Chapter 88: not appropriate

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: not appropriate

Chapter 86

Together with several other members, Vivienne stepped into the Literature Society’s clubroom.

The familiar scent of old books welcomed her as warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall arched windows, illuminating rows of polished desks and overflowing bookshelves.

This was only her fourth meeting with the Literature Society.

Even so...

The room was already beginning to feel familiar.

She made her way toward her usual seat, setting her satchel beside her chair before quietly taking her place.

Almost unconsciously...

A small smile lingered on her lips.

"Later."

The single word drifted back into her thoughts once more.

Honestly...

It was such an ordinary farewell.

Yet somehow...

Coming from Anthony...

It had stayed with her all afternoon.

The smile returned before she even realized it.

Then—

Vivienne blinked.

...

Several students were looking in her direction.

Not openly.

Not rudely.

But...

Enough that she noticed.

One or two quickly looked away the moment their eyes met hers.

Another whispered something to the student beside her before both quietly returned to unpacking their books.

...

Is it just me?

The thought crossed her mind only briefly.

Perhaps she was imagining it.

Or perhaps...

She was simply more aware of her surroundings after the examinations.

Before she could think any further—

Professor Hartwell entered the room.

Almost immediately, the quiet conversations faded.

"Good afternoon, everyone."

The members rose from their seats.

"Good afternoon, Professor."

--

Professor Hartwell set a worn leather folder upon the lectern before looking around the room with his usual gentle smile.

"I trust everyone survived the preliminary examinations."

A ripple of quiet laughter passed through the clubroom.

"I believe so."

"So far."

"I’ll know for certain when the results are released."

Professor Hartwell chuckled.

"A reasonable answer."

He allowed the amusement to settle before continuing.

"Fortunately, we needn’t concern ourselves with examinations this afternoon."

"I’d much rather discuss literature."

Several members smiled as they returned to their seats.

The professor opened the novel resting upon the lectern.

"Before we begin..."

His eyes swept leisurely across the room.

They paused.

On Vivienne.

The corners of his lips curved ever so slightly.

"Lady Beaumont."

Vivienne looked up.

"Yes, Professor?"

Professor Hartwell regarded her with mild amusement.

"You seem to be in particularly good spirits today."

Several students instinctively turned toward her.

Vivienne blinked.

"...Do I?"

"I would say so."

A quiet chuckle spread through the room.

Only then did Vivienne realize...

She was still smiling.

Almost unconsciously, she touched the corner of her lips.

"...I suppose I am."

Professor Hartwell smiled kindly.

"I hope we aren’t interrupting whatever pleasant thoughts have occupied your afternoon."

A faint warmth crept into Vivienne’s cheeks.

"...Not at all, Professor."

More soft laughter followed.

Fortunately...

It was the good-natured sort.

The kind that came from being gently teased rather than embarrassed.

Professor Hartwell nodded with satisfaction.

"I’m glad to hear it."

"Then perhaps you’ll help us begin today’s discussion."

He rested one hand upon the open pages before him.

"Our protagonist spends much of this Chapter distinguishing between outward appearances and inward truths."

He looked toward Vivienne.

"What do you think the author is trying to suggest through that contrast?"

Vivienne considered the question for only a moment.

Then answered with the same calm thoughtfulness she always brought to class.

"I think..."

"The author is suggesting that appearances are often easier to judge than motives."

"People naturally form impressions from what they can see."

"But what truly moves a person isn’t always visible."

The room grew thoughtfully quiet.

Professor Hartwell nodded once.

"An excellent observation."

"I think that’s precisely where today’s discussion should begin."

As the conversation gradually expanded to include the rest of the class...

Catherine Lovell remained silent.

Her gaze lingered on Vivienne for only a moment longer.

She really was in unusually good spirits.

It wasn’t forced.

Nor had it disappeared after Professor Hartwell’s gentle teasing.

If anything...

The smile seemed entirely effortless.

Almost unconsciously, Catherine lowered her eyes to the open pages before her.

The conversations she’d overheard before the meeting quietly resurfaced.

Lord Blackwood.

Lunch.

Walking Lady Beaumont to the Humanities Building.

Her fingers rested lightly against the edge of her book.

She knew where the Strategic Management Society met.

It wasn’t here.

