Читать книгу Wingless Bird - Анна Морион - Страница 4

Aunt Beatrice looked like a formidable ice statue, and the look in her blue eyes burned her niece with coldness. The girl frantically clutched her bouquet and, lowering her gaze to the flowers, realised with horror what she had done: she had plucked her aunt's gladioluses. And not even one, but (what horror!) as many as three.

"But how could I have known they were forbidden? No one had said a word about it! Not even Anthony! And he saw my bouquet and those unfortunate gladioli! Oh, my God, why should I be punished like this? She was so angry about some flowers! Now she'll hate me!" – Vivian thought with horror.

Panic seized the girl. Her heart hammered like a bird in a cramped cage.

– Auntie, I'm so sorry," she said quietly.

– My cousin Vivian got those gladioluses from me," Anthony interrupted her firmly: he had noticed the change in the face of his beautiful cousin and had rushed to her aid. How could he not have noticed those flowers? He must have been too fond of that fire-haired girl.

– But, Anthony, you are well aware of how much I treasure my gladioluses. – Lady Cranford's face softened: how could she be angry with her son?

– I know, Mother. But they suited my cousin's bouquet, so I thought you would make an exception this time and let Vivian decorate her chambers with them. Perhaps I was mistaken? In that case, I apologise. – Anthony bowed slightly to his mother.

– No, no, you were a gentleman," his mother retorted. A guilty smile played on her lips, and she hastened to mitigate the damage Vivian had done by her unfriendly, cold tone. – 'I'm sorry, my dear, I was mistaken. These gladioli are like children to me. May they make you happy with their colours.

– Thank you, Auntie, you are so generous. – Vivian sat down in a low kneeling position, not daring to look up at her aunt.

'Anthony lied to her to protect me! How sweet that is! He's a real hero!" – she thought involuntarily, full of gratitude to her cousin.

– 'A trifle, my dear. But the table is already set, and you both need a change of dress. You will see why I am so fond of the Southern Balcony," said Lady Cranford amiably, and, rustling her long silk dress, continued on her way to the kitchen.

As soon as the lady of the house was out of sight, Vivian sighed loudly and looked at Anthony.

– Thank you! You have saved me! – She exclaimed quietly, putting her hand on her breast, her heart still unwilling to slow down.

– Don't mention it," smiled her cousin. – I had forgotten how zealous my mother is about her gladioli. But now go to your chambers: you must freshen up. I'll see you in twenty minutes, at lunch. – He suddenly took the girl's hand in his, touched it with his lips, and then released her and went up the stairs, leaving Vivian, flushed as a poppy, to wonder at his action.

In the meantime Lady Cranford had reached the kitchen and, opening the door, was displeased to find almost all the servants of the house gathered round the table where the servants usually ate.

– What is going on here? – She asked in a calm but imperious tone. – Have you nothing else to do but sit here and gossip?

– I'm sorry, ma'am," she said, and the servants hurried out of the kitchen.

How embarrassing! The landlady was not mistaken: she had caught the servants discussing the new guest!

It was Emily's fault: no, oh no! Mr. Brown had not sent her to find Jane! Emily had decided to find her herself to tell her and others about the new miss, and Jane had been eager to share her impressions and sing Miss Vivian's dithyrambs: she is so beautiful! She is so kind! There is no one in the world better than she!

– She's a beauty like no one the world has ever seen! – Emily put in. – Let that French rat now tremble with terror!

"French rat" Greenhall servants called the first beauty of the high society of London – Mademoiselle Lucie de Croix. How dare this maiden come to England and turn the heads of English aristocrats while her native country and a shameless upstart are at war against the English monarchy!

But Lady Cranford came in and spoilt all the fun, with only the cook and Jane left in the kitchen.

– Buy a couple of pounds of the new brand of chocolates. They're said to have a very good flavour," Lady Cranford said. – And you, Jane, go and see Miss Cowell: she needs your help.

Jane made a silent curtsy and hurried to her new miss.

– Gertrude, you know how much I appreciate your culinary skills," the landlady said in a displeased tone to the cook. – But if I catch you and anyone else idling and gossiping, I'll have Mr. Brown calculate that person this very day. And tell that to the others. I hope it won't happen again.

– It won't, ma'am!" exclaimed Gertrude, the cook, frightened by her mistress's icy tone; she had no wish to lose her warm position.

Satisfied with the answer, Lady Cranford made her way to the South Balcony.

