Vivienne stood still.
Her body froze like she had turned to stone, but her eyes stayed locked on the horse. Something in her said to turn around. Walk away. Leave. It's just a horse, for heaven's sake. A stupid, breathing, eating, shitting animal. But her feet didn't listen. They stayed rooted to the ground like the world would collapse if she dared to move.
Her mind screamed, "Turn around, idiot! You're here to play nice with the duke, not flirt with some horse!"
But her legs said, "Shut up," and carried her closer.
The closer she got, the louder her heart pounded. It wasn't fear — not really. It was something sharper, something that made her breath come short and her skin prickle. The horse noticed her before she even reached the gate. It neighed, sharp and strong, like a warning. The sound made her stop for a moment, her hands trembling slightly.
She swallowed hard.
