Vivienne looked down at herself.
A fine layer of dust clung stubbornly to the sleeves of her cream blouse.
She sighed softly before brushing it away.
One sleeve.
Then the other.
A tiny piece of hay had somehow found its way onto the back of her skirt.
"...Honestly."
She reached behind herself until she finally brushed it free.
Only then did she smooth the front of her blouse before carefully straightening the collar.
Her fingers automatically found her ponytail.
The morning lesson had loosened several strands of her blonde hair.
"...Oh."
She quickly retied it.
A few stubborn strands still framed her face.
Much better.
She inspected herself once more.
Blouse.
Skirt.
Boots.
No dust.
No hay.
Then she paused.
...
Quietly opening her satchel, she retrieved a small crystal perfume bottle.
Elegant.
Delicate.
One of the few luxuries she insisted on carrying wherever she went.
She hesitated for only a second.
One light spray.
Then another at her wrists.
A soft floral fragrance gently replaced the lingering scent of hay.
Vivienne smiled in quiet satisfaction.
Much better.
Anthony probably wouldn’t notice.
...
But she would.
And she certainly wasn’t about to greet him smelling like a stable.
She slipped the perfume bottle back into her satchel before taking a slow breath.
The Polo Club should be finishing around now.
Her heart skipped almost immediately.
Calm down.
You’re only walking back.
The two clubs happen to share the same pathway.
There’s absolutely nothing strange about that.
...
Right?
She wasn’t waiting.
Not exactly.
She simply...
Wanted their paths to cross.
That was all.
With that perfectly reasonable explanation firmly established in her mind, Vivienne began walking toward the stone pathway separating the two clubs.
She chose a spot beneath the shade of a maple tree overlooking the main exit.
From there...
She could see students gradually beginning to leave the polo grounds.
She clasped her hands together behind her back.
Then immediately realized that looked too deliberate.
She casually folded her arms instead.
...
No.
That looked even stranger.
After another moment’s indecision, she simply let her hands rest naturally at her sides.
Much better.
Probably.
She quietly admired the scenery.
Or at least...
She pretended to.
Every few moments, her eyes drifted toward the polo grounds.
Just for a second.
Then away again.
...
I hope he comes out soon.
Practice had finally ended.
Anthony removed his riding gloves as several first-year members began returning equipment to the storage shed.
Nearby, assistant coaches directed students toward the stables while others checked the condition of the horses after training.
As one of the senior members, Anthony naturally remained behind.
He bent to gather several practice balls.
Then...
Almost by habit...
His eyes wandered toward the pathway outside the grounds.
...
There she was.
Lady Beaumont.
Standing quietly beneath the maple tree.
He paused.
Only for a moment.
Just long enough to confirm he wasn’t mistaken.
She really was there.
...
She must have come from the neighboring riding grounds.
Which meant...
She was probably waiting for him.
Anthony quietly looked away before she had the chance to notice him.
If she hadn’t seen him yet...
Then perhaps...
He could simply pretend he hadn’t seen her either.
It wasn’t that he disliked Lady Beaumont.
Quite the opposite.
She had always treated him with sincerity.
She was courteous.
Kind.
Their engagement had been arranged years ago.
Barring something unforeseen...
It was an arrangement both families fully intended to honor.
Anthony had long since accepted that reality.
But that was precisely why he preferred not to create unnecessary misunderstandings.
If they happened to meet, he would naturally greet her with all the courtesy expected of him.
He always would.
But if circumstances allowed him to quietly avoid an awkward situation...
There was no reason not to.
His gaze shifted toward one of the assistant coaches.
A practical solution immediately came to mind.
He walked over.
"Sir."
The older man looked up.
"Yes, Anthony?"
"Is there anything else that still needs doing?"
The assistant coach glanced around the practice grounds before nodding.
"As a matter of fact..."
"We still need to return the practice mallets and collect the remaining training balls."
Anthony answered almost immediately.
"I’ll take care of it."
"Much appreciated."
Anthony inclined his head before carrying the bundle of mallets toward the storage shed.
...
That should give the members enough time to disperse.
Hopefully...
By the time he finished...
Lady Beaumont would have already left.
Several minutes passed.
Outside the grounds, Vivienne shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"...They’re taking longer than I expected."
A group of first-year members emerged through the gates.
She smiled politely as they passed.
Not him.
Another group followed.
Still not him.
Maybe...
The senior members simply had more responsibilities after practice.
That made sense.
Anthony had always been diligent.
She could wait a little longer.
Anthony had just finished stacking the practice mallets when another familiar voice called out behind him.
"You’re still helping?"
He turned.
"Evelyn."
She offered him a polite smile.
"I thought practice had already ended."
"It has."
Anthony brushed a little dust from his sleeves.
"We’re just finishing the last of the equipment."
"I see."
Her gaze drifted almost unconsciously toward the entrance of the polo grounds.
Beyond the white fence...
She spotted Lady Beaumont standing patiently beneath the maple tree.
Evelyn had noticed Vivienne from the very first day of classes.
It would’ve been difficult not to.
Lady Beaumont possessed the kind of beauty that naturally drew attention.
Golden hair.
Clear blue eyes.
An elegance refined since childhood.
Even among St. Albion’s exceptionally accomplished students...
She stood out effortlessly.
Yet during the past week...
Evelyn had quietly observed something she hadn’t expected.
Lady Beaumont wasn’t arrogant.
She listened attentively during lectures.
She thanked professors before leaving the classroom.
She laughed easily with Claire, Amelia, and Eleanor.
When another student answered a difficult question correctly, she applauded with the rest of the class without the slightest hint of envy.
She wasn’t the distant noblewoman Evelyn had unconsciously imagined before arriving at the university.
She was...
Far more approachable than she’d expected.
Evelyn’s gaze lingered for another quiet moment.
A faint ache settled somewhere deep within her chest.
Not because of Lady Beaumont.
Lady Beaumont had done nothing wrong.
If anything...
She was exactly the sort of young woman who deserved to stand beside Anthony.
Beautiful.
Kind.
Well-born.
His equal in every way.
Evelyn had always known Anthony was engaged.
That had never been a secret.
Which was precisely why...
The quiet feelings she had begun carrying in her heart were never meant to be spoken aloud.
An assistant coach called from across the grounds.
"Anthony."
"We’re ready."
Anthony inclined his head.
"I should get back."
"Of course."
Evelyn smiled gently.
"I won’t keep you."
Anthony returned to his duties.
Evelyn remained where she was for another moment.
Her eyes drifted once more toward the blonde figure patiently waiting beneath the maple tree.
Then she quietly turned away.
Some feelings...
Were better left unspoken.