Wingless Bird - стр. 2

– Later. That'll hold. Follow me. – Lady Cranford passed Jane indifferently, and she hurried after her into the courtyard.

The carriage pulled slowly up to the front door.

– I didn't know we were expecting guests. – The phrase belonged to Mr. Anthony Cranford, Lady Cranford's youngest son. This handsome, stately man of twenty-five was admired by all the young maids, including Jane, so when she saw him dressed in an expensive hunting suit, with a gun on his shoulder, she blushed and hurriedly turned her gaze to the carriage.

But Anthony Cranford did not notice Jane's maid, even though she was pretty. The only Greenhall girl who attracted his attention was Emily, and she, beautiful and sharp-tongued, wasted no opportunity to flirt with the master's son, naturally avoiding his mother's inquisitive gaze.

– Yes, we expect so," Lady Cranford answered her son in an indifferent tone. – 'This is my foolish sister's daughter.

– The one your father disinherited? – Mr. Cranford said, approaching his mother in an airy manner.

– Yes, Catherine's daughter," his mother confirmed. – My younger sister married against our father's wishes to a penniless petty nobleman and broke our mother's heart. Fool!

– And what of her daughter?

– She will live with us. Catherine died many years ago, and before she died, she wrote to me begging me to help her daughter, Vivian.

– That's a pretty name," Anthony grinned at that. – So your penniless relative will live under your roof? Even after what her mother has done?

– You know, my dear, what a pitiful heart I have. I could not refuse my dying sister.

– Then why did this Vivian only turn up here today?

– I wrote to her father that I would not take her into my house and care until she was eighteen. I hope she's beautiful, and I'll find her a match quickly. Of course, with her background, she can't expect a rich, noble bridegroom. – Lady Cranford narrowed her eyes. – She will marry the first man who asks for her hand.

– Mother, you are a noble woman," said her son, and kissed his mother's cold white palm.

'A poor motherless relative, then! – With a mocking smile he thought. – The mother must have loved her fallen sister fiercely to put such a burden on her frail shoulders. Well, I'll be polite, but no more. I don't want to be seen with that beardless wench!"

But the sneer was gone from his lips as soon as his penniless cousin descended gracefully from the carriage and came into view of the Cranfords.

"What a horror!" – flashed through Lady Cranford's mind. She cast her niece from head to foot with an unceremonious glance, and her pretty mouth turned into a thin lifeless line.

– Almighty God! Look at that! Have you ever seen such a thing? – exclaimed one of the maids in the kitchen, as she stood on a chair and looked out of a small window high up on the wall. How convenient that from this window there was a view, though distant, of the courtyard of the house.

– What is it, Mary? What is it? – There was a rumble of voices from her friends.

– Oh, you wouldn't believe it! Oh, my God, is there such a thing? – Mary exclaimed again instead of answering. – I won't tell you! You'll see for yourself!

At the same time, the guilty party looked without fear or shyness into her aunt's face.