For the first few moments...
Neither of them spoke.
The stone pathway stretched quietly between the polo grounds and the neighboring riding arena.
To their right, horses trotted steadily across a practice field while instructors called out calm, measured instructions to their riders.
Beyond the white wooden fences, the morning sun cast long golden shadows across the grass.
Damian walked with the easy confidence of someone who had spent the past four years crossing these very grounds.
His stride was long but unhurried.
Vivienne found herself taking two slightly quicker steps for every one of his.
Only after several moments did Damian seem to notice.
Without a word...
He slowed his pace.
The adjustment was so natural that it almost looked unconscious.
Vivienne glanced up at him in slight surprise.
From this distance...
She realized just how tall he actually was.
She had noticed it before, of course.
But walking beside him made the difference far more obvious.
"...Thank you."
Damian looked at her for a brief moment.
Then, understanding what she meant, he simply gave a small nod.
Nothing more was said.
Yet somehow...
The walk felt a little less awkward than before.
As they continued, a gentle breeze drifted across the grounds.
A few loose strands of Vivienne’s blonde hair escaped from her ponytail, shimmering softly beneath the morning sunlight.
Damian noticed it only in passing.
The little girl who used to run through Ashford Manor’s gardens had quietly grown into a graceful young lady before he’d even realized it.
Time really did pass quickly.
After another few moments of comfortable silence...
Damian spoke.
"Joining the Polo Club without knowing how to ride..."
He glanced sideways at her.
"...That was ambitious."
Vivienne covered her face with one hand.
"...Please."
"I’m already embarrassed enough."
Damian chuckled.
"I believe you."
"The look on your face when Coach Langley asked about your riding experience..."
"...was memorable."
Vivienne let out a defeated sigh.
"I read the handbook."
"I looked through the list of clubs."
"I even convinced myself horses couldn’t possibly be that frightening."
She glanced back toward the polo grounds.
"It genuinely never occurred to me that knowing how to ride was a requirement."
Damian nodded thoughtfully.
"That’s understandable."
"Most of us who grew up around horses simply take it for granted."
"We forget it isn’t common knowledge."
Vivienne looked at him in mild surprise.
"...Thank you."
The corner of Damian’s lips lifted ever so slightly.
Then...
A quiet laugh escaped from Vivienne before she could stop it.
"There it is."
She tilted her head.
"What?"
"When we met the other day..."
"You looked like you were trying very hard to stay composed."
"That laugh sounds much more natural."
Vivienne smiled sheepishly.
"...I suppose I was a little nervous."
"I noticed."
The conversation settled into another comfortable silence.
Only the distant sounds of hooves and birds accompanied them now.
After a while, Damian spoke again.
"I’ll admit..."
"You handled that better than I expected."
Vivienne looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"When Coach Langley redirected you."
"I thought you were going to argue."
She blinked.
"...Why would I?"
Damian gave her an amused look.
"I don’t know."
"You used to be rather... determined."
Vivienne laughed softly.
"I don’t think arguing with Coach Langley would’ve suddenly taught me how to ride."
Damian laughed as well.
"...Fair point."
A few more steps passed before he spoke again.
"I suppose time really does change people."
Vivienne glanced at him.
Damian simply shrugged.
"At least a little."
She smiled quietly but said nothing.
Before long, another riding arena came into view.
Compared to the competitive atmosphere of the polo grounds, this side of the equestrian complex felt noticeably calmer.
Several riders practiced at an easy pace while instructors corrected their posture from the center of the arena.
Near the stables, a few beginners carefully learned how to lead their horses beneath the guidance of another instructor.
Damian stopped beneath the wooden archway marking the entrance.
"Well."
"This is your destination."
Vivienne looked toward the arena before turning back to him.
"...Thank you."
"For walking me over."
"My pleasure."
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Then a familiar grin slowly appeared on Damian’s face.
"Oh."
"I almost forgot."
Vivienne looked at him curiously.
Damian tilted his head ever so slightly.
"Try not to fall off the horse."
...
Vivienne blinked.
"You..."
Damian laughed.
"I couldn’t resist."
With an easy wave, he turned and headed back toward the polo grounds.
Vivienne watched his tall figure gradually disappear beyond the white fences before making her way toward the instructor waiting beside a table.
After a brief explanation, the instructor welcomed her warmly before handing her a short registration form.
Vivienne stepped aside and quietly began filling it out.
Name.
Year level.
Emergency contact.
Previous riding experience.
She hesitated for only a moment before honestly writing:
None.
As she handed the form back, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
...
How strange.
She couldn’t remember Damian ever teasing Evelyn like that in the novel.
Then again...
The story had always been told from Evelyn’s perspective.
Perhaps...
There were simply parts of Damian Blackwood that had never made it onto those pages.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Whatever awaited her here...
It seemed she was about to discover far more than she’d ever read.