Waltz of Wings by Regency Company 10/?

[Sailor Celaeno]

The company has now shrunken to just Sailor Celaeno and Patty. Here is the missing chapter 10. *sweat drops that she has to go write chapter 12*

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Duo returned to the Inn not long after leaving his cousins. He sadly thought over his proposal. ?I was a fool,? he concluded. ?Not for asking her, but for not speaking what was in my heart. If only she knew how deeply I felt for her?? he sighed as walked towards his quarters.

Trowa was sitting silently in a chair by the fire. He was reading a book and held a serious expression on his face. Duo silently watched his long-time companion. Though the man was not above his own age, there was something in that man that comforted him. Through the best and worst of times he had someone to turn to for advice. Heero was also the truest friend, but after the last conversation with Heero, it convinced him that Heero was the last person he should turn to again for affairs of the heart. Duo cleared his throat.

?Maxwell,? Trowa glanced up from his book. ?I was not aware you had returned.?

Duo offered a pleasant smile as he often did. ?I see that you were quite distracted, but I am certain that anything that is able to distract you must be something very fascinating indeed.?

Trowa offered his friend a slight smile. ?Of course Maxwell. If you are very curious I was reading a book of poetry.?

Duo reached out his hand and Trowa offered the book to him. ?Poetry? I did not think you were fond of poetry.?

Trowa seemed a little unsure of how to respond to his friend?s comment. ?This volume had been recommended to me. When I saw that the town book store had this very volume, I procured it.?

Duo smiled again. ?May I ask who was the one who suggested this volume to you?? Duo was burning with curiosity as to who Trowa spoke to. Trowa was not the sort of person to converse with others to easily, and it wasn?t very often that he would take the advice of a stranger on what literature to read. Duo was reflecting on who it could have been.

Before Trowa would have to give an answer, Heero entered the room. It was a fortuitous entrance by their mutual friend. ?I see you have returned Maxwell.?

Duo sighed as he sat in his seat. He lost his interest in conversation.

Heero frowned. ?I understand you. I would have thought that Miss Hilde would have thought better.?

Duo replied. ?Miss Hilde acted rightly by refusing me.?

?Indeed? Why may I ask?? Heero walked closer towards his companion. He hands were clasped together behind his back as he slowly approached Duo.

?While my intentions were true and good, for Miss Hilde I behaved abominably. I deserved no kindness for my inappropriate words. As I reflect upon her speech, I have lost all respect she may have had for me.?

Trowa decided that this was the best time to speak. ?Maxwell, though Miss Hilde is a spirited young woman, I doubt that she will be bitter and angry for long.?

?Are you so very certain? How can you be? I have nothing left that may recommend me to her.?

Trowa continued. ?Any lady capable of kindness cannot be unkind to one who is, in turn kind. It would be prudent for you act as benevolently as possible.?

?I don?t understand. I do not wish to patronize them for being disinherited because of the law. It would only pain them, and make me more disagreeable in Miss Hilde?s eyes,? Duo spoke with some protest.

?You misunderstand me. Not patronize, but demonstrate that you are not only kind, but you shall remain kind towards them always. You feel true regard for you relations, therefore I suggest that you behave no differently from before. In fact, I believe that you should do as much as you can to aid them in their needs. A man in love with a special woman would not refuse to help her and her family at their darkest hour,? reasoned Trowa.

Duo thought for a moment. ?I shall be her devoted friend for all her life.?

*****

Hilde walked along the peaceful garden path of High Ridge. She wore her bonnet as demurely as she had always done. She smiled as the warmth of the sun bathed her that cold winter afternoon. She promised only a short walk as Lucrezia was worried for her health. Hilde argued that her low spirits caused by a disagreeable event made her more desirous of a short turn about the garden. Relena was also a little hesitant, but she could see that Hilde truly wished a moment to think. If only Hilde could just move past Mr. Maxwell?s incorrigible speech to her on her obligation to marry him. ?Me marry him? For what? Just so my family can have money? Of all the arrogant, conceited?? she mumbled to herself.

