Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Journey of a Thousand Miles ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

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A special Thank You to Anne Olsen for beta reading and for helping me out with my music related questions. Anne, I don't know what I would do without you and your smart books ;-)

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Journey of a Thousand Miles

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"

-Confucius-

Part 2

After we had finished our tea the duke offered to show me the estate.

As we started our tour through the house I soon realized that the manor was even larger than it appeared from the outside. Treize informed me that the east wing, where his personal chambers were located, was off limits to me, but I was free to use the rest of the house and the gardens as I pleased.
A massive and lavishly decorated ballroom indicated that my cousin liked to entertain. His library was easily larger than any library I had ever seen, and stocked with more books than any one person could possibly read in a lifetime. When we entered the music room a piano caught my eye. I couldn't help it, I just had to step closer and let my fingers run over the ebony wood.
"Feel free to sit down and play," the duke offered.

He didn't have to tell me that twice. Pulling the stool closer to the piano I sat down. After a few short "warm-up exercises" I began to play Beethoven's Sonata in F minor. Treize closed his eyes as he listened. A soft smile curved his lips.
"Beautiful! You play simply beautifully, Quatre," he praised when I had finished the first movement. "How unfortunate that you never met my mother. I'm certain that you would have liked each other. She loved playing the piano and I think she was somewhat disappointed that I wasn't the slightest bit interested as a child. She tried to teach me, but gave up soon realizing that I was more interested in guns and swordplay than practicing my scales and pieces."

"It has a wonderful mellow tone," I replied. "I'm not surprised she loved it."

"I'm sure she would be pleased to know that somebody who shares her passion for music will be using it." He smiled at me. "Shall we move on? There is still much more I want to show you."

"Of course." I nodded, quickly closing the lid of the piano before I rose to follow my cousin.

The staff was already busy preparing dinner when we entered the kitchen. Treize introduced me to Miss Rutherforth, the middle-aged lady in charge of the kitchen, and a young maid named Elisabeth.
Miss Rutherforth reminded me a little of Louise, our housekeeper, who had been working for my parents for as long as I could remember. She had the same warm smile and the same kind expression in her eyes.

"Look at you, child. You are all but skin and bones." Miss Rutherforth frowned sorrowfully and shook her head, as she looked me over. "What did those people feed you? But don't you worry, we will make you grow big and strong in no time at all. - Now, what would you like me to make you tomorrow morning for breakfast, dear?"
"You mean I can choose?" I blinked in surprise.

"But of course." She nodded firmly. "You just let me know what you would like the evening before and I'll fix it up for you the next morning."
"Hotcakes maybe?" I asked shyly, giving my cousin a questioning look; hoping it wasn't too unreasonable of a request.
"With mixed berries and topped with just a bit of sweet cream?" she asked.
That was just like my mother used to serve hotcakes. I had not eaten them in such a long time, but I still could remember the sweet taste.
"That would be lovely, Miss Rutherforth. But you really don't have to trouble yourself on my behalf."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, dear." She made a dismissive gesture. "And please, call me Cecilia like everybody else does."
"As you wish, Ma'am."
"And what will it be for you, your Excellency? Hotcakes as well?"
The duke shook his head.
"I think I'll just have the usual."
"The usual it will be, Sir. And now please excuse me, I have to go and check the roast."

*****

We stopped at the stables for just a few moments before we entered the large rose garden behind the house.
Wonderful didn't even begin to describe the place. It was easily the most perfectly maintained garden I had ever seen. From the large white marble fountain in the center, to the beautifully manicured lawn and colorful flowers, everything looked flawless.
"What a beautiful place," I remarked awestruck.
"It truly is, isn't it?" Treize agreed as we strolled down one of the narrow cobblestone paths. "I love sitting here, reading a book or just listening to the birds. I suppose I got my passion for roses from my mother. She planted most of those bushes herself. I still remember her working out here when I was a child."
The duke stopped to cut off a rose of deep red color. He skillfully removed any thorns from the stem then fixed the flower to the lapel of my coat. Taking a step back he looked at me critically, then shook his head in an disapproving manner.
"We really need to get you some new outfits, Quatre. These shades of gray look utterly depressing on you. You should be wearing something far more cheerful, something that brings out that lovely blue color of your eyes. You are way too handsome to hide it beneath ill fitting clothes. We will have to do something about that tomorrow."

I could feel a blush creep into my cheeks and averted my eyed to the ground. Nobody had every complimented me on my looks.

Treize didn't seem to notice my embarrassment. He looked up into the sky, then pulled a golden watch from one of his pockets.
"We still have some time before dinner. Why don't we take a walk?"
I nodded in agreement and fell into step next to my cousin.

***

It was getting dark by the time we went back inside and settled down in the sitting room to wait for dinner to be served.

