Chapter 17
Letters
The sun was shining brightly in the windows; Guimel smiled, pulled a blank parchment from his desk drawer and set it before him. It was two days after the masquerade - the first chance he'd gotten to write to her! He carefully dipped his pen into the ink, confident that he wouldn't be disturbed: he had just finished the morning exercises with his brothers and had a good hour before any more duties called. His smile softened as he thought of her, quelling his frustration at the lack of response from the Duke to his proposal. Patience, he thought, at least he hasn't said no. Yet. In any case, the warm sunlight felt good upon his head and hands, and he had this hour to write to her. Hopefully this message wouldn't be sent back, unread!
My dearest Hiroko,
He stopped, his mind suddenly drawing a blank. He'd written hundreds of love letters, all in the pursuit of prey. Pretty, flowery things that had as about much meaning to him as the stock parchment they were written on. He had never written a real letter to anyone, much less a girl. He thought for a moment, wondering what would interest her.
I heard you play the piano the morning after the masquerade. It was very pretty.
He snarled to himself: how stupid was that line? Of course she would know the tune was pretty - she had been playing it, ne? Baka! he thought darkly, scrunching up the parchment and getting a fresh piece. He looked out of a nearby window, taking in the bright flowers and high garden wall of his home without seeing them, still drawing a blank. Hiroko knew he had talked to her brother and her father; she had been present when he'd made his formal declaration to the Duke. Guimel quelled a stab of irritation: Lord Madeious had accepted his words then had dismissed him, mentioning, rather off-handedly, that he'd send for him when he'd made his decision. But he hadn't said no, and Guimel clung to that, feeling the squeeze of time running out for both himself and Hiroko.
My dearest Hiroko,
In a week I shall start taking the tests to find my ranking in the military. Hopefully I'll rise to at least the level of my father: he had the usual one-year tour and in that short time had risen to the rank of Sergeant.
He looked skeptically at the parchment, gazing at the perfectly-drawn characters. Robert had been merciless in teaching him his letters: Guimel's knuckles ached in the memory of the blows he'd receive when he'd gotten even one stroke wrong. He suddenly smiled a little, thinking of his oniisan.
As you may imagine, both Father and Robert (my oniisan) were very surprised when I let them know of my intentions. Father was actually quite pleased at my audacity; he said it would be a good attitude for the military. Robert…
He sat back and thought a little about that encounter. Robert had been shocked and quite displeased, at first. He'd thought Guimel was making a rash decision, still swayed by Hiroko's reaction to their first joining. But, after a bit of sober reflection, he'd accepted the fact, knowing that it was too late to do anything and it was a good match, politically.
Robert was surprised but I have his blessing, now.
Guimel scowled at the parchment: would this be terribly boring to her? And he had already written that Robert was surprised, in the sentence right before! He scrunched up this parchment as well, throwing it over his shoulder and angrily pulling a fresh piece out of the drawer. Should he write to her about Kenneth's reaction? Guimel laughed out loud: his cousin had been ready to have him committed! Kenneth had forgotten all about the day's tennis when he had told him: the look on his face had been priceless! First he'd thought he'd been joking, then he thought he was ill, then he finally acquiesced to the inevitable, muttering dire warnings of boredom and hen-pecking. Guimel grinned - he didn't think he could ever get bored with her! Angry, hai. Impassioned, definitely! But bored? Never!
My dearest Hiroko,
I love you! Please forgive me for not saying it before: I have no excuse but cowardice. I have missed you terribly these past two days. Your beautiful eyes, your boldness, your touch! I can only hope that I made a good impression with your father - my family is of the finest caliber, with a most honorable history, and is highly connected in court. I pray that these will sway him towards me! How I wish I could see you again!
His smile grew lazy.
Are you feeling bold, once again? I very much miss being with you, my memories of our time together are very worn. Would you like to meet tomorrow? Give me a place and a time and I shall be there!
Yours,
Guimel Guilliame, Minimoto Province
Guimel carefully blotted the parchment and rolled it up, melting some wax over a lit candle on the desk and affixing his family's seal upon it, using the ring his father had given him on his thirteenth rotation. He looked at the ring as it glittered on his right ring finger, mentally making it smaller, made to fit her finger. Then he shook his head, sighing impatiently. He couldn't get ahead of himself: if the Duke said no, there was nothing he could do about it. Guimel gritted his teeth, then forced himself to relax. Time would tell…
---
A faint whimper passed her glossed lips as her eyes ran over the smooth characters on the letter she had been presented with only a few minutes before. She had recognised the seal immediately, and this time she did not return the letter to the messenger nor did she leave it unread.
The wax was almost immediately pulled from the smooth parchment the moment she had entered her chamber, sinking down onto her vanity chair, the letter unrolled and flattened out onto the tables surface.
He… he missed her dearly. How she reciprocated his feelings. Not seeing him the past day had been so hard to bear, especially as she was still blind to her fathers decision concerning Guimel's request. There was so little time between him leaving for the military and she wanted to spend as much time with him as he would allow. But she feared so greatly that Terris' own request would have more place in her fathers mind.
