Summer At Biltmore

Chapter 3

I step onto the back balcony, I thought the view from the front of the house was beautiful. In the back you see mountains for as far as the eye can see. It just goes on and on and on. You could think that the rest of the world just consisted of these mountains. I turn to notice Cornelia walking toward me to greet me. She entwined her arm in mine and walks me to my seat. She is just the perfect lady. I could never imagine her being mean to anyone. I looked down at the table to see clear crystal glasses and a large pitcher of tea with ice in it. I guess it was too warm for traditional tea. She dismisses the maid that was there to assist us. She served the tea herself. Putting a slice of lemon into the bottom of the glasses and pouring the cold tea on top of it.

I turned my head back to look at the rolling mountains. "You know you can see the mountains from your room." The words she used should sound harsh, but she infact said it in a informative sweet way. "I have not been able to look out my window yet, I spent the whole hour unpacking. Also my curtains were closed when I got there. I will have to open them when I get back so I can look out all the time. Its just so beautiful. it must be amazing getting to look at this everyday." She turned slightly more toward me before answering. "It really is beautiful, but I would love to live in New York for a while. It must be amazing having all the bustle of city life. I hear New York is the most amazing city in the world." I smile. I can't believe she thinks I live in the greatest city in the world. "Well yes, but sometimes you want the quiet beauty of the mountains. I guess both of our places are amazing in their own way."

We continue to sit, talk, sip our tea, and watch as the sun starts to set beyond the never ending mountains. Dinner is going to be served soon so we say our goodbyes with hugs and go back to our rooms to get ready.

When I arrived downstairs at the table. Everyone was talking. You would think it would be awkward but it was nowhere close to that. Soon the conversation is turned to me. "I hear you like to write poetry." I never knew Mr.Vanderbilt would take interest in my writing. "Yes, probably not very good. I just do it for myself. Put my feeling to paper in the form of poetry." George leaned back into his chair. " Well tomorrow morning I will send some poetry books up on your breakfast tray. It may help you. Most was written by some of the best poets in the world. Who knows, someday some of your poems can be in it." I smiled. "Thank you for seeing my potential."

We finished dinner and chatted some more before we all went back to doing our own things. I was inspired to write and I knew my father would be with George and my mother will be with Edith. Maybe I could spare some more time with Cornelia. I catch up to her. She seems in a rush. I almost feel that maybe she won't have time for me tonight. "Cornelia, I was wondering if you could show me around?" She turns to me and smiles. "Not tonight Lily, I have music lessons." She turned back and continued her climb up the stairs to her room.