Standard Disclaimer Applies Here
Chapter Four
For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and laugh at them in our turn?
-Jane Austen
In a place as small as Wessex, it was not uncommon for news to travel quickly, a fact that made the news of Tomoyo's presence known to almost all of its residents only a few days after her arrival.
Though everyone knew she was currently living in the manor for a week, none of the residents had actually seen her and some were beginning to think that she was in an unenviable state.
"Have you seen the Japanese girl that moved in the Hiiragizawa's estate?" an upper middle-class woman asked her friend, when she visited the former's home.
"I am afraid not. I do not think that anyone has even received a glimpse of the young girl. How long has she been here?"
"Six days from what I've counted. I do not think she has even gone out of the estate. Has Miss Akizuki called on you in the previous days? Perhaps she has mentioned about the girl's present state during a visit."
"She has not called on me or anyone in town so far, which I find unusual but perhaps she has chosen to stay home to await her cousin's arrival."
"Mr. Hiiragizawa is also a person that I haven't seen in a while, but perhaps we might see the three of them at church tomorrow."
Of course, the higher classes were not the only ones who talked about Tomoyo's presence. She became part of the village gossip almost as soon as she arrived.
"Anna!" the baker's wife whispered to the butcher's wife. "I finally saw the rumored foreigner, who moved in with the Hiiragizawas!" she told her friend excitedly.
"You have! How and when did you see her?" Anna inquired eagerly.
"I saw her sleeping in the Hiiragizawa's kitchen yesterday when Mrs. Grant asked me to deliver some bread when one of her maids was too sick to get it. Ah, she was pretty for a foreigner, just like the Chinese merchant's wife!"
"Ah, I do hope to see her soon, but I do not think that she is an enviable state. What must have kept her from going out?"
"The young Mr. Hiiragizawa must have something to do with it. I suppose he is doing something to her. I am afraid I do not trust that man anymore."
"I'm afraid I feel the same way, he has gone too forlorn!"
"You are correct. He could be the reason why that poor girl had such a lonely expression while she slept yesterday."
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Fortunately for Tomoyo, Eriol enjoyed taking his meals alone in his study while doing his work due to his belief of not wasting valuable time, according to Nakuru, who had found her cousin's practice of it too extreme. However, Tomoyo did not care as long as she would not experience having to eat dinner with her unwelcoming host or to even see him around the manor again.
So it came as a great disappointment to her when she found out that she would have to go to church with Eriol after Nakuru woke her up the next day.
"Don't you find it exciting Tomoyo-chan? I don't think you have been to such a beautiful gothic church often in Japan, due to the state of Christianity there. I do not find going to church this exciting all of the time but it must be in your state! Oh how I wish I could feel the same way!" Nakuru chirped as she laid out Tomoyo's dresses with the help of the maid, Rika.
Tomoyo smiled politely as she tried to think of something pleasant to say, but could not think of anything except that Nakuru was wrong about wanting to experience her present state. She doubted that her cheerful friend would enjoy experiencing feelings of tremendous discomfort.
"You should wear this!" Nakuru exclaimed as she held a peach slim fitting dress up. "It's perfect and it would suit you well. Oh how I wish I had a dress like this! You must simply tell me which dressmaker made you this beautiful dress!"
"My mother had it made by one of our dressmakers in Japan after she found out about the latest fashions in London."
"Well your dressmaker was correct. I'll ask my dressmaker, Mrs. Sullivan to make me a dress using the similar style later for the next London Season!"
Tomoyo sat up her bed and started to comb hair when Rika stopped her.
"Oh no, Miss Daidouji, let me do that." She whispered; Tomoyo nodded her acquiescence.
"Oh Tomoyo-chan," Nakuru began as she laid out the peach dress on Tomoyo's bed. "Would you like to join me for breakfast in town after we go to church? After that, you can accompany me to my dressmaker so I can tell her about the dress then I can introduce to some of my friends."
"Breakfast in town? Shall we be eating at a restaurant there?"
Nakuru grinned. "Nope, we'll be having what I like to call an untraditional and quick English breakfast by the bakery, which I like to do every Sunday and which I used to do with Eriol before he became forlorn and you can be my new companion!"
Tomoyo smiled again. Perhaps Nakuru's untraditional breakfast could lighten up her day. She did want to explore Wessex and meet its residents. She was going to be in the place for a while after all.
