Chapter 59: a familiar sight II

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: a familiar sight II

The afternoon seminar with Professor Walters concluded a little earlier than expected.

"That’s all for today," Professor Walters said as he gathered his notes.

"For next week, I’d like each of you to prepare a position paper on constitutional reform."

A chorus of resigned sighs spread throughout the classroom.

Julian leaned back in his chair.

"I knew there had to be a catch."

Professor Walters only smiled.

"I’ll expect your best work."

The classroom slowly emptied.

Students packed their bags while several remained behind to ask questions about the assignment.

Damian closed his notebook and slipped it neatly into his satchel.

"You two coming?" he asked.

Julian glanced toward the professor.

"I wanted to ask him about the research sources."

"So did I," Adrian added.

Damian nodded.

"I’ll wait outside."

He stepped into the corridor while his two friends remained inside the lecture room.

The hallway was unusually quiet.

Most afternoon lectures were still in session, leaving only the occasional student passing between classrooms.

Damian stood beside one of the tall windows overlooking the courtyard, absently watching the sunlight spread across the stone paths below.

"Lord Blackwood."

He turned.

Approaching him with measured, graceful steps was Catherine Lovell.

President of the Literature Society.

Daughter of the Duke of Lovell.

One of St. Albion University’s most admired young ladies.

Her platinum-blonde hair, almost silver beneath the afternoon light, fell in soft waves over one shoulder.

Her porcelain complexion and calm blue-gray eyes gave her an elegant, almost regal bearing.

Beautiful.

Graceful.

The sort of noble lady whose quiet confidence spoke louder than any introduction.

A respectful distance behind her, two fellow members of the Literature Society slowed their pace, quietly allowing her the privacy to speak.

Damian greeted her with his usual courtesy.

"Good afternoon, Lady Lovell."

"I hope I’m not interrupting."

"Not at all."

At that moment, Julian and Adrian stepped out of Professor Walters’ classroom.

Julian adjusted the strap of his satchel before looking down the corridor.

"...Lady Lovell?"

Adrian followed his gaze.

Catherine stood speaking with Damian.

The two Literature Society members remained several paces behind her.

Julian smiled knowingly.

"...This seems serious."

Adrian gave a small nod.

"It does."

Neither of them approached.

Instead, they remained where they were, quietly continuing their own conversation while waiting for Damian to finish.

Meanwhile...

Catherine looked back toward Damian.

"I’ve been meaning to speak with you for some time."

"I’m listening."

She offered a composed smile.

"The Founders’ Ball is approaching."

"It is."

"I imagine you’ve already been asked countless times."

Damian smiled politely.

"There have been a few conversations."

The corner of Catherine’s lips lifted ever so slightly.

"I suspected as much."

A brief silence followed.

She lightly adjusted the notebook she carried.

Not out of nervousness...

But simply choosing her next words with care.

"I was thinking..."

Before she could continue...

Movement outside the corridor windows caught Damian’s attention.

A familiar figure crossed the courtyard below.

Vivienne.

She walked slowly beneath the covered arcade surrounding Millward Hall.

She stopped outside one classroom.

Looked through the narrow window.

Waited.

Then quietly moved on to the next.

Damian’s gaze lingered almost unconsciously.

Again?

She was still searching?

Vivienne disappeared around another corner.

Without realizing it...

Damian found himself wondering where she’d check next.

"...Lord Blackwood?"

Catherine’s gentle voice brought him back.

He blinked once.

Then smiled apologetically.

"I’m sorry."

"I’ve just remembered something."

"My apologies, Lady Lovell."

"I’m afraid I’ll have to excuse myself."

For the briefest moment...

Surprise flickered across Catherine’s face.

She had not yet spoken the question she intended to ask.

Nevertheless...

Her composure returned almost immediately.

She smiled with effortless grace.

"Of course."

"It seems something requires your attention."

"I’m sorry."

"Please don’t concern yourself."

Damian inclined his head once more.

"Thank you for understanding."

With that...

He quietly took his leave.

Julian watched him walk across the corridor.

Only after Damian had disappeared around the corner did he speak.

"...That’s unlike him."

Adrian looked toward the direction Damian had gone.

"He usually stays until the other person has finished speaking."

Julian nodded.

"He already knew where that conversation was heading."