My cousin's friendly and delightfully charming attitude had put me very much at ease. The last of my anxiety had fallen away and somehow I felt like I had known him for years rather than for only a few hours.

"Would you like Xander to bring you some cider?" Treize asked as he walked toward the liquor cabinet and opened the ornately carved doors to remove a crystal decanter.

I shook my head. "No, thank you. I'm fine."
"Very well." He poured himself a glass of the amber colored liquid.

As I let my gaze wander, my attention was drawn to several paintings on the wall and I stepped closer to get a better look. Most of them showed what I believed to be Treize's parents; the resemblance was unmistakable. Then my eye caught a picture of the duke himself. A somewhat younger Treize, dressed in a blue and white uniform, decorated with numerous medals and badges of honor, looked down at me with those piercing blue eyes.
"You served in the Royal Navy, Cousin?" I asked without turning my head.

"I did," he confirmed as walked over to where I was standing, his cognac tumbler in his hand. "I joined the naval academy shortly after the death of my parents. Looking back on it, it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. It gave me some kind of stability in a time when I needed it most… not to mention discipline."
I turned toward him. "May I ask how hold you were when this picture was painted?"
"About twenty-three, I believe. Why?"

"This is a captain's uniform if I'm not mistaken. You must have been the youngest captain ever in the Royal Navy."
The duke chortled as he sat down in one of the Italian chairs. "Now, I don't know about that."
"How did you managed to get promoted to captain at such an young age?" I wondered. "I suppose you must have shown exceptional skills or bravery?"
Treize made a dismissive gesture. "It was more or less a case of being at the right time at the right place… or the wrong place, depending on the point of view."
"Have you ever fought in battle?" I inquired eagerly, as I took the seat across from him.

Ever since I learned to read I had been fascinated by tales about pirates, far away lands and adventures at sea. One of my favorite novels ever was probably Treasure Island. Due to the fact that my father, a strict pacifist, was against any kind of violence, even if it was only fictional, I had to do most of my reading in secret, but that didn't bother me too much. Learning that my cousin had been a naval officer excited me no end. Maybe I could get him to tell me a few of his personal adventures?
"More than enough to last for a lifetime," he replied seriously.
"Against pirates?" I wanted to know.

"No, not against pirates, I'm afraid."
"Oh!"

The duke let out another bark of laughter, blue eyes sparkling in amusement.
"I'm sorry if that disappoints you."
Unsure of what to reply to that I just smiled somewhat sheepishly.
For a few moments nobody spoke. Treize sipped his brandy silently and I gazed once more at the painting on the wall. Seeing the picture suddenly brought back some memories from my early childhood.

My parent's house…some kind of party or family gathering…cousin Treize even younger, wearing a similar blue and white uniform…

"I think I do recall at least one time when you visited my parents home. We had a party and you were there, dressed in uniform."

"Indeed, I was," he confirmed. "You remember that? I'm impressed. I had just been promoted to first Lieutenant and assigned to my new ship the "Namur". I was on my way to Kingston and had only stopped at your parent's house to bid my good byes, when your father surprised me with a farewell party for me." My cousin took a good mouthful of his brandy, testing it a moment, before swallowing. "Your father was a good man, Quatre. Although his philosophies were very different from mine and we would often argue about it, he always made me feel welcome when I visited. I know he didn't agree with many things I did, including joining the Royal Navy, but he never held them against me."

Oh course that makes sense. Suddenly I understood why my family didn't seem to like cousin Treize. Or so I thought.

"Is your military career the reason why my relatives have distanced themselves from you?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm afraid it's not that easy, Quatre. It has less to do with my career choice than my…lifestyle."
"Your lifestyle? What do you mean by that? Do you drink, gamble, or womanize?" I asked, startled about my own boldness the moment those words had left my lips.
"I would agree on two out of three." Treize laughed. "I do love a good bottle of wine and I would never say no to a game of cards."
"Still I do not understand," I confessed. "In Wellington a lot of gentlemen play cards and gamble, and even Uncle Rupert drinks occasionally."
He let out another burst of laughter. "I'm not surprised, considering who he is married to. That woman can drive any man to the bottle."
"Cousin Treize." I exclaimed disapprovingly. "She is my aunt, and I don't think we should be talking like that about her."
"But it's the truth, wouldn't you agree?" he retorted in amusement.
A knock at the door saved me from having to reply. Xander walked into the room and bowed.
"Dinner has been served."
Treize gave the servant a curt nod. "Thank you." He rose from his chair turning toward me. "Let's go and eat then, shall we?"
I frowned as I followed him into the dining room. Although the duke had answered every question I had asked him, I felt like he really hadn't told me anything at all and I still knew very little about him.

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T.B.C.

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