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Journey of a Thousand Miles

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

-Confucius-

Part 17

Zechs and I arrived at the circus a good two hours before the afternoon show started. Trowa had asked us to come early because he wanted to introduce us to his sister and show us around the circus.

I saw Trowa, waiting near the main gate, as soon as we climbed out of the carriage. He led the way through a side entrance and around the large tent, to an area where dozens of wagons were pulled together, in what looked almost like a small town on wheels. Children played catch and hide and seek around the wagons and tents, a woman was hanging out clothes to dry, and a midget, no taller than a six year old child, was washing a massive elephant. The animal picked up the little man carefully with his trunk, and lifted him up so that he could brush behind the elephant's enormous ears.
Trowa nudged my arm gently as I slowed down to watch. "There will be time to see all of that later."

He steered us toward a wagon, almost at the end of the lot, that was painted green with red trimmings. In front of the wagon, beneath a canvas pavilion, were a table and a few chairs arranged. A young lady with reddish-brown hair was exiting the wagon with a tray of dishes in her hand just as we arrived. Trowa introduced her to us as his sister, Catherine.
"Your, Highness, it is such a pleasure to finally meet you." She greeted Zechs with a little curtsy. "Triton has told me so much about you."
Zechs smiled. "The pleasure is mine, and please just call me Mister Merquise."
"As you wish, Sir." She turned toward me. "So, and you are Quatre? Triton has talked a lot about you too."
"I hope he only told you good things," I laughed.

"Of course he did. Shall we sit down? I made some coffee." Catherine gestured toward the table, and then, looking at Trowa, she said. "Would you please go and fetch the biscuits? I left them inside on the table."
Trowa nodded and left while we sat down.
"Mr. Merquise, I don't know how to thank you for taking care of my little brother." Catherine said as she poured the coffee. "I was so worried about him until I heard from you."

"To tell the truth," Zechs replied with a smirk. "He is the one taking care of me. I'm not sure what I would do without him. Not only does he take care of almost everything around the house, but he also looks after the horses and my dogs; I have two of them. Triton is the only person, besides me, who can deal with them."

"I'm not surprised," Catherine said. "He has always been good with animals, and he has never had any fear of them. Did he ever tell you the story of how he slept with the lions one night?"
"No," Zechs shook his head. "I don't think he has, but I would love to hear about it."
So would I.

"I think Triton was about 5 or 6 years old when the town we were performing in was hit by a terrible storm. He was already asleep and I went to see if I could help tie things down. When I came back to the wagon and checked on him he was gone. Everybody went looking for him and after about half an hour of frantic searching somebody found him; asleep in the lion's cage, curled up against one of the animals. He told me later that he woke up because of the storm. He got scared and when he couldn't find me, he hid in the safest place he could think of."
"To me it was the safest place," Trowa remarked with a shrug, as he set down a large plate with ginger snaps. "I knew Timba would never hurt me."
"Maybe you knew. But I thought that my heart was going to stop when I saw you in that cage." She teasingly ruffled his hair as he sat down.

We made small talk while we drank our coffee and tasted some of Catherine's delicious ginger snaps. After a while she excused herself. "Please excuse me, but I need to get ready for my performance. I'll see you later during the show."

We rose politely, and Zechs thanked Catherine for her hospitality. After she had left Trowa asked: "Would you like me to show you around? We still have some time until the show starts."

Zechs and I looked at each other and nodded. "That sounds wonderful."
In fact it was wonderful. First we visited the stable tent where the horses and many exotic animals were kept. One of the camels became rather interested in the rose that I was wearing in my lapel. Before I could do anything about it, it snatched the flower right off my coat and ate it. Towa and Zechs laughed as I stood stunned. Later Trowa took us behind the big tent into an area that was usually off limits for visitors. Some of the circus people were already dressed for the show. The midget that we had seen earlier was now wearing a colorful clown's outfit. A bearded man with a black top hat shouted out orders to a group of men who were moving props to the back entrance. Everybody looked very busy.

Finally the gates opened and people started to fill the show tent. Our seats were in the very first row where we had a fantastic view. The performance started with a group of clowns cart-wheeling into the arena, followed by the man in the top hat, who welcomed everybody to the show. For the next two hours we watched an amazing display. There were trained wild animals, jugglers, artists and clowns. Zechs and I had a wonderful time.

*****

After the show was over Trowa walked us to the exit, where our carriage was already waiting. We said good bye, and I thanked him for a wonderful afternoon.
"It's still early," Zechs remarked after a quick look at his pocket watch. "Why don't we have the driver drop us off at White's (1), where we can pass the time until dinner?"

I nodded as I climbed into the carriage behind him. "That sounds like an excellent idea."
White's was a gentleman's club; a place where - as the name suggests- gentleman came to socialize, to talk about politics and sports, play billiard or cards, or simply read. I had visited the club a few times in the past with my cousin. I especially loved their extensive library.

We arrived at White's at around half past five. At this time the lounge was just starting to fill, as members sat down for their pre-dinner drinks.

We settled down in the back part of the room, in some comfortable leather chairs near the fireplace. Zechs got me a glass of cider, and a glass of white wine for himself.

"So, what did you like the most about the circus?" he asked me.

