Chapter 46: the walk back

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: the walk back

The conversation continued more naturally than either of them expected.

Perhaps it was because the morning’s awkwardness had already been laughed away.

Or perhaps...

There simply wasn’t any need to force the silence.

Vivienne found herself complaining about horses.

"They’re much taller when you’re actually sitting on one."

Damian smiled.

"They do have that habit."

"And Maple ignored me."

"He ate grass."

Damian chuckled.

"He does that when he thinks his rider has stopped paying attention."

"I was paying attention."

"I’m sure you were."

"He didn’t seem convinced."

"He probably wasn’t."

Vivienne sighed dramatically.

"I’ve been judged by a horse."

"I don’t think my dignity will ever recover."

Damian laughed.

"I’m afraid Maple can be rather opinionated."

"I noticed."

"I think he likes you."

Vivienne looked at him as though he’d said something completely unreasonable.

"...Then why does everything hurt?"

"Those are unrelated matters."

"I refuse to believe that."

Damian only smiled.

"You’ll understand eventually."

"I sincerely hope not."

They continued walking beneath the shade of the old acacia trees lining the university paths.

Students passed them in small groups, chatting about club activities and weekend plans.

Neither of them noticed how much ground they had already covered.

By the time the familiar bustle of the university reached them again, the canteen stood just ahead.

Vivienne blinked.

"...We’re here already?"

Damian looked up.

Apparently...

They were.

"I suppose we are."

For some reason...

The walk had felt surprisingly short.

Vivienne looked toward the ladies’ residence in the distance before letting out a quiet sigh.

"I think my first destination should be the bath."

She glanced down at her riding clothes with a helpless smile.

"I smell like the stables."

"And I don’t think I can survive lunch looking like this."

Damian nodded in agreement.

"A sensible decision."

Then, almost without thinking, he asked,

"Would you like me to walk you back?"

The offer came so naturally that even he didn’t seem to realize he’d made it.

Vivienne looked at him in mild surprise before smiling.

"No, it’s alright."

"I’ll survive."

She took one careful step.

Then another.

"...Eventually."

Damian couldn’t help smiling.

"I believe you."

They reached the point where the stone pathway divided.

One branch led toward the ladies’ residence.

The other continued toward the gentlemen’s dormitory and the academic buildings.

For a brief moment...

Neither of them moved.

Then Vivienne smiled.

"I suppose this is where we part."

"It would seem so."

She inclined her head politely.

"Thank you."

"For the advice."

"And..."

Her cheeks warmed faintly.

"...For apologizing."

Damian returned the small nod.

"You’re welcome."

Vivienne turned to leave.

After only a few careful steps, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder.

"...Oh."

"I’ll see you tomorrow."

Damian blinked.

Tomorrow?

Then he remembered.

The Ashford Foundation.

Saturday.

Community outreach.

A small smile appeared almost instinctively.

"...Right."

"I’ll see you tomorrow."

Vivienne waved lightly before continuing toward the ladies’ residence.

Damian remained where he was for another moment.

Watching her walk...

Very...

Very...

Carefully.

Only after she disappeared around the corner did he continue toward his own residence.

Somehow...

Tomorrow didn’t seem quite so far away.

The moment Vivienne pushed open the door to her room, Claire looked up from her desk.

"Vivienne?"

"I’m back."

Claire smiled.

Then her eyes drifted downward.

"...Horse?"

Vivienne nodded weakly.

"...Horse."

Claire’s expression immediately shifted into one of complete understanding.

"Oh no."

"It was that bad?"

Vivienne slowly set her bag on the floor.

"I couldn’t even get on the horse."

Claire blinked.

"What?"

"I had to be helped."

"...By one of the stable hands."

There was a long pause.

Claire honestly tried not to laugh.

She failed.

"I’m sorry."

"I’m really trying."

Vivienne sighed.

"So was I."

Still smiling, Claire walked over and gently took Vivienne’s riding jacket from her shoulders.

"Come on."

"I’ll start filling the bathtub."

"You look like you’re about to collapse."

"I am about to collapse."

Claire laughed softly as she disappeared into the bathroom.

A moment later, the sound of running water filled the room.

Vivienne lowered herself carefully onto a chair.

"...Ow."

Claire peeked around the doorway.

"That bad?"

"I think sitting down was a mistake."

"...Standing up again?"

"I’d rather not think about it."

This time, both of them laughed.

When the bath was finally ready, Claire smiled.

"Go."

"I’ll bring lunch back."

Vivienne looked at her gratefully.

"Claire."

"Hm?"

"...You’re wonderful."

Claire grinned.

"I know."

The moment Vivienne eased herself into the warm bath, she let out the longest sigh she’d made all day.

Heat slowly seeped into her aching muscles.

Little by little...

The soreness began to ease.

She closed her eyes.

"...Damian was right."

A warm bath really did help.

She leaned back against the edge of the tub.

Then...

Another memory quietly surfaced.

"Anthony!"

Damian’s voice echoed across the polo grounds.

Vivienne immediately covered her face with both hands.

"...Don’t think about it."

Anthony had looked over.

He had seen her standing beside Damian.

He had even acknowledged her with that small wave.

Which meant...

He probably knew.

He probably realized she’d been standing there for quite a while before Damian had called out to him.

Vivienne slowly sank lower into the warm water.

"...That is so embarrassing."

She could only imagine what Anthony must have thought.

Was she watching me the whole time?

Unfortunately...

The answer was yes.

A tiny groan escaped her.

Then she remembered Damian apologizing afterward.

...

Well...

At least he’d apologized.

...

After laughing at her first.

Vivienne sighed.

"...He’s impossible."

Yet somehow...

The memory no longer made her want to hide beneath the blankets.

Claire returned a little later carrying a tray from the canteen.

Soup.

Fresh bread.

A sandwich.

And tea.

"You really brought everything."

"You need to recover."

Vivienne smiled.

"I feel spoiled."

"You are spoiled."

Claire said matter-of-factly.

"But today, you’ve earned it."

Vivienne laughed.

The two of them ate together while talking about their morning.

Claire listened with great interest as Vivienne described Maple’s unwavering determination to eat grass, Miss Carter’s endless patience, and the embarrassing struggle just to mount the horse.

By the end of the story, Claire was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"I shouldn’t laugh..."

"But I can picture it perfectly."

Vivienne buried her face in her teacup.

"...Please don’t."

"I’ll try."

Claire smiled.

"No promises."

After lunch, Claire glanced at the clock.

"You know..."

"You could ask for permission to miss this afternoon’s Literary Society meeting."

Vivienne shook her head almost immediately.

"No."

"It’ll only be our second meeting."

"I don’t want to miss it if I can help it."

Claire smiled knowingly.

"I thought you’d say that."

Compared to the morning’s excitement, the afternoon passed quietly.

The Literary Society met once again, discussing poetry, essays, and the reading list for the coming weeks.

Vivienne listened more than she spoke, content simply to learn and observe.

By the time the final meeting ended and the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, the soreness in her legs had eased just enough to make walking bearable.

Friday quietly came to an end.

Tomorrow...

She would return to the Ashford Foundation once more.