Chapter 133: a brief stop along the way I

Chapter 133: Chapter 133: a brief stop along the way I

The countryside drifted quietly beyond the window.

Vivienne watched the fields pass without really seeing them.

After today’s outreach...

She would speak to Anthony.

The conversation no longer frightened her.

Somewhere along the way...

She had stopped asking herself whether she could make him love her.

That answer had never belonged to her.

Instead...

She found herself hoping for something much simpler.

That they could end the engagement...

Without bitterness.

Without regret.

She smiled faintly.

Perhaps...

That would be enough.

the vehicle.

Then—

"Sir."

The driver’s voice came from the front.

"There’s a respectable inn just ahead."

Damian looked up from the passing scenery.

Ahead, nestled beside the roadside beneath the shade of several old oak trees, stood a modest country inn.

Built of weathered stone with ivy climbing one side of the building, it possessed none of the grandeur of the capital’s establishments.

Yet there was something quietly inviting about it.

Fresh flower boxes lined the windows.

The brass sign above the entrance gleamed in the morning sun.

Damian observed it for another moment before speaking.

"We’ll stop here."

"Very good, sir."

The Alphard slowed smoothly as it turned onto the gravel drive.

The tires crunched softly beneath them before the vehicle came to a gentle stop.

Before the driver could leave his seat...

Damian had already stepped out.

Vivienne watched through the window.

He didn’t enter immediately.

Instead, he paused near the entrance.

An attendant greeted him with a courteous bow.

After a brief exchange, Damian’s attention wandered quietly through the front windows.

Not searching.

Assessing.

The dining room.

The guests.

The atmosphere.

Satisfied, he inclined his head in thanks before turning back toward the car.

Opening the rear passenger door, he met her eyes.

"It seems suitable."

There was the briefest pause before he continued.

"Would this be acceptable to you, Lady Beaumont?"

Vivienne looked past him toward the inn.

Warm sunlight spilled across the polished windows.

Inside, she could make out only a handful of diners, each quietly enjoying their meals.

It looked peaceful.

Comfortable.

She smiled.

"I think it’s lovely."

Only then did Damian nod.

"Then shall we?"

He stepped slightly aside.

As Vivienne leaned forward to leave the vehicle...

His hand rose almost unconsciously.

Resting lightly against the upper edge of the doorframe.

Shielding her head.

...

Vivienne paused.

Again.

He had done it again.

Not once.

Not twice.

Every time she stepped out of the car.

He didn’t say anything.

Didn’t even look at his own hand.

It was as though the gesture had become so instinctive that he no longer realized he was doing it.

She lowered her head slightly and stepped onto the gravel.

"...Thank you."

"My pleasure."

His hand fell away just as naturally.

Together, they made their way toward the entrance of the inn.

Vivienne walked quietly beside him.

--

The hostess led them toward a table near one of the tall windows.

Sunlight spilled softly across the polished wooden floor, filling the dining room with a quiet warmth.

"Right this way."

She came to a stop beside their table.

Before Vivienne reached for the chair...

Damian already had.

His hand settled lightly against the back of it before drawing it out just enough for her to sit.

...

His movement slowed.

Only for the briefest instant.

Anthony.

Lady Beaumont is Anthony’s fiancée.

Too late.

The chair was already waiting.

He quietly released the chair.

Vivienne looked up.

"...Thank you."

"My pleasure."

His reply came as calmly as ever.

She lowered herself into the chair.

Only then did Damian quietly return it to the table before walking around to the opposite side and taking his own seat.

The hostess placed a menu before each of them.

"I’ll return in just a moment."

With a courteous bow, she withdrew.

Silence settled comfortably between them.

Vivienne opened her menu.

Or at least...

She tried to.

Her eyes drifted upward instead.

Damian had already begun reading his own.

Nothing about his expression suggested he’d noticed anything unusual.

As though opening doors...

Pulling out chairs...

Shielding her head before she stepped out of the car...

Were all perfectly ordinary things.

...

Again.

She lowered her gaze to the menu.

Interesting.

--

The waiter approached their table with a polite smile.

"Have you decided, sir?"

Damian glanced across the table.

Vivienne was still studying the menu.

He closed his own.

"We’ll need another moment."

"Of course."

The waiter inclined his head and stepped away.

Vivienne looked up, a little embarrassed.

"I’m sorry."

"There is nothing to apologize for."

"I’ve almost decided."

"I wasn’t in any hurry."

She smiled before returning to the menu.

A minute later, she finally closed it.

"I think I’m ready now."

Damian nodded.

The waiter, noticing them, returned almost immediately.

"Have you decided?"

"Yes," Vivienne answered first.

...

"I’ll have the herb-roasted chicken."

"Very good, my lady."

She closed the menu and handed it over.

The waiter turned toward Damian.

"And for you, sir?"

"The beef pie."

"And to drink?"

They each ordered tea.

The waiter finished noting down their orders.

"The roast chicken will take approximately twenty minutes, my lady."

Vivienne looked up.

"Twenty?"

"Yes, my lady."

She considered it for a brief moment before smiling politely.

"In that case..."

"Would it be possible to bring the dessert first?"

The waiter blinked once.

"Certainly, my lady."

He gathered the menus.

"I’ll have it brought out immediately."

With a courteous bow, he departed.

Silence settled once again.

Vivienne reached for her glass.

Across the table...

Damian looked at her.

Not disapproving.

Not confused.

Merely...

Looking.

As though carefully deciding whether he ought to say something.

She almost smiled.

He wanted to ask.

He was trying very hard not to.

"...Lord Blackwood?"

"...Yes?"

"You look as though you’re about to say something."

A beat passed.

His gaze drifted briefly toward the direction the waiter had disappeared.

Then back to her.

"...Dessert?"

Another small pause.

"...First?"

Vivienne laughed softly.

"I’m a little hungry."

"I gathered as much."

"And since the main course isn’t ready yet..."

She lifted one shoulder.

"...I don’t see any reason to wait."

Damian considered that.

"...I suppose that is perfectly reasonable."

"The order doesn’t really matter."

"No."

His lips curved almost imperceptibly.

"I suppose it doesn’t."

"There."

He blinked.

"...There?"

"You smiled."

"I did."

"You’ve accepted my logic."

"I wouldn’t go quite that far."

"Oh?"

"I’ve merely decided..."

"...to trust your judgment."

Vivienne laughed.

"So you’ve surrendered."

"If that’s the word you prefer."

A comfortable silence settled between them once more.

Neither of them felt any particular need to fill the quiet.