Symphonies in E Minor

Chapter Eleven: The Secrets*

Ruhina invites Aaliyah the following day to a "tea party" and although Aaliyah isn't feeling all that up to it, Faiz is the one who retrieves her from her home and she cannot bring herself to say no.

He smiles at her sympathetically, but not with pity, and he waits patiently having appetizers with her aunt and uncle while she gets dressed. It's early in the afternoon. After the argument last night with Mr. Lewis and her both yelling at her aunt and uncle, she thinks her guardians are feeling sorry about it all. Her uncle Adonis even came to her room last night and apologized to her.

"We will find you a new chaperone," he'd said gently, embracing her.

"He said nobody would believe me," Aaliyah'd said angrily, hating the quiver in her voice.

"That is simply not true. I believe you. Your aunt does. Do you think you could tolerate Mr. Lewis until we find someone new for you? Until then, hasn't Lady Ruhina's husband been a good guide? And the Lady is never far off herself, so sometimes you don't even need a chaperone. I'm sure Mr. Styles would be a good one too."

Mr. Styles, he'd said. The man who blatantly rejected her so many times and she'd only properly noticed yesterday. His harsh words were alarming, but she also recalled that he'd rejected her a ride from the Opera House just as vehemently. "I dinna think he would," Aaliyah said, wiping her face. "Sometimes he's a gentleman and other times he's not."

Uncle Adonis opened his mouth to say something, but the words got caught in his throat. "I'm sure he must have a valid reason for his behavior at times."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. My daughter may be a gossip but I am not."

That had made Aaliyah smile and wipe the rest of her tears away.

So now, Faiz is sitting across from her in the carriage, tapping his fingers on his black cane. "I heard about what happened yesterday," he says cautiously.

Aaliyah looks at him sharply. "From Mr. Styles?"

He hesitates, shaking his head. His hair is so perfect, it doesn't move an inch. "No, he'd never speak about something like this. I mean from other people. News travels quickly sometimes. Oftentimes. It's a disease."

She nods, looking back out the window. "So I've been told."

"Will you be alright?"

"Aye, sir. I'm sure my spirits will be higher once I see your lovely wife."

Faiz taps his fingers on his cane again. "My lovely wife and my dear friend's sister as well. Clara will also be joining you later today. And so I will have Harry all to myself."

She wants to ask Faiz if he thinks she's done something to upset Mr. Styles. Or if he's unhappy with her because of her constant questions and annoying rants. She clenches her fingers in her lap.

"You're wearing leather gloves," she comments instead, looking away from the window, desperate to make conversation that doesn't mention Mr. Styles.

"I was riding before I went to retrieve you," Faiz explains. "From the horse straight to the carriage, so please excuse my appearance. Do you ride?"

"I love to," Aaliyah says, brightening. "My father taught me how to ride a horse when I was young and I was gifted my own horse on my birthday years ago. He's still in Scotland. But I havena had the chance to ride here very often. You see that my aunt and uncle live in a busy area. I dinna ken any places with open fields. And plus, I'm not accustomed to their horses. Taking the time to full acquaint yourself with a horse is very important and shouldna be rushed."