea, slowing involuntarily at the music. Her head tilts slightly, catching a missed note that no one else seems to notice. Sebastian concludes with a flourish, but Elsa remains transfixed in the hallway.
"Do you need something?" Victoria's sharp voice cuts through Elsa's reverie.
"No, ma'am. I'm sorry. I was just—"
"Just what? Eavesdropping?" Victoria steps into the hallway, closing the music room door behind her. "I need to speak with the scholarship committee about finding the 'right kind' of winner. Someone with the appropriate background and connections to represent the Harrington name properly."
Elsa nods and turns to leave, but Sebastian emerges from the music room, his expression darkening when he sees her.
"Was she listening to me practice?" he demands, looking at Elsa as though she'd committed a crime.
"Apparently, the help has developed an interest in activities beyond their station," Victoria replies, not addressing Elsa directly.
Sebastian steps closer, deliberately bumping into Elsa. The tea service rattles, and a leather-bound notebook falls from where she tucked it under her arm. Sebastian snatches it before she can recover, flipping it open to reveal pages of carefully copied sheet music.
"What's this?" His voice drips with mockery. "Are you stealing my music?"
"No, I was just... I like to study the compositions." Elsa reaches for the notebook, but Sebastian holds it above her head.