Symphonies in E Minor

Chapter Two: The Agreement

Pieces played in this chapter: Ave Maria, S. 558 (Franz Liszt) and Waltz in E-Flat Major (Mikhail Glinka)

The first day of the new year is dreary, dark clouds framing this portion of Manchester as far as the eye can see. It's the dull calm before the disaster, or in this case, the blizzard advancing towards them. The roads aren't as empty as they should be prior to this snow storm, and instead, people are gathering at shops to buy the last bit of resource they can before becoming locked into their homes. Men and women, children and apprentices alike are rushing through the streets to grab the essentials and head home: wool blankets, snow boots, thick scarfs, and vegetables that have had a late harvest. Large sacks of firewood are slung over backs, women carrying groceries alongside their children who look up at the barren sky with a twinge of excitement.

Harry watches from his carriage the next morning as he journeys back to his estate. The view reminds him of his own younger self who would also feel that bright excitement sparked in his chest the evening before an impending blizzard. The opportunities to play in the snow would be endless. His legs would sink into the fluffy snow, and he'd dramatically fall into it, staying there for hours alone, simply playing by himself with the other boys and girls formed in tears to play together.

He never enjoyed the idea of playing together, even with people his age when he was younger, because it would be incredibly impolite to reject a friendship at such an age. The times that he did, before his mother intervened and barred him from being so rude to the neighbors, he'd hide away in some corner of the estate to talk with himself, create his own characters, and enjoy his own company.

When he arrives home, he takes a long, hot bath to relieve his stiff muscles that have frozen from the frigid weather.

It's often hard for him to sleep anywhere except for his chambers, so the sleep that finds him that night is enticing and deep.The temperature in his chamber is simply perfect, one window cracked open, the lights outside hidden by the thick curtains. His take, he strongly believed, adds to his comfort impeccably well, and he's become too accustomed to it. Laying in any other chamber simply doesn't work for him.

He's spent the last night tossing and turning in Faiz's guest chamber, and of course his friend did not listen to his request about staying quiet. The walls are not thin, but Faiz and Lady Ruhina also have no regard for their guests it seems.

Harry thinks back to his own near engagement half a year ago that night. His intended fiancée was always plagued by the presence of a chaperone, even during walks through her garden where it was supposed to be just the two of them. How can it be that Lady Ruhina doesn't have the same dilemma when frolicking about with her betrothed?

Harry recalls objecting greatly to the chaperone that always trailed behind Lady Emilia. He understood the need to protect her virtue, and that's not what disturbed him. The reasoning was simple: it was too awkward. It was painful already to endure the company of a woman he didn't have a lick in common with, but also to entertain the idea of an outsider's ears listening to him converse with said woman.

Harry doesn't know how he ever forgave Faiz for setting them up, and it would make sense to be angry at his friend, however, the issue was only with himself.

He doesn't care that she's found herself a husband so shortly after leaving him, but it does still greatly anger him how she ruined his reputation. All with a few lies in a few papers. Brutal lies.

Harry spends the day circling between his pianos in his home to see if he could begin another composition. After dinner, he decides that today isn't the day for that miracle and so he goes to bed with his stomach full and heart heavy.