It wasn't an easy question to answer. I had to think about it for a moment. "I really liked the whole show. But if I had to pick one performance I think it would be the man with the lions. I was stunned when he stuck his head into that lion's mouth."
"Yes, that was quite amazing," Zechs agreed.

"What a surprise. If it isn't my good friend, Mister Merquise?"

The sound of Baron Kinnley's arrogant voice sent a shiver down my spine, and I noticed that Zechs tensed as well. The Baron, who had just stepped out of the billiard room with two other gentlemen, excused himself from his acquaintances, and walked over to where we were sitting. He smelled of alcohol just like the first time that I had met him. "It's been a while since we have seen each other, hasn't it? How are you doing?" he asked with a smile that was as false as a fake diamond. "I've heard that Treize went on a trip to China and left you here to look after young Mister Winner."
I was amazed how calm Zechs' voice was as he said. "Without trying to be rude, Baron, I would appreciate it if you would leave. You are interrupting what was meant to be a private conversation."
"Please forgive me. I didn't mean to intrude. Allow me just one question. How does it feel to sit at home, while the good duke is somewhere out there enjoying himself?"
Zechs face was an unreadable mask as he replied. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oh please, you really can't be that naïve, now can you?" He kept his voice low. "You can't tell me that you haven't found out what the real reason is for Treize's frequent trips. He is not a man who is happy with just one lover; never has been and never will be. He is used to getting what he wants, and gets easily bored of what he has. Some day he is going to find somebody he is more interested in and he will trade you in for his new lover, like he has done with others before you." Kinnley gave Zechs a cold glare, and lowered his voice even more. "I could say that I feel sorry for you, but that would be a lie. After all it was you who took him away from me. If it hadn't been for you, Treize and I would have ended our relationship back then. Ironically, I've never really cared if he kept himself a little "bed warmer" on the side, and I could have lived very well with the knowledge that he was seeing you. But no, he suddenly had to develop a sense of moral and decide to court you exclusively." He snorted.
I was, to say the least, appalled by the baron's tactlessness and lack of manners. Finally I couldn't listen to him any longer. "I believe, Mr. Merquise asked you to leave." I said.
Kinnley turned his head, looking at me directly for the first time, and smirked. "Children should not interrupt when adults are talking, hasn't anybody ever told you that?"
I glared at him and huffed. Like he should be the one telling me about etiquette?
"What is a boy like you doing at a place like this anyway? There is a reason why it is called a gentlemen's club."

"In that case, I suppose we both shouldn't be here, because I don't think that you have any idea what it takes to be considered a gentleman," I snapped at him.

The baron gave me an amused smile. "My, my, what a sharp tongue we have."
Before I could reply Zechs intervened. "I suggest that you leave now." There was a tone in his voice that suggested that he was at the end of his patience as well.

Kinnley gave another snort. "I never could understand what he sees in you anyway, especially since you couldn't even support yourself financially. He could have had a whore for cheaper."

The moment those words were out Zechs pulled off one of his gloves and threw it at the baron's face in one quick and smooth move. "I have been listening to your insults for long enough, Baron. I'll not take any more of this. Let's take care of it once and for all, man to man."
My eyes widened and my mouth went dry.
"Very well," Kinnley shrugged. "Tomorrow, at sunrise at Walnut Ridge? I'll bring the assistants and a doctor."
Zechs nodded curtly. "I'll be there."
Of course, the confrontation had not gone unnoticed amongst the other patrons in the club. Conversations had stopped and heads had turned, but now that the baron strutted away everybody was returning to what he had been doing before the altercation.

"Zechs," I gasped, once Kinnley was out of earshot. "You are not really planning on going through with this, are you?"
The blond aristocrat turned his head toward me. "Quatre, I'm sorry that you had to hear all of this," he said quietly and apologetically.
Never mind that, I thought. I'm more concerned about your duel tomorrow.

"That's alright," I said aloud. "It isn't your fault that he has no manners. And not only that; I also think he is dangerous, Zechs. Please, don't go to Walnut Ridge tomorrow morning." I looked at him pleadingly.

Zechs didn't say anything for a long time. "I suppose you are right," he finally spoke. "It was foolish of me to let him provoke me like this."

I have to admit that I was a little surprised. I had been hoping that Zechs would listen to reasoning, but I really didn't expect it to be so quickly. But then again, I reminded myself, Zechs was a reasonable man. I was relieved that he wasn't going to go through with the duel.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

(1) Gentlemen clubs like White's were common in the time period. It was "the" place for middle and upper class gentlemen to meet, during a time when men and women very much lived their separate social lives. Like Quatre pointed out one would come to the club to socialize, to use the library, to drink, smoke, play cards or billiard. There were sports clubs, army and navy clubs, clubs frequented by artists and writers or political oriented clubs. Some clubs allowed members on invitation only, while a "big wallet" the only requirement for others.

If you have not already read my side-fic to this story called "Courage to Love" I encourage you to do so. FF.net readers I suggest you go and read it on my website, because there is not only an additional chapter which I could not post on ff.net because of the NC-17 restrictions, but also a lovely drawing to it. Talking of drawings… A friend did a wonderful pencil drawing of the Trowa/Quatre kiss scene. I meant to post it when I posted the chapter last week but forgot. Now I can't find the picture. But I'll add it on my site as soon as I can locate it. So check back.
FF.net readers, you ca find my website's URL on my bios page.

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)