Waltz of Wings by the Regency Company 8/?

[kmf]

AN: standard disclaimers apply of course?we don?t own GW or P&P?::sigh:: fortunately we?ve formed a support group?anywayz?sorry for the long wait everyone?i take full responsibility? (the company made me say that..j/k) umm?much thanx to our readers and reviewers!!


Chapter 8 Waltz of Wings

By Miaka Mouse


Dorothy Catalonia had never been without a partner during a dance. And now, at one of the most important social functions of the year, she was most utterly humiliated. Her eyes roved around the room impatiently, finally stopping at the sight of one dashing Captain Marquise conversing with, of all people, the Noins. He must be profoundly ill at ease with such low class people. It seemed an interruption was in order.
It seemed, however, that she would not be the one to do the interrupting.
"Miss Catalonia, would you do me the honor of this dance?" Dorothy was startled out of her scheming thoughts by the polite voice of Quatre Winner. He bowed slightly and raised his hand towards hers. And perhaps, if he hadn?t looked so regal and elegant, if his eyes hadn?t glittered so blue, she would have refused him. Instead, she took his hand and let him lead her through the waves of dancing couples.
The muted colors of the ball-gowns blended and swirled within each other, giving the semblance of a living garden, with dancing flowers, full in bloom. They weaved in between and around their stationary partners dressed in black, a contrast to their vibrancy. The most striking pair of dancers were indeed an archetype to this contrast of gaiety and somberness. The woman, the brightest flower among the dancing garden, dressed in a gay yellow, stepped around her dark-haired, darkly-clothed partner, who stood stiffly as his companion floated gracefully around him.
Dancing was something Relena could never tire of. However, she was becoming quite impatient with her partner. A full five minutes had passed and he had still not uttered a word to her. She had noticed that he was not as talkative as he had been at her dinner party. Perhaps he did not think the bulk of the guests here worth the effort? Indignation coursed through her at that thought, and she could remain silent no more.
"Mr. Yuy, I believe that it is customary for partners to engage in some sort of conversation during a dance." Heero raised an eyebrow and continued to dance, weaving through the other couples before finally replying.
"Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine? For I myself am quite comfortable dancing in silence." (1)
"I am merely suggesting that it is common courtesy," she replied, irritated by his blatant lack of consideration.
"I have no regard whatsoever for this ?common courtesy?," he said, only adding to Relena?s frustration. She had thought as much.
"I wonder, Mr. Yuy, whether you should be quite so ill-mannered had you not your wealthy estate to make up for it?" Heero?s blood rushed in his ears, not in anger, but excitement at the passion in this amazing woman?s tone. It was not enough to leave him speechless, however.
"And I wonder, Miss Darlian, if you should be so loathe to marry had you not your own impressive fortune?" He supplied this statement with a smirk as the music slowly died down. He bowed to her as the dance ended never losing eye contact with his beautiful partner, but she only regarded him with a flushed face before turning away from him furiously. As she walked away, he could only watch with amazement and, to his dismay, admiration for this woman who would not have him.
~@~@~@~
Captain Merquise watched the golden-haired, golden-clothed woman stalk away from the throng of dancing couples. He had been watching her for most of the night, ever since his lovely companion had alerted him to who she was. When Relena was finally out of sight, Zechs turned his attention back to the dark-haired beauty beside him. She was glancing at him thoughtfully, and he feared he might have given himself away somehow.
Suddenly a draft swept through the room and Lucrezia shivered. Zechs raised his arm reflexively to wrap around her shoulders before realizing how inappropriate it would seem to both her and the other guests. He suddenly remembered that they were no longer children playing beside the lake. She did not remember him as the boy who had jumped in to save her when she had carelessly fallen in while playing. She had shivered then as well and he had wrapped his arms around her for warmth and protection and she had smiled that purely unaffected smile of hers.
The peal of the pianoforte broke Zechs out of his reverie as the orchestra commenced a lively jig. He bowed to his partner and led her to the floor, Lucrezia's blue eyes protesting all the way.
"Come now, it is not a difficult dance. One I am certain you have danced many times before."
"I--" she stammered, still hesitant about performing such an energetic dance. He smiled at her indulgently.
"Perhaps it will warm your blood a bit. The draft seems to have left your hands quite chilled." He grasped her fingertips lightly and she was suddenly struck by his uncanny resemblance to...
"Come on Lu! If you walk faster, it'll warm your blood a bit. Maybe you won't feel so cold."
A flash of sullied platinum hair and soft pale blue eyes, a smile that could convince her of anything.
Milliardo...
~@~@~@~