The Business Building stood on the opposite side of the campus.

There had been no reason for Damian to accompany Lady Beaumont all the way to Humanities.

Unless...

No.

She stopped herself.

Surely Lord Blackwood had simply been acting out of courtesy.

That would be entirely like him.

It was Lady Beaumont she found herself thinking about instead.

Lady Beaumont was engaged.

To Lord Anthony Ashford.

Lord Blackwood’s own cousin.

Whatever the explanation...

Surely she understood how such things appeared.

Catherine’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Perhaps...

Lady Beaumont simply wasn’t thinking about how her actions might be interpreted.

Or perhaps...

She was.

The thought unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

Whatever the truth...

It wasn’t appropriate.

"...Lady Lovell?"

Professor Hartwell’s voice drew her from her thoughts.

Catherine looked up almost immediately.

"As president of the Literature Society," he said pleasantly, "would you care to begin our discussion?"

She inclined her head.

"Certainly, Professor."

The room settled into attentive silence.

"The author presents an interesting contrast in this Chapter," Catherine began, her voice as composed as ever. "While the heroine insists that intentions should be judged above all else, the narrative repeatedly reminds the reader that society rarely extends the same courtesy."

She paused briefly.

"Whether fairly or unfairly, appearances carry consequences."

Several members nodded in agreement.

Professor Hartwell smiled.

"A thoughtful observation."

"Would anyone care to respond?"

A third-year student raised his hand.

"I think the heroine was simply naïve. She assumed everyone would understand her intentions."

"Perhaps," Professor Hartwell replied. "Though the novel does leave room for debate."

He looked around the room.

"Any other thoughts?"

For a brief moment...

No one spoke.

Then Catherine found herself looking toward Vivienne.

The smile from earlier still lingered faintly upon Lady Beaumont’s face.

Almost before she realized it—

"Lady Beaumont."

Vivienne lifted her eyes.

"Yes?"

Catherine’s expression remained perfectly courteous.

"If I may ask..."

"In the novel, the heroine continues accepting the company of another gentleman despite already being promised to someone else."

She spoke evenly, as though discussing nothing more than the text before them.

"Even if her intentions were entirely innocent..."

"Does she bear no responsibility for allowing such misunderstandings to arise?"

The room fell noticeably quieter.

Several senior members looked up.

It was...

A remarkably specific question.

Vivienne blinked once.

Then her gaze dropped briefly to the open novel before her.

Chapter Twelve...

So that was the passage Lady Lovell meant.

She considered it carefully before answering.

"I don’t believe responsibility belongs to only one person."

She looked back at Catherine.

"If someone realizes their actions may be misunderstood, then yes... they should be more mindful."

A few students nodded.

"But..."

"If nothing improper has actually happened..."

"I also think it’s unfair to judge someone solely because of appearances."

"The assumptions of others are still assumptions."

Silence settled over the room.

Professor Hartwell nodded thoughtfully.

"A balanced interpretation."

"I daresay the author intended readers to wrestle with exactly that question."

Around the room, discussion resumed naturally.

The younger members eagerly debated the heroine’s conduct.

To them...

It was simply another literary question.

The senior members, however, exchanged quiet glances.

The conversation had not escaped them.

Neither had the choice of who had been asked to answer.

At the officers’ table, the vice president lowered his eyes, saying nothing.

The secretary quietly turned a page of her notebook.

Neither commented.

Neither needed to.

Across the room, Megan rested her chin lightly against her hand.

The faintest smile touched her lips.

There it is.

She had wondered how long Catherine could remain above the gossip.

Apparently...

Not forever.

The question had been wrapped neatly in literary discussion.

Elegant.

Appropriate.

Entirely defensible.

Yet every senior in the room understood it had not been born from the novel alone.

Megan lowered her gaze to hide her amusement.

So you finally let it show.

Meanwhile, Catherine remained outwardly composed.

Yet Vivienne’s answer lingered in her thoughts.

"If nothing improper has actually happened..."

"It is unfair to judge someone solely because of appearances."

Catherine’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the edge of her book.

She truly believes that.

Or perhaps...

She simply didn’t understand.

Either possibility left Catherine quietly dissatisfied.

She turned her attention back to Professor Hartwell.

But for the first time that afternoon...

The discussion no longer felt entirely academic.