"Alright, I'll accompany you. How does this untraditional English breakfast of you go?" she inquired eagerly as Rika led her towards her boudoir to help her get dressed.
"I shall tell you later, after church, it is not something to be mad over but I enjoy it."
A knock on Tomoyo's door interrupted their conversation. Nakuru called the knocker to enter and one of the maids entered.
"Miss Akizuki, Mr. Hiiragizawa asked me to tell you that he would not be riding with the both of you for mass today but he assures you that he will be attending church today."
Tomoyo could see Nakuru raise her eyebrows while she heard Eriol's message.
"Very well, tell him that we will see him in church later."
The maid left and Nakuru sighed.
"I can't say that I'm surprised. He's always like that now." She looked at Tomoyo with a look of disappointment in her face that made Tomoyo feel guilty for the way her mood improved after hearing the news.
"Get dressed now Tomoyo-chan so we can get a seat and reserve one for my dear cousin."
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Eriol did arrive at church, ten minutes after Tomoyo and Nakuru did. He sat at a special reserved place for his family and fortunately for Tomoyo, he sat two seats away from her, with Nakuru between them. It was not a great distance but she was glad enough that she would not have to sit beside him.
It was only the second time Tomoyo attended church, the first when she and her mother converted to Christianity. She observed the rituals and listened to the minister with interest and before she knew it, the mass had ended and she was outside the church with Nakuru. Eriol had chose to stay behind and contemplate, which according to Nakuru, was his favorite thing to do after church, a fact that she did not understand.
"Miss Akizuki, good morning." A woman in her mid-thirties wearing a violet slim fit dress and a matching bonnet greeted her companion. It did not take Tomoyo long to figure out the woman's position in society with her fashion and countenance.
"Mrs. Sullivan! Good morning! I have not called on you for sometime!" Nakuru answered friendlily and pulled Tomoyo closer to her.
"This is Tomoyo Daidouji our guest, Tomoyo-chan, please meet Mrs. Sullivan."
A small smile graced the woman's face as she looked at Tomoyo. "Good morning Miss Daidouji, so I finally see you. Will you be present in London in spring?"
"Yes, I will be present."
"I am pleased to hear that. You and Nakuru shall be the toast of the season." She nodded to the both of them while Nakuru blushed.
"Please come by my residence anytime." Was the last thing Miss Sullivan said before she left the two to ride her carriage.
Several more women and some men came to greet Nakuru and were introduced to Tomoyo. Several minutes later, Tomoyo and Nakuru were the only people left standing in front of the church.
Nakuru chuckled. "If we stay here any longer, the bakery might run out of strawberry jam buns."
"Strawberry jam buns?" Tomoyo repeated. "Is that going to be our breakfast?" she asked.
"Yes! The bakery in town makes the best strawberry jam buns, which I love to have for breakfast every Sunday after church! After that, I pass by the dairy to get some milk and walk around Wessex, talking to my friends while having my breakfast. It may not be ladylike but I find it such an amusing weekly activity!" Nakuru said as she started to walk ahead quickly.
"Wait!" Tomoyo spoke as she tried to catch up with Nakuru while wearing her tight dress without tripping. Yes, she thought; the dress was beautiful but hard to move in. She doubted the dress would survive if they walked around town.
"Are we going to walk to go there?"
Nakuru stopped and watched Tomoyo as she tried to catch up then slapped her forehead.
"Oh I'm such a ninny! Of course you can't walk with that dress! I should have asked you to wear a simpler one like the one I'm wearing right now." Nakuru said.
"Perhaps I can walk; I do not think the bakery is that far."
"You are right." Nakuru mused and looked around until a bench caught her sight. "I know!" she exclaimed and pointed the bench out to her.
"Please sit there for a while I go and buy the buns. I won't be gone long enough for anyone to see you're alone!" she paused for a moment.
"But is it okay with Tomoyo-chan?" she queried worriedly. "You might not enjoy waiting alone. If you do not want to continue untraditional breakfast, we can always return back to the manor."
Tomoyo shook her head. She did not want to rob Nakuru of her one of her favorite foods and she also was curious to taste the strawberry jam buns that her friend was mad about.
"No, do not worry Nakuru-chan, please go and retrieve the jam buns. I do not mind waiting. You did promise that it would not be for long."
Nakuru looked away guiltily then sighed. "Fine, I shall do it then even if it worries me to leave you alone, such improper etiquette! But I shall make the trip as quick as possible!" she said then strode quickly off.
