Victoria taps her pen against her clipboard. "I'll call the conservatory. Surely they have another student who could participate on short notice."
Later that evening, Elsa overhears Sebastian in the garden, laughing with his friends over expensive brandy stolen from his father's study. "It's actually perfect," he gloats, swirling the amber liquid. "Judge Montgomery practically promised me the scholarship after David dropped out. Said something about appreciating my 'years of dedicated training.'" He smirks. "As if I needed to practice for this pathetic competition anyway."
Rage burns in Elsa's chest, hot and unfamiliar. She retreats to her mother's room, finding Maria meticulously mending a torn tablecloth despite the late hour.
"Mom, I need to know about my father," Elsa says without preamble. "The whole truth this time."
Maria's hands go still. "Why now?"
"Because I'm tired of hiding. Tired of being afraid. Tired of watching people like Sebastian Harrington get everything handed to them while people like us..." Elsa's voice catches. "While people like us mend their tablecloths at midnight."
The silence stretches between them until Maria sighs, setting her sewing aside.
"Your father, Matteo, was a musical genius. A pianist like no other." Maria's eyes take on a faraway look. "He played for the symphony despite having no formal training. His talent was too extraordinary to ignore."
"What happened to him?"
"He met me. I was working as an usher at the concert hall." A sad smile touches Maria's lips. "We fell in love, married, had you. He was offered a prestigious position with a European orchestra. We were going to move, start a new life." She falls silent, fingers unconsciously creasing the tablecloth.
"And?" Elsa prompts.
"And Victoria Harrington happened." Bitterness edges into Maria's voice. "Her husband was on the symphony board. She took an interest in your father. The kind of interest a married woman shouldn't take in another man. When he rejected her advances, she made accusations. Used her influence to blacklist him."