Symphonies in E Minor

Chapter Eight: The Sister

Pieces played in this chapter: Ballad No. 4 in F Minor Op. 52 (Chopin)

Her chaperone isn't here today. Harry didn't have any plans on asking about it, but she blurts it out when she arrives in the drawing room as if she needs to explain herself before he starts assuming.

"He isna here and I lied to my auntie and uncle telling them Ruhina would be here also. I'm a liar but I really wished to come to this lesson."

Harry begins to say that she hasn't even said hello to him before he realizes just what her words mean. "Will he not be coming along at all?"

"I dinna think so. I dinna ken where he is, sir, and I didna want to make a big deal out of it and I tried to look cool while telling them her Ladyship would be here and she's been to my house so they've seen her and I do believe they trust her."

"Breathe," Harry instructs, also barely understanding what she's saying. It seems like in moments of frenzy, her accent gets thicker and she speaks impossibly faster. "I'll see what I can do to ensure you're home safely."

"I hate," she continues, not breathing, "not having my chaperone. I despise it and I despise this."

"Hey. Listen to me. Breathe," he repeats, more firmly. "And sit." When she doesn't, he reaches out cautiously and touches her elbow, grasping it gently to pull her down to a seat. He releases her immediately after.

She looks completely overwhelmed with her wide eyes and her slanted eyebrows. She's dressed like normal, but her braids are out today instead of pulled back into a bun, and she's nervously twisting her gloves. She's still breathing hard and his own chest hurts from the lack of air she's taking in. He calls Roger.

Roger fixes her a large glass of water which she nearly inhales. But it leaves her with the hiccups.

Harry sits across from her, giving her the space he thinks she needs while also keeping an eye on her. It doesn't seem like she's about to burst into hysterics, but just in case, he places some tissues on the table.

He's thinking of the consequences just like her, but he's thinking of her reputation while she's most likely considering her safety. After her lengthy ramble about being in a foreign country surrounded by the people who lived in her country to police and use fear as tactics, he thinks it'll be hard to get her back home all alone, and the thought isn't very attractive to him either.

He holds himself back from offering to take her home himself because she won't be able to come back from the damage that would do. Not in this society.

Aaliyah stands up, pacing back and forth wringing her gloves in her hands, still hiccuping. This is the longest she's ever been quiet. It's unnerving. Does she think something will happen between him without Mr. Lewis here to be a barrier?

Harry repeats, "I will make sure that you do not go home alone, Miss Kincaid."

She glances at him. "You'll come with me?"

Oh, perhaps she doesn't think so low of him after all.

"I'm going to strongly advise against that, knowing how rumors begin and spread, and I won't allow you to be a topic of gossip."

"I dinna care about that, sir. I value other things over gossip."

Her round eyes are still wider than usual and her nervous movements increased. She only continues to pace until he steps in front of her and stops her from moving.

"Maybe things are different in Scotland," Harry says, "but that's now how it works here. These rumors will destroy your life. I will find you someone to go home with and I will make sure they're trustworthy."