"Perhaps this Vivian is not so bad. Her bouquet was so modest… She could have brought a whole bunch of my flowers to her chambers," she thought as she went on her way: the last letter from her late sister, begging Beatrice to look after her daughter's future, had softened her heart. But the lady's lips were pressed into a thin line: "But Anthony… I don't like his behaviour: I must speak to him. And with her. Especially her. Let her not even think of making him fall in love with her”

It was only a couple of minutes before lunch, but Vivian had already appeared on the South Balcony, accompanied by Jane. Having previously locked themselves in Vivian's chambers, the girls had hurried to prepare their guest for lunch with her wealthy relatives. Vivian's luggage had been brought to the room before her walk in the garden, and while Jane hastily searched through the suitcase, and then ironed with a hot charcoal iron the dress which her miss wished to wear for the occasion, Vivian herself washed her face, palms, and armpits in cold water, and applied a drop of sweet but not cloying perfume to her neck. Jane then helped the girl into a fresh dress and tucked her unruly red curls into her hair.

– Luncheon will be on the South Balcony," Vivian said to her maid, admiring her reflection in the large, oak-framed mirror.

– 'Our ma'am likes to have lunch there, Miss Vivian,' Jane replied, also admiring her new mistress's beauty.

– Is there much sunshine there? Shall I wear a hat?

– No, Miss Vivian: the luncheon table is always placed in the shade.

– That's fine! – Vivian grabbed her white gloves. – Well, I'm ready! Lead the way!

– But, miss, you're not wearing any jewellery! – Jane exclaimed.

– Is it so important? – her mistress frowned.

– Of course it is! You must have noticed that Lady Cranford wears a gold chain with a small cross on it?

– О? No, I must have overlooked it," said Vivian indifferently, and it was the truth: whenever she met her aunt, the girl looked only into her cold blue eyes to show her fearlessness before her. – But if you assure me that it's important… – Without finishing her sentence, she took out a small round silver box from her suitcase, pressed it to her breast and said quietly to Jane: "This is my mother's jewellery. She had a hard life.

– Oh, Miss Vivian, I don't mean to be rude, but I already know something about your mother," she smiled sadly.

– You do? How? – Vivian gave her a surprised look.

– Lady Cranford was talking about your mother to her son, Mr. Cranford, as your carriage drove up to the house. And I stood behind them and heard everything.

– And what did my aunt tell my cousin?

– Not much, miss… But I gather from what she said that she and your mother had a complicated relationship," Jane said delicately. – I beg you, Miss Vivian, do not tell Lady Cranford that I told you what I heard!

– Foolish girl, of course I won't," said the red-haired beauty, smiling forcibly, flattered by the confidence of her maid, good sweet Jane.

"So my aunt has spoken unflatteringly of my poor mother! But should I be surprised? She must be insanely glad that my mother's act has caused my mad grandfather's whole inheritance to go to her alone! I know: she despises my mother and she despises me! But, dear auntie, I am not my mother, and I will not let her spoil my life! Do you despise me? Despise me! But it is I who will use you and your pretence of hospitality, and it is I who will triumph, and, having achieved my purpose, I will trample your name into the mud!" – Vivian thought with anger in her soul. Jane's story had made her furious, but she knew how to hide her feelings and smile when she wanted to throw up her hands in anger.

From now on, Vivian knew there was no turning back. She could not forgive her aunt for insulting the memory of her beloved mother.

Opening the box, the girl took out a thin gold chain with a small figure of a bird in flight and put it round her beautiful white neck.

"I am not afraid of you, auntie. There is not an ounce of fear in me, neither of your voice nor of your cold gaze!" – Miss Cowell thought with a mocking smile, and then added aloud: – Lead me, Jane. My auntie doesn't like tardiness.

Vivian, in her soft blue cotton dress, even more beautiful than before, made an indelible impression on the South Balcony, where the Cranford family were already seated at the round, richly laid table. Anthony was dazzled by her, and his mother narrowed her eyes suspiciously, and watched anxiously as her son fell more and more under the insidious spell of her poor relative. At that moment Lady Cranford became even more convinced of her intention to marry off her neglectful niece to the first man who asked for her hand in marriage. Let it be a sickly and toothless ugly old man, if only to get Vivian out of her arms as soon as possible and protect from her the naive Anthony, blinded by her devilish beauty.

Young Cranford hastened to lead his cousin to the table and seated her in a beautifully upholstered chair.

– What a beautiful piece of jewellery," said Lady Cranford in a slightly trembling voice, glancing at her niece's neck.

– Thank you, aunt. I inherited it from my mother," Vivian smiled charmingly at her.

"Dear Lord, does she hurt me on purpose?" – Lady Cranford shuddered in her heart, but answered Vivian with a calm smile, so unsuited to her blue, cold eyes.