Duo rubbed his frozen hands together furiously, trying to bring the feeling that had left them as he had waved farewell to the newlyweds in this January weather. As he entered the Sandrock Inn, he was greeted by the innkeeper, who led him to the roaring fireplace where his friends awaited him. They stood to greet him, Heero shaking his thawing hand firmly while Trowa nodded in acknowledgment.
"Perhaps not the best time of year for a wedding," Heero commented wryly, referring to Duo?s cold handshake.
"I don?t know." Duo replied, laughing. "I believe it is a splendid season for marriage." Trowa raised an eyebrow.
"Indeed..."
"In fact, I think it is time we should have another such joyous affair, for I confess I enjoyed it immensely." Duo added as his smile grew wider.
"Your enjoyment was most likely induced by your company." Heero said with a smirk, silently recalling his own headstrong acquaintance.
At this remark, Duo?s countenance grew suddenly serious. The mischievous grin, replaced by a nervous twist of the mouth; the twinkle in his eye mellowed to a hopeful gleam.
"I am afraid you have hit the mark, Yuy. My companions were quite agreeable for the duration of the reception." He paused. "And on the carriage ride home, and the following morning at breakfast, at tea, at dinner..."
"You have become attached then?" Heero interrupted.
"Attached! If only it were so...Yuy! My heart-strings are sewn to her smile. I am convinced that I love this girl."
"By ?this girl? you mean Miss Hilde Noin, I presume."
"Would that she be Mrs. Duo Maxwell." Heero glared as Duo seemed to regain his usual impish demeanor.
"I suppose you could have done worse, Maxwell. She is, I grant you, very pretty."
"Very pretty? A fine concession. Come man, she?s an angel! " Duo exclaimed indignantly.
"And what do you intend to do about it?"
"I shall offer for her hand, of course." He replied enthusiastically.
"Why haven?t you done so already?" Heero asked pointedly. Duo offered a nervous smile and scratched his head.
"Ah...well...that is another matter." Trowa gave him a questioning look. "What if she doesn?t love me in return? What if she refuses me?"
"She doesn?t seem like a half-wit to me." Heero commented carelessly. Duo glared at him, trying to decide whether or not his beloved was being insulted.
"What are you driving at, Yuy?"
"You?ve five-thousand a year, an estate in Derbyshire and connexions throughout Britain. She?d have to be daft to refuse you."
"You forgot to mention my dashing good looks and winning disposition," Duo added, obviously flattered by his friend?s high opinion. "But if she doesn?t love me, then none of that will matter."
"Maxwell, you seem to be forgetting a very important detail. Her family is indebted to you. You have generously offered them one of your own estates as their home. You are her legal guardian, are you not?" Duo nodded hesitantly, not sure where Heero?s argument was leading. "They rely on you for their living. If she does not marry you for herself, she must marry you for her family."
"But I could never force her hand in such a manner..." Duo protested.
"If she does not esteem you in any regard, nothing could induce her to accept your hand." Trowa stated, gently.
"But I doubt that is the case." Heero wondered if any sign of his jealousy had crept into that last statement. He envied his friend?s situation. Heero himself had no such assurance when it came to his own attachment to Relena Darlian.
"Yuy, you are absolutely right. There?s no reason why she should refuse me. I think I?ll go over there right now and---maybe I should get some flowers first?or..." his voice trailed off as he walked out of the inn without so much as a ?good day? to his companions.
~@~@~@~
"We really must be on our way, Miss Relena." Lucrezia said, apogetically as she fastened her cashmere shawl around her shoulders.
"Then you will not stay for dinner?"
"Mother is by herself at home." She replied by way of excuse.
"You are welcome to join us in our meal, Relena." Hilde added, hopefully.
"Oh, you know I don?t like to dine without Father, Hilde. And we are expecting company for dinner." Dorothy, who was reclining lazily on a velvet-upholstered divan by the window across the room, glanced at Relena, suddenly interested in the conversation. "The young Mr. Winner called on us this afternoon. Father has been meaning to speak with him." Catherine, who was sitting in a stiff polished oak armchair at the foot of Dorothy?s divan, watched as Dorothy?s widened at the new information. She lifted her head from her reclining position and blushed suddenly at some unvoiced thought. "Will you at least let me drop you to your home in the carriage. It is frightfully cold outside. You may catch a chill," Relena posed to her departing friends. She smiled gratefully when they acquiesced, as if they had granted her a large favor. "Dory?" Relena hid a smile as Dorothy scowled at the childhood sobriquet. "Cathy? Won?t you come along? Cathy glanced at Dorothy, who spoke sharply.
"No, Rellie," she returned, "Catherine and I must prepare for dinner."
As the three companions left, Cathy turned to her overbearing friend.
"Dorothy, it takes you half an hour to dress when we stay in for dinner. I didn?t realize you considered Mr. Winner worth such attention." Dorothy looked away, deigning a reply.
"I do not know what ever gave you such an idea. The man is insufferably poor and of no consequence to me." She finally answered, indignantly.
"It did not seem so at the reception." Catherine insinuated. Dorothy?s eyes blazed.