"...And yet he still left."

Neither of them sounded critical.

Only quietly puzzled.

Nearby, Catherine lowered her eyes for the briefest moment before smoothing the sleeve of her uniform.

One of her friends stepped closer.

"...Lady Catherine?"

Catherine smiled as serenely as ever.

"It would seem Lord Blackwood was occupied."

Her voice remained gentle.

Composed.

As though nothing awkward had happened at all.

"Another time, perhaps."

With quiet dignity, the three ladies continued down the opposite corridor.

--

Damian made his way down the corridor at an unhurried pace.

He wasn’t entirely certain why.

Curiosity, perhaps.

Or maybe...

Nostalgia.

Whatever the reason, his feet had already chosen the direction before he had given it much thought.

The covered arcade connecting the wings of Millward Hall was unusually quiet.

Most afternoon lectures were still in session.

Only the occasional professor crossed the corridor, while the distant murmur of classroom discussions drifted through partially opened windows.

Ahead of him...

He caught sight of Vivienne once more.

She paused outside another classroom.

Standing just far enough from the window to avoid disturbing the lecture inside, she glanced through the narrow pane of glass.

A moment later...

She moved on.

Damian smiled to himself.

Still searching.

He continued walking, careful to keep a respectful distance.

Not close enough to startle her.

Not far enough to lose sight of where she was headed.

She crossed into another corridor.

Stopped outside yet another classroom.

Looked inside.

Her shoulders sank almost imperceptibly.

Not here either.

Then, after the briefest pause...

She simply walked to the next one.

Damian’s smile deepened.

Stubborn.

He remembered afternoons at the Ashford estate years ago.

Anthony would disappear somewhere...

And young Vivienne always insisted on finding him herself.

She would search every place she could think of.

Miss him by mere minutes.

Then search all over again.

Whenever Damian happened to come across her, he had always found the sight strangely amusing.

Not because she looked pitiful.

But because she was utterly sincere.

If Anthony had to be found...

Then she would simply keep looking until she succeeded.

It seemed...

Very little had changed.

Vivienne reached the end of the corridor.

She looked once toward the staircase.

Then quietly chose another hallway instead.

Damian almost laughed.

She really intends to search the entire building.

He slipped one hand into his pocket and followed at an easy pace.

Students occasionally passed between classes, offering polite greetings as they recognized him.

"Good afternoon, Lord Blackwood."

"Good afternoon."

He answered each greeting with the same quiet courtesy without taking his eyes off the corridor ahead.

Eventually...

Vivienne emerged into the central courtyard.

Late afternoon sunlight bathed the stone pathways in warm gold.

For the first time that day...

She stopped walking.

From where he stood beneath the arcade, Damian watched her take a long, quiet breath.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

Rolled one shoulder as though easing away the stiffness that had settled there.

Then, almost absentmindedly, she rested both hands against her thighs for a brief moment before straightening again.

She looked tired.

Not discouraged.

Just...

Very tired.

After another deep breath, she lifted her head and looked toward yet another corridor leading back into Millward Hall.

Damian followed her gaze.

There were still several classrooms in that direction.

A faint chuckle escaped him.

...She’s going to make another lap.

He shook his head, unable to suppress the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

I suppose I’ll save her another lap.

With that thought, he stepped out from beneath the arcade.

His footsteps echoed softly across the stone pavement.

Vivienne had just begun to take another step when he spoke.

"Good afternoon, Lady Beaumont."

She froze.

For a fraction of a second...

She simply stood there.

Then she turned.

The instant their eyes met...

Recognition flashed across her face.

Followed almost immediately by realization.

He caught me.

Her eyes widened.

Then drifted, almost involuntarily, toward the long stretch of corridors behind her.

Back to Damian.

Then back again.

As though suddenly seeing herself exactly as he must have.

Walking from building to building.

Looking into classroom after classroom.

Searching.

Her cheeks warmed.

Damian didn’t say anything.

He simply watched the succession of expressions pass across her face with quiet amusement.

Embarrassment.

Resignation.

Then...

She covered her face with both hands.

"...Not again."

The words escaped between an embarrassed laugh and a groan.

Damian finally laughed.

Not loudly.

Just enough for the warmth in it to be unmistakable.

He had been right.

Some things...

Really never did change.