Tomoyo exhaled as she rubbed her arms from the cold January wind. It had stopped snowing three days earlier and it wasn't as cold as it was when she had arrived but it was still cold. She exhaled again while memories of her cousin playing in the snow with her came to her mind.
She smiled. How she missed those days! The days when both her cousin and she were young, innocent and carefree. They would love snowy days the most and would play outside everyday and would both cry when they were not allowed to go out because of the blizzard. Oh how she wish she could relive those days again, when her cousin wasn't married yet!
Tomoyo pinched herself as she grimaced at her last thought. How could she be so selfish and wish her cousin's happiness had never came? Her cousin was the most important person in her life so shouldn't this time be the happiest time of her life as well?
Tomoyo's thoughts were interrupted by a slam of the church door. She turned her head quickly and saw Eriol stomping on the snow, fury present on his face, muttering. The silence and desertedness of the area made her hear his mutterings as he started walking, heading for her direction.
"That damned minister can't keep to his own affairs!" he muttered angrily as he walked past Tomoyo, who blinked in confusion.
"Umm, Mr. Hiiragizawa!" she blurted out then gasped and covered her mouth. She cursed herself inwardly for her stupidity. She was fortunate enough that he didn't notice her when he passed by, but she just had to call out his name!
Eriol halted and turned to Tomoyo. He raised his hat at her as a greeting.
"Good morning Ms. Daidouji." He spoke while some traces of his early anger disappeared to be replaced with politeness. He raised his eyebrows.
"Where is Nakuru? Did she abandon you to go off with her Sunday breakfasts with the town bakers and innkeepers?"
Tomoyo flushed and stared down, trying not to look at him. She found it hard to look at his handsome face and talk properly.
"She…went to get some strawberry jam buns…for our breakfast."
"I see, just make sure that she comes back quickly, it's not proper for a lady to be out… alone." He said and when Tomoyo looked up, she saw he flinched from what seemed like a memory, but she ignored it.
He started walking again when Tomoyo suddenly spoke up again.
"Mr. Hiiragizawa, how will be you going back?"
He stopped again and answered her, without looking at her.
"I shall be walking."
She gave a small gasp at his answer. "Are you sure that you want to walk Mr. Hiiragizawa? You can ride with Nakuru and me later."
He shook his head. "No, I prefer to walk home; it clears my mind for work."
"Oh," she replied. "Very well, I hope to see you later then."
He nodded. "Good day to you, Miss Daidouji." He said and started walking again.
Tomoyo watched him walk until he was as small as a needlepoint in her sight. She felt a smile grace her face.
"So I finally have a more civil conversation with Mr. Hiiragizawa that makes me feel better." She thought aloud to herself as she wrung her hands.
Perhaps Eriol could be her friend despite his cold nature and maybe one day, he might even allow to visit the room full of paintings again.
"I really do hope that we become friends one day." She spoke to herself.
"Be friends with whom?" a female voice spoke from her back, startling her.
Tomoyo turned around to see Nakuru, who held two brown paper bags that was emitting the strong and sweet scent of freshly baked bread and two bottles of milk. Nakuru handed one of the paper bags and bottles to Tomoyo, to her delight.
"Thank you." She mumbled then grabbed one of the buns out eagerly, suddenly realizing how hungry she was. She was about to stuff one of the buns to her mouth when she remembered her manners and only took a small bite out of it.
"Do you like it?" Nakuru queried after Tomoyo took her third bite.
She nodded, which made her friend grin.
"So, who were you talking about earlier?" she queried enthusiastically.
Tomoyo flushed, she did not feel comfortable telling Nakuru that she wanted to make friends with her cousin at other woman's present opinion of him.
"Oh no one in particular," she began. "I was actually thinking about everyone you introduced me to; I do want to be friends with everyone."
Nakuru chuckled. "I am sure that a pretty and friendly young thing like you shall not have a difficult time achieving that."
Tomoyo flushed again and proceeded to eat her breakfast. She only hoped that Nakuru was correct, for she knew befriending the cold yet intriguing Eriol Hiiragizawa was going to be a difficult task.
She took another bite and decided take their early conversation as a sign of hope. The day when Eriol Hiiragizawa was going to return his true self shall come.
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A/N: Yes! I've finally updated! I'm really sorry for the long wait since school took up most of my time and I had slight problem with writer's block. Thank you all for reviewing! I love your reviews! They encourage me! I would like to reply to them all except I don't think that's allowed anymore.