"You are one to talk. I saw you chatting away with that?steward." She spit the final word out with a look of bitter distaste. "Really Cathy, I thought you would have cultivated some taste from my influence."
Catherine bit her tongue; an action she had grown used to throughout her ?friendship? with Dorothy. She would not give Trowa away, not now that she was finally able to see him again.
~@~@~@~
The carriage ride was relatively short and the three friends found themselves in front of the Lodge before they were even aware of the cold night air. Their conversation tended toward the subject of the wedding reception, more specifically the guests. While Hilde seldom strayed from the vexing behaviour of one Duo Maxwell, Relena and Lucrezia discussed the mysterious persona of Captain Zechs Marquise, who they both agreed was quite dashing. Lucrezia seemed a bit taken aback by Relena?s admission, and as they stepped out of the carriage, she questioned it.
"Do you really find the Captain so attractive?" She asked, concern creeping into her voice.
"Why Lucrezia! You sound almost jealous. He?s not so much attractive as he is worldly and mysterious. He seems almost like a character from a novel. I would very much like to make his acquaintance in a more formal setting." Lucrezia seemed somewhat satisfied with this answer, but still a bit perturbed.
"Perhaps you will come across an opportunity to do so in the near future. He and his company will be lodged in Buxted until February." With that, she ended the subject. "Won?t you come in for a moment? I?m sure Mother will be very pleased to see you."
Relena looked from the carriage to the Lodge, and nodded softly.
"Why not? I always enjoy speaking to your mother. Perhaps she will tell me more stories about my own."
~@~@~@~
Hilde had ventured into the house once the cold finally hit her and the conversation was no longer interesting. Once inside, she took off her bonnet and shawl and headed to the drawing room in order to warm herself by the fire. Upon entering the modestly furnished room, she was greeted by the subject of her previous conversation. Duo was sitting rigidly in a plush velvet armchair, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees, fiddling with his beautifully thick braid, and tapping his foot impatiently. He looked up as she stepped toward him and he sprung up out of the chair as if propelled by a hidden mechanism.
"Hilde!" he exclaimed joyfully, before composing himself. "Miss Noin." He corrected his informality and continued to speak, trying to control his tone carefully. "I?that is?" he stumbled over his words dreadfully before finally gaining his resolve at remembering Heero?s words to him at the inn. "Miss Noin, you must marry me at once."
"Pardon?" She half-spoke, half-whispered, trying to recover from her initial surprise at his statement. It was not quite the reaction Duo was hoping for but he continued anyway.
"I?m afraid you will have to marry me, Miss Hilde. Preferably as soon as possible," he grinned as he watched realization dawn upon her pixie-like features.
"Excuse me, sir, if I seem to have misunderstood you meaning, but are you commanding me to marry you?" Duo?s stance somewhat weakened at the anger creeping into her cheeks in rosy circles.
"A proposal, not a command, but if you think about it, there is only one fashion in which you may reply. It would be a most beneficial union for both of us," he almost pleaded as he watched her fists clench. "That is, I mean, the fortune could stay within the family, and as such bring your own mother and sister back to the status they had before you father?s untimely passing." He was rambling now, trying anything to get that look out of her eyes.
"Mr. Maxwell," she seethed, interrupting his rant, "In such cases as this, it is, I believe
natural that obligation should be felt, and if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you. But I cannot.(2) Neither can I accept your?proposal." Hilde had never felt so utterly degraded in all her life. That this man would propose to her, as if her were doing her a favor, as if he had come as some sort of an angel of mercy to rescue her from her pitiful state. Did he think that no man would ever want her? That her only opportunity at a respectable life would be to tie herself to this, this pompous, insufferable idiot who proclaimed himself her benevolent cousin. "If I had any inclination that this proposition were out of your own feelings in my regard I might have even considered it. But if this is only a means of easing your guilt at the inheritance you received from my deceased parent, let me inform you that you are grossly mistaken if you believe I will ever accept your hand."
"Wait, no, I, wait!" He grabbed her wrist. She glared at him indignantly. "I do love you! With all my heart. Heero told me I should?" The startling sound of flesh hitting flesh cracked through the air, and Duo stood stunned, his grip on her hand loosening, while his other hand went to touch his reddening cheek.
"Goodnight, Mr. Maxwell." She freed her hand from his and fled from the room. In her haste to get away from her suitor, she collided head-on with her older sister, who was accompanied by Relena. At the sight of them, Hilde burst into tears, recounting everything that had just occurred. Lucrezia embraced her sister and Relena?s face took on a look of determination that neither of the two had seen before.
~@~@~@~


1 & 2: direct quotes taken from Jane Austen?s Pride and Prejudice