She was quite awkward with her response, and Harrison could tell she was struggling to find the words to say to him—there were so many different reasons why; it could be due to anger at him for not reaching out in the past month or perhaps confusion on where they stand, especially since Katrina, his Katrina—the one he often told her about—was back in the present and had accompanied him to the Queen’s skating ball.
"“How come you say thank you for the compliments but do not seem quite thankful?” He arched a brow and flashed a smile, "Your ‘thank you’ echoes like a melody yet to find its crescendo,” he teased, his eyes alight with playful challenge. “And yet, here you stand, shrouded in mystery, leaving me to wonder if it’s my absence that’s turned your words bittersweet.” He continued, “For I say my compliments with all the sincerity I could muster and you trample on it, like it was worthless, speaking to me like a stranger, are we strangers Azucena?” He whispered her name, ringing each syllable- A-zu-Ce-Na, “For I was under the impression we knew each other a little too much to be strangers, no?” He questioned, his tone light in order to brighten the mood, and disregard the discomfort that seemed to dance in the air.
She began to ask about Katrina, and Harrison could sense quite the discomfort in her words as she asked about her, making him shake his head. “I don’t quite think you shall actually desire to talk about her. You seem to dislike her, though months ago before she had seen me again, you guys seemed like friends, she had been quite glad to make a friend in the ton, she had told me” he began. “But if you must know, she has been assimilating quite well, though she still is having quite the trouble."
He paused, reflecting on Katrina’s struggles. She was not of European descent or noble birth, after all. The glittering world of balls, titles, and courtly expectations was foreign to her, and despite her grace and intelligence, there were barriers that even his influence could not easily dismantle. Harrison knew this all too well; he had witnessed the subtle slights, the whispered gossip, the veiled disdain from those who saw Katrina as an outsider encroaching on their insular society.
“As you know, English society, has always been less than kind. You had said so before, haven’t you? How even though you are from noble birth, of European noble birth, there still seems quite the distinction between societies though they are both equally as judgmental.” He recalled, “The catholic-protestant mentality still lives strong among Europeans does it not?” He had commented. “But of course I had tried to help, my sisters, along with my mothers had also been quite helpful.” He crossed her arms, “Now, that we had gotten that out in the air, can we discuss how you are actually feeling or do we want to dance around it?” He questioned leaning down, “For we could skate on the ice and talk about why you seem so crestfallen and why you left quite abruptly last month, or we could still skate and become actors as we pretended last month abrupt leaving never happened. It is your wish,” He thrusted his hand for Azucena to grab, “But I think the lady has quite the questions, does she not?”
Harrison did have his own questions with himself too- he was quite conflicted with himself for Katrina, his Katrina, his first love. Truthfully, though he had dreamt many times about meeting her again, In his mind it was simply fantasy, mythology if you will, the very idea of meeting her again. He had been down casted to have her disappear from his arms the year she did, but he had accepted it he had accepted that she could only be happy in her nation, free from the very binding chains, and he was not to force her to Europe or disturb her peace, he was to give her happiness as a gift.
Yet, now she was here, and the fantasy had collided with reality in a disconcerting way. He had spent so many years imagining what he would say, how he would feel, but those imaginings did not account for the complexity of his current life. It should be easy, choosing where his heart lies—that is, Katrina. Has it not always been Katrina? Even when he was engaged to marry Azucena, was it not Katrina who accompanied his thoughts? And was he not overjoyed to see Katrina when she had returned, overjoyed to see her smile brighter than she previously did, her eyes prettier than before because they were filled with a sense of comfort and love and not the fear that previously existed?
Yet, now she was here, and the fantasy had collided with reality in a disconcerting way. He had spent so many years imagining what he would say, how he would feel, but those imaginings did not account for the complexity of his current life. It should be easy, choosing where his heart lies—that is, Katrina. Has it not always been Katrina? Even when he was engaged to marry Azucena, was it not Katrina who accompanied his thoughts? And was he not overjoyed to see Katrina when she had returned, overjoyed to see her smile brighter than she previously did, her eyes prettier than before because they were filled with a sense of comfort and love and not the fear that previously existed?
Time had done her quite well, and Harrison was happy for all that. He had always said to himself that if fate had them meet again, he would drop everything and elope with Katrina—marry her, the woman he so fervently loved, they could rekindled it quite quickly-Katrina and his love. His sisters, brothers and mothers seemed to lover her, though she was not of noble birth she was quite fun to be around his younger sister had said- she was quite the dancer and she was teaching dear Angelina a few dance moves, but for some reason he was conflicted and the reason was standing in front of him currently.
“Do you know that you confuse me so?” Harrison questioned, gazing into her hazel eyes, as they skated.
me trying to get back into a Harrison mindset and its so hard bruh