The Bird has got wings

– You… You're right. It's my husband! – Vivian said quietly, as if afraid of being overheard, and squeezed her friend's palm. – He loves me… But he loves me madly! He's so jealous of me that he won't let me come to see you. He's afraid that I'll smile at other men…

– But, my dear, it's so… Unimaginable! So cruel! – Charlotte whispered loudly. – He has no right to do this to you! You are his lawful husband, not some kept woman.

– Alas! I am a kept woman! – I did not bring him a dowry, and I am sure that is why he feels that I am his master. Or maybe he thinks I'm a beautiful filly he bought to please his eyes… And he told me I must bear him three children! Three, Charlotte! – She laughed helplessly. – Luckily, that's not going to happen: I need only to drink a special herb… .

– But does your cousin know about all this? – Charlotte asked pointedly.

– No… I play the role of the happy fool and make him think there's nothing but harmony and happiness between me and Jeremy. – Vivian swallowed. – But Jeremy… He… I'm afraid of him… I'm afraid his love for me will break me, kill me… .

– Miss Salton! – suddenly came the voice of the butler from behind the closed door. – May I come in?

– Yes, yes, of course! – replied the girl.

Vivian's last sentence made her turn pale with horror, and she decided to give her friend a short pause, realising how difficult it was for her to share such intimate secrets.

The door to the chambers opened and Mr. Anderson entered the room, holding a silver tray in his hand.

– Another gentleman to see you, Miss," he announced courteously, and approached the lady of the house.

– What an interesting day! One day you have no guests, the next you have three! – Vivian smiled falsely.

– You're right, my dear! – Charlotte giggled. She took a beautiful business card from the tray, ran her eyes over it, and on her face Vivian read a look of real alarm.

– It's my husband, isn't it? – Mrs. Wington asked almost inaudibly.

Charlotte glanced at her friend and silently handed her the card.

But Vivian did not need to read the name written on that neat gold-patterned rectangle. She knew him.

– He's here… He's come for me," the girl smiled bitterly, and her fingers clutched convulsively at Charlotte's delicate palm.

Chapter 6

– Jeremy! I didn't expect to see you here! – Anthony exclaimed in surprise when he saw his best friend enter the lobby of Lillehus.

Mr. Wington gave the servant his hat and cloak, and the friends hugged each other tightly.

– You have come straight from the hunt! – young Cranford said cheerfully, only now noticing that Jeremy was dressed in a dark hunting suit, stained in places with brown mud. His boots were covered with dried forest soil.

– You wrote that you were back, so I thought I'd take my time and meet you," Jeremy said cheerfully. – But where are our beauties?

– Miss Salton is choosing a hat for her walk, and your husband is helping her. We're going for a walk in the garden, you see.

– Oh, splendid. Then my unexpected arrival is not so out of place… Are you the butler? – Jeremy turned to Mr. Anderson, who had come out of the next room. – Would you give your lady my card?

– If you say so, sir. – Mr. Anderson took the card from his new guest and headed for the stairs.

– 'Ah, yes, my sincere condolences: I learnt of your father's death in this morning's paper, a fortnight late,' Anthony hastened to say to his friend.

– Thank you, my friend. But I must confess that I feel no loss at all. He didn't exist for me, and I didn't exist for him," Jeremy said in an indifferent tone, smoothing his beautiful, slightly dishevelled hair. – My old man left this world at a very convenient moment for me, and I'm grateful for that.

– What cynicism," Anthony grumbled. – I know he wasn't a good father, but you have no right to speak of him that way.

– Even if you know that he got me addicted to alcohol when I was thirteen? – Jeremy grinned: his friend's words had hurt his pride, and he felt a little irritated with him.

– Thirteen? – Anthony asked incredulously.

– Thirteen. It was Christmas, and he made me drink a bottle of whisky with him at the party table. I'd never had a drink before. But my old man thought I was too reserved and he wanted to see me smile, he told me that night. – Jeremy lifted his chin and squinted at his friend. – I don't think they made you drink whiskey when you were thirteen.

– No, I wasn't. The first time I touched alcohol was when I was fifteen, and it was a small shot of sweet liquor," Anthony agreed, and suddenly realised what a bright, full of comfort and care he had had during the years when Jeremy had been a mere shadow to his father, a shadow he had tried to ignore.

– From that evening I drank every day. It was a glass of wine at lunch, a little brandy before bed… And whisky. Yes, my father's favourite whisky. He got me addicted to it," Jeremy said thoughtfully. – And when I became addicted, he said I was a disgrace to his name. Damn…" He stopped himself just in time to avoid swearing in front of his friend. – So I'm glad he's dead. Call me whatever you want. It's your right.

– I'm sorry… I'm sorry your father was so selfish," Anthony said quietly, but then smiled broadly. – But enough about him. Tell me, my friend, how did you decide to marry my cousin? I remember you said that even her beauty did not outshine her poverty!

– Love, my friend, is unpredictable! – Jeremy laughed at that. – I fell in love with that red-haired nymph so much that I didn't care about a thing. The old man sent me away when I told him of my intention to marry Vivian.

But when I received the news of his death, when he finally made me happy with his passing, the first thing I did when I got back to London was to pay a visit to your cousin. I proposed to her. She accepted. It's a very amusing story with a happy ending. But I missed you at the wedding.

– Alas, I had to leave London immediately to visit my brother," Anthony sighed.

– Vivian told me. I hope the child will be back on his feet soon.

– I hope so too.

There was silence. A strange, uncomfortable silence for both gentlemen. Fortunately, footsteps were soon heard on the stairs and the butler appeared.

– I gave your card to Miss Salton, sir," Mr. Anderson said to Jeremy as he approached the guests. – She said to ask if you gentlemen would like to quench your thirst?

– No, thank you," Anthony replied politely.

– I think I shall decline too," shrugged Mr. Wington. – But did Miss Salton tell you how long we must wait for the ladies to appear?

– She did, sir. She said she was almost ready, and the ladies would be down in a few minutes. Is there any other favour I can do for you? – The butler asked.

– I don't think so. But please share with us: where did you learn English so well? – Anthony asked with a smile.

– My position requires many skills, sir. – Mr. Anderson's lips trembled slightly in a smile. – 'Besides, as you must know, Mr. Salton is a pure-blooded Englishman, and he prefers everyone in his house to speak his own language. Even the maids. – He gave his guests a polite bow and left.