She stared at the small evergreen bushes that the Dorlians had in their garden. She sat at the small bench in the garden. She wondered what could have possessed that man to speak to her in such a callous manner. She had enjoyed his company as best as any woman would. He was pleasant, jovial, and kind. Yet why would a man of such good quality speak to her of obligations and duty? ?I don?t understand you at all Mr. Maxwell.?

Hilde soon returned to the house and was greeted by an under-butler who offered her an envelope. ?A servant from the Sandrock Inn delivered this letter for you, Miss Noin.?

?Thank you Richard,? Hilde said as she accepted the letter. The servant bowed and left Hilde. She saw that a drawing room near by was empty and she made her way into the room. She sat by the mahogany table and opened the letter that clearly bore the writing of Mr. Maxwell. Though she had no interest in speaking to the man, she could not hold back her curiosity.

Dearest Miss Hilde Noin,

I regret my actions of the night of ------. I do not regret that I have had the benefit from the pleasure of being in your company. The vibrancy of your spirit is truly admirable and a great joy to me. By reading this letter, you have demonstrated how truly generous you are. You have given me the opportunity to express my sincerest apologies for behaving so abominably the evening of ---.

I cannot begin to express the guilt I have felt for hurting you and your integrity by my poor judgment. If you shall believe me, I sincerely had the best of intentions when I spoke to you that evening, in spite of the deficient manner in which I expressed those intentions. I hardly dare to ask for your forgiveness. Should you find the charity to bestow upon me your pardon, I shall consider myself a man more blessed than all others.

I would not dare take up more of your time in this letter. I shall conclude with my most earnest wishes of happiness and good health towards yourself and your most gracious mother and sister.

Your servant,
Duo Maxwell

Hilde could hardly speak. What could she possibly say at that moment? She only knew of one person that could counsel her. Lucrezia, dearest Lucrezia is her salvation.

*****

?What say you, sister?? Hilde paced about their bedroom as Lucrezia sat on the bed reading Duo?s letter silently. Her eyes were filled with some concern. ?What should I do about this man??

Lucrezia looked up and simply replied, ?Trying not to be rude towards that relation would be beneficial.?

Hilde sighed, ?You need not make fun of me. I ask earnestly? what shall I do about him??

Lucrezia frowned. She had never known her fiery tempered sister to be so uncertain of her own feelings in the years they have been sisters. ?Hilde, come here.? Lucrezia patted the empty space beside her.

Hilde sat wordlessly staring at her hands as though she never really noticed them before.

?Tell me how you feel about our cousin. What does your heart tell you about Mr. Maxwell??

Hilde laid down on the bed. Her hands still folded as she stared up at the canopy of their bed. ?I despise Mr. Maxwell and the audacity he had for speaking so wretchedly of our situation as though we were gravely indebted to him.?

?In one respect we are indebted to him,? Lucrezia said sadly.

?Perhaps, but there?s no need for him to throw this in my face. And what sort of marriage proposal did he think that was? Hardly what I would expect from any gentleman.?

?If he is so unworthy, then there is no doubt that he is in the wrong, and that you should refuse him.? Lucrezia held her sister?s hand, hoping to give her sister some of her own strength into the younger woman.

?Something tells me that I should show more forbearance in spite of the horrible manner in which he spoke. Something in this letter has touched me, yet I know that I cannot give him my heart. He does not honestly love me, I think.?

Lucrezia kissed her sister?s hand. ?If that is your belief my dear, then that is how you shall act. But do remember that you should not be angry at our cousin longer than you should. We must still regard him as our friend, for his friendship towards us is evident in his generosity.?

?Generosity?? Hilde looked at her sister with an uncertain look.

?We are living in a cottage that he owns. If he was truly angry with us, then we would no longer be here.?

Hilde had a great deal more to think about.