Chapter 152: sunday afternoon tea IX

Chapter 152: Chapter 152: sunday afternoon tea IX

"What about you, Matt?"

Matthew leaned back in his chair.

"I think..."

"Someone who’s easy to be around."

He shrugged.

"You know..."

"The kind of person who makes you feel like you’ve known them longer than fifteen minutes."

Leon blinked.

"...That’s unexpectedly wholesome."

Matthew laughed.

"Don’t tell anyone."

"I’ve got a reputation to protect."

Another round of laughter spread around the table.

Christopher smiled.

"I’d say that’s a rather admirable answer."

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck.

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that."

Leon chuckled then turned to Vivienne.

"Well..."

"That leaves our final answer."

"And you, Lady Beaumont?"

Vivienne answered almost immediately.

"Appearance."

For a heartbeat...

The table fell silent.

Then Matthew laughed.

"Well..."

"That’s probably the most honest answer we’ve heard today."

Leon chuckled.

"I was expecting ’kindness’ or ’confidence.’"

"So was I," Janella admitted with a smile.

Vivienne laughed softly, shaking her head.

"No, no..."

"I’m only talking about first impressions."

She smiled sheepishly.

"I don’t think anyone can really help noticing someone’s appearance first."

Several around the table nodded in agreement.

"But..."

She continued more thoughtfully.

"Whether I want to keep talking to that person..."

"That’s something personality decides."

The laughter gradually settled.

Christopher smiled.

"I think that’s a very fair distinction."

"It’s honest."

"And probably true for most people."

Vivienne smiled back.

"I’m glad someone understands what I meant."

--

Matthew grinned.

"Alright..."

"I’ve got one last question."

Leon looked at him suspiciously.

"...Should we be worried?"

Matthew laughed.

"Probably."

The table chuckled.

He looked around.

"So..."

"Has anyone actually exchanged phone numbers with someone already?"

Leon answered first.

"I have."

"Just one."

Matthew raised an eyebrow.

"That was quick."

Leon shrugged.

"We got along."

"I didn’t see any reason not to."

Mary smiled.

"I’ve exchanged mine once as well."

Janella nodded.

"I’ve given mine to two people."

Rebecca answered next.

"I’ve exchanged mine once."

Christopher smiled.

"Not yet."

"I thought I’d wait until the afternoon concludes."

Matthew nodded.

"Fair enough."

Then he looked toward Damian.

"And you?"

Damian shook his head.

"No."

Matthew laughed.

"I somehow expected that."

Damian merely smiled.

"What about you?"

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck.

"...Not yet."

Leon blinked.

"Really?"

"I thought you’d have asked someone by now."

Matthew shrugged.

"I’m still deciding."

Then...

His eyes naturally drifted toward Vivienne.

"And you, Lady Beaumont?"

Vivienne smiled.

"No."

"I haven’t exchanged mine with anyone."

Matthew looked genuinely surprised.

"No one asked?"

Vivienne laughed softly.

"There were a few."

That answer earned a few amused smiles.

Matthew blinked.

"Then..."

"Why didn’t you give it?"

For a brief moment...

Vivienne thought about the question.

Then answered honestly.

"I suppose..."

"Because I don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea."

The answer lingered in the air.

Rebecca lowered her eyes for a brief moment.

Again.

The word came almost instinctively.

It wasn’t this conversation.

Nor the one before it.

It was the entire afternoon.

Six rounds.

Different gentlemen.

Different personalities.

Yet somehow...

The rhythm never changed.

Someone always chose the seat beside Vivienne first.

Someone always found another question to ask her.

Someone always seemed just a little more curious about her answer than anyone else’s.

There was nothing wrong with it.

Nothing rude.

Nothing anyone could reasonably complain about.

And yet...

Rebecca had noticed it every single time.

Now...

Even this table.

Without realizing it...

Christopher had been the first to respond to Vivienne.

Damian had quietly watched her answer.

Rebecca tightened her fingers ever so slightly around her teacup.

Again...

Before she realized it...

The question had already left her lips.

"Lady Beaumont..."

"I’m curious."

"What did your fiancé think about you joining today’s Sunday Afternoon Tea?"

Silence.

It fell so suddenly that even the cheerful atmosphere seemed to disappear.

Across the table...

Damian’s eyes lifted almost immediately.

He looked toward Rebecca.

Then toward Vivienne.

The question had caught him completely off guard.

He had wondered the very same thing himself.

But hearing someone ask it aloud...

Somehow...

It felt different.

Far more uncomfortable.

His brows drew together.

Rebecca...

For the briefest moment...

He considered speaking.

Saying—

Anything.

The question felt...

Far too personal.

Yet before the words could leave him—

Christopher spoke.

"I don’t believe anyone needs to justify attending today’s event." Christoper said with a steady voice and a calm expression.

"The invitation was extended to every student."

"Whether someone came hoping to make friends..."

"Or simply to meet new people..."

He smiled lightly.

"I think everyone is equally welcome."

Damian looked toward him.

...Right.

That was exactly what he had wanted to say.

Only...

Christopher had said it first.

And better.

Anyhow, the tension that had settled over the table eased, if only slightly.

Vivienne turned toward Christopher.

For a brief moment...

She simply looked at him.

He hadn’t dismissed Rebecca’s question.

Nor had he criticized her for asking it.

Instead...

He had quietly reminded everyone that no one at the table owed an explanation for being there.

The answer hadn’t been directed against anyone.

It had simply... restored the balance.

...How thoughtful.

A small smile found its way to her lips.

"Thank you, Senior Archibald."

She met his eyes briefly before continuing.

"But..."

"I can answer."

Christopher inclined his head slightly.

"Of course."

The table fell quiet once more.

Vivienne looked around at everyone gathered there.

There was no embarrassment on her face.

Only calm.

"Actually..."

"It didn’t quite work out."

She gave a small, almost self-conscious smile.

"We realized we wanted different things."

"So... we both agreed it was best to end the engagement."

She laughed softly.

"Which means I was perfectly free to attend today."

Silence.

No one had expected such a simple answer.

Leon blinked.

"...Oh."

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck.

"I..."

"I’m sorry."

Vivienne smiled reassuringly.

"It’s alright."

"There really isn’t anything to apologize for."

"It was a mutual decision."

The awkwardness eased ever so slightly.

Christopher inclined his head.

"I appreciate you sharing that."

Vivienne returned the gesture with a small smile.

"Thank you."

Across the table...

Rebecca remained perfectly still.

Her fingers loosened around her teacup.

The realization settled quietly.

...I didn’t know.

For the first time that afternoon...

A faint trace of guilt crept into her chest.

She had intended to discourage the conversation.

Not reopen a wound.

Meanwhile...

Damian froze.

The engagement... ended?

The words struck him like a bolt from nowhere.

For one brief, suspended moment...

His mind became completely empty.

He simply looked at Vivienne.

Unable to think.

Unable to speak.