In all rights Terris had every right to insist that their marriage be announced and performed. She was only thankful that she had stalled the announcement before. If she hadn't nothing could have saved her from her fate, not even Guimel.
Now after knowing and feeling what she had with Guimel she could not go back. She had been changed so profusely by the blond youth now she knew there was no going back. Truly she would rather die than be forced into marrying Terris. But the odds were in his favour. His position was greater than Guimel's, his father was of high status and he had known her father all his life. That meant that a great bond of trust had already been established. His age was both for and against him for his twenty-four rotations gave the advantage of maturity and self-control. Yet this also meant that he had fewer years, which Guimel did not have. Land was one of Guimel's advantages, his family's land was impressive to say the least and his place in the Emperor's court meant that they were highly influential.
The Guilliame's did not hold the same beliefs as her family nor Terris' yet Guimel's sincerity showed that they were not totally be known to showing great consideration for their women; when it suited them.
Hiroko's eyes trailed over the beautifully written characters, taking in Guimel's own desire to see her again, perhaps to her some news; if only she could. The abruptness of his request seemed to have placed her father in a difficult situation. Her father had two clear choices but the decision could be very costly to him!
Her eyes ran over the parchment for a fourth time, letting his words of love and devotion to comfort her. That was something nobody could take from them.
My dearest Hiroko,
Those words alone made her heart flutter yet it was the three simple words that followed which made her so light-headed and emotional. No fancy words, no hesitancy or evading it; just the simple words.
I love you.
How bold he was, she thought as she reached to draw a sheet of perfumed paper and envelope from her lower drawer. What else should she expect of Guimel. In the short time she had gotten to know him he seemed to favour such direct approaches from more evasive ones.
Days, they had known each other mere days and yet she felt as if she had never not known him… he had such an effect on her, she thought absently as she dipped the nib of her pen into the inkwell beside her.
Her words of response came quickly and with little need for thought. Oh just to see him again… she truly would count the hours till they saw each other again. Her appointment in the dressmakers would seem to be everlasting, she just knew it. But… She sighed gently as she folded the finished letter, slipping it into its addressed envelope. She melted the wax stick lying by her desks lamp before dripping the thick liquid over the paper sealing it quickly with her rose embossed seal. But she couldn't help but smile brightly as she stood and made her way out of the room, the letter held tightly in her hands. Tomorrow she thought secretly to herself as she handed it to the servant whom happened to be passing her chamber at the time. Tomorrow. Tis thirty years till then!
Dearest Guimel,
I hope this letter finds you well. Your own correspondence left me deeply touched and quite breathless at your confession of devotion and henceforth has incited me to promptly set about replying to it.
Father continues to remain unwilling to divulge any information concerning your suit. I do understand his decision; it is only proper that I remain unknowing but I do so unwillingly, this waiting making me feel quite wretched.
Not even Naolin or my mother seem permitted or willing to give me some small sign of comfort concerning you and I. In fact the matter has not been mentioned at all; they seem reluctant to say something, which may tell me more than they feel is necessary. And like with my mother it is not my place to pry into such matters, nor question my father's final decision.
I know this is an awkward position he has been placed in but surely the fates are on our side. They seem to have drawn us together so far and I doubt they are so cruel and malicious that they will separate us so soon.
In this time of uncertainty I take great comfort in your words, as I would were you here with me at this moment; as you did the night of the masquerade. Oh how I wish you were here with me now but such a feeble wish is not to be and so despite this I shall take heart in your touching words, allowing them to strengthen my resolve and increase my determination and belief that my father will say yes! Oh how I pray that he will, for the idea of being the bride of Terris and having to be with him as I have been with you… words cannot describe the horror felt from such unbidden thoughts.
But on to a happier a note. Since you ask my boldness seems to be at it's peak at such time and your invitation to such a liaison seems to agree with it muchly! Unfortunately I have a prior engagement at 'Madame Lefare's humble establishment, one which I have put off for too long. But hopefully I should not be occupied there for to long. And so I propose I should promptly go henceforth to you!
At noon I shall make my way to Yamoto park, if not sooner! I regularly frequent there and this arrangement means that I will be comfortable in both the fine setting and fine company.
Hopefully from them on I can replenish your memory of our time together as you seem to feel that it is waning quickly with our time apart. I myself, despite how much I miss the sight and sound of you, do not have such a problem.
Such times spent in your company have been unforgettable and simply make me anticipate with great fondness the many other encounters still to come.
And so, dearest heart, dismissing my deepest desires and refraining from speak my words of true endearment and longing, savouring such words till we next meet in person, I end this letter with the enforced optimism that soon such a letter need not be necessary to be exchanged.
I await the time when I am by your side, where I feel I should be and we may consort in private. Till tomorrow; I shall count the hours till I see you again.
Yours,
Hiroko Madeious.