Symphonies in E Minor

Chapter Sixteen: The Wedding Invitation

Ruhina is trying very hard not to smile. Aaliyah feels her face grow hotter when she makes eye contact with her friend, and she makes herself look busy by watering the plants with her spray bottle.

"You're looking at me again."

"I'm only wondering, my sweet friend. How long will you go without speaking about it?"

Aaliyah swallows. "My mam says that it's best to haud yer wheesht about yer wants or else everything good falls apart."

Ruhina raises her well threaded eyebrows, putting her spray bottle down, walking around the row of plants she's grown herself in his greenhouse, concern on her face. "You think if you speak to me about it, it'll fall apart?"

Aaliyah puts her bottle down also. Ruhina has asked her to come over, two days after the near kiss with Harry, which Faiz interrupted. She's yet to hear anything from Harry, but she's also yet to send a message to him. She simply doesn't know what to say. Wouldn't it be too forward to say she regrets not being able to kiss him? And would sending a note be all right? She thinks she'd rather have this talk in person. But then this awkward silence between them stretches on. And he's put her playing to rest for the week, therefore unless he seeks her out, it'll be hard to see him again.

At the same time, there aren't nearly enough words or parchment papers she could use to describe how she's feeling. How she feels her stomach fluttering when she thinks about that day in the powder room.

Above all, how can she tell him through mere ink that for the first time in months, she felt as if she belonged somewhere, even if it were as silly as a powder room with a man. How can she tell him through the few words she can manage in a note that she felt something different than simply lust in that moment, something she's been scared of for the longest time in fear of the events occurring as they had in Scotland.

Being around men is tricky. Being around them alone is especially tricky, and although she's happy Harry is her friend, she can't help but think there's something more beneath that lust she feels when she sees him. There must be a reason why she feels excitement whenever he's mentioned in mere passing in conversations, and when she nearly stumbles over herself when she's out and she sees the similar tall stature of a man who looks slightly like her instructor.

And before she speaks to him again, she must gather her thoughts and give him something to work with. Make a plan about how to move forward.

Because she does not regret it. And she hopes he does not either.

Aaliyah wrings her fingers nervously into her skirt.

"Aye. There isna much to speak about anything. We didna kiss."

Ruhina smiles. "But you wanted to."

"Aye. And he did too, I ken." She smiles slightly. "Your husband mucked that one up, he did."

"You're not upset with us?"

"I canna say I'm pleased. But," she says, "perhaps something good will come out of it."

"But you haven't seen him since?"

"No."

"Shall I force him to come over?"

"No, no," Aaliyah laughs. "Dinna fash. I think I shouldna say anything to him unless he does first." She picks up the spray bottle again, wiping her wet hand on her apron, before beginning to spray water on the neglected plants once more.

"It's complicated for the both of you, though. Maybe if he doesn't say anything, you should."

"Have you noticed that he doesna like to talk about his personal relations? I mean, he barely talks about his sister now that she's not here. And he has older brothers too, but it wasna him who told me. I overheard it from other people. He seems so private and I dinna wish to force him to talk to me."