Symphonies in E Minor

Chapter Fifteen: The Daydreams*

Welcome back everybody :) Shall we dive back in?

***

Faiz looks between Harry and Aaliyah, something he's been doing for the entire carriage ride. He looks pensive but also as if he's formulating a statement in his mind, most likely to disturb that quiet peace. Aaliyah smiles at him. Ruhina, sitting across from her husband, gives him a gentle kick and says, "It's not nice to stare, darling."

"Enjoying the view, are you, Harry?" Faiz asks him. Aaliyah glances over at Harry, who's looking at Faiz with dead eyes, his lips thin and unimpressed.

"The view?" Aaliyah asks when Harry doesn't answer. She looks out the window at the countryside, the grass dead and the trees bare. "There isna view here, sir. Unless you like the barren landscape." She peers at Harry, leaning in, happy to find something to converse with him about. "That's what you like, sir?"

"No."

"Oh." She settles back into her seat. "All right."

She's not sure why there's a weird tension between Faiz and Harry. She thought the tension would be between her and Harry, but luckily, he'd arrived at her door early this morning, telling her in a quiet voice that breakfast was ready and that they'd be leaving soon after. He had nothing but kindness in his eyes, and his voice was nothing but gentle. The arm he offered her as they descended the staircase with young boys behind them holding their trunks was also nothing but gentle.

He didn't speak much after that. In fact, after he announced that the carriages were ready to depart, he didn't say much else. There's a peaceful look on his face, though, while Aaliyah knows now it is because it's quiet this morning.

Faiz and Ruhina haven't said much either. She suspects it's due to how fatigued they both look. When she peeks at Harry, she notices he too has dark circles under his eyes, but he doesn't complain. She wonders why he didn't get good sleep.

"Seems like we all didna sleep well," Aaliyah comments, frowning. Harry's eyes skate over to hers.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did, though I would have liked to sleep many more hours."

"The party lasted long last night. We're all tired from the dancing."

Faiz brightens. "Speaking of dancing. Aaliyah, I must congratulate you. You managed to get my dear friend to dance. For that, you deserve a reward. Why don't we all go back to my estate and have lunch?"

Aaliyah mulls it over. "Sir, today is Monday."

"Yes, and?"

"Well, Harry and I have lessons on Mondays."

Harry sits up. "There's no need to have lessons today. You must be tired. Go home and rest."

No lessons?

"But you promised me Mondays and Thursdays, sir."

He frowns. "Surely you must be tired."

"Am not. Are you?"

"Well." He frowns deeper. "Not exactly. But we can have a make-up lesson tomorrow."

Aaliyah doesn't wish to wait an entire day to see him again. She's here with him now. She danced with him. Thought of him all night long. She wants to be with him right now and for the day.

"You said Mondays."

His eyebrows raise. "I did."

"Dinna walk back on your promise," she says with a sweet smile. She turns to Ruhina. "Perhaps we all can have lunch at Harry's."