The Bird has got wings - стр. 35

After Jane had changed her into her nightdress and unbraided her high hair, Vivian sent the maid to rest, and sitting down at the dressing-table, began to comb her long fiery hair with a thick brush. Her body and soul were tense, and her mind tried to catch the sound of footsteps approaching the bedroom.

And soon she heard them.

– You did not wish to dine with me," was the first thing her husband said as he entered the bedroom and approached her.

– I don't feel well. You were right: it seems that this evil wind has brought me a cold after all," Vivian replied in an even tone.

– That's a pity. But let's continue our conversation, my love," Jeremy said in a quiet, ingratiating tone.

Vivian shifted her gaze from her reflection in the mirror to her husband's. Her emerald eyes opened wide. Her breathing quickened.

Jeremy stood behind her, a few feet away from her, a long, thin whip resting on his open palms.

– Are you going out again? This late? – Praying in her heart that he would answer yes, Vivian asked. She wanted her voice to be calm, but she couldn't contain the fear coursing through her soul.

"Lord, almighty, good, just! Save me from his wrath! He will beat me to death!" – The thought sent icy goosebumps running down the girl's body.

– Oh, is that what you mean? – Jeremy tinkled the whip against his palm as if demonstrating his abilities.

– Why did you bring the whip with you, my love? – Vivian put the brush in the top drawer of the dressing table and wanted to get to her feet, but the stern "Sidi" thrown by her husband made her stay in her seat and continue to stare at Jeremy's reflection in the mirror.

Instead of answering, the young man came close to his spouse, placed the whip on her lap and began to gently stroke her neck with his fingers.

– I'll tell you a funny story," he said quietly after a moment of silence, and Vivian shuddered at the sound of his voice. – When I was ten years old, my father threw a dinner party and invited the few friends he had-" Jeremy grinned. – Three married couples came. Alone, without children. Their children were asleep at home because it was late: my father's whim had set dinner for ten o'clock at night. I, too, was forbidden to leave my room. Strictly forbidden. But I was eager to see the guests, so I quietly crept into the dining room and hid behind a large heavy curtain. But I didn't realise that the curtain didn't hide the toes of my house shoes, and I was soon discovered.

Jeremy stopped talking and wrinkled his nose slightly, as if the memory hurt him. But his fingers continued to stroke the neck of his wife, who sat in front of him, pale and tense as an overly taut string.

– My father was angry with me. His anger was so great that he began to berate and insult me in front of his own guests. He was drunk. He smelled of alcohol so badly that I almost fainted from the odour, which was disgusting to me at the time. I was only a curious child who had recently lost his mother. – Mr. Wington took a deep breath, his dark eyes fixed on the reflection of Vivian's face. – I remembered his face forever: red as an apple, so red I thought his head would explode.

– I'm sorry you had to suffer such a horror, and as an innocent little boy," she said quietly.