Wingless Bird - стр. 29

– Alas, my dear Viviane, that is so. But what distinguishes you from Mademoiselle de Croix is your sober judgement: for you do not, I hope, allow imagination and pride to rob you of your grasp of reality. You are anxious to marry well, but you will not chase after the phantom hopes of a marriage with a man who is fortunate enough to have a high, high-profile title," Anthony smiled softly.

"How wrong you are, my cruel cousin!" – flashed through the girl's mind. Smiling sarcastically, Vivian brought the porcelain cup of fragrant freshly brewed coffee to her lips.

– And yet you are unfair to Mademoiselle de Croix," she finally said grimly. – And I will prove it to you. We shall become close friends, and I hope she will become the consort of the Duke of Nightingale himself.

– That will never happen. – Anthony could see clearly how his beautiful cousin's mood had suddenly fallen, but he was unwilling to back down. – Duke Nightingale will not marry even Aphrodite, if she is poorer than himself. Besides, there are rumours that he will soon marry Admiral Beckley's daughter, who has royal blood in her. So when you become Mademoiselle de Croix's friend, try to open her eyes to the bitter reality.

– You are cruel, cousin. Have you no heart? – Miss Cowell frowned and rose abruptly from her chair: her blood was boiling with anger, and she was determined to leave her cousin's and aunt's company before the volcano exploded in her. – Please forgive me, auntie: I have a headache. I always get a headache when the sky is covered with such dark, rainy clouds.

– Of course, my dear, go to your chambers and lie down," Lady Cranford said to her gently: she was glad that there had been a misunderstanding between her son and her niece, for it might have led to a cessation of communication between them. She had a hope of that.

– Could you send Jane to me with a wet towel? – Vivian asked.

– 'I will.

Vivian made a deep curtsy and retired to her chambers. Now that she was free from the scrutiny of her aunt's and her cousin's watchful eyes, her cheeks flamed with anger, and her heart was full of indignation and contempt for Anthony, who regarded her as a "wingless bird". Vivian put her fingers to her forehead and wrinkled her nose: she had a real headache and wished she could lie down.

The Cranfords went on with their breakfast, but a few minutes later there was a low rumble of thunder that made them hurriedly drink their morning coffee and go about their business.

– But, Miss Viviane, what do you want with this De Croix girl? You have me! – Jane asked quietly, sitting at the head of her friend's bed and wiping her forehead with a cold, wet towel. She knew of Vivian's plans and feared that her idol would forget about her, Jane, and trade her for the "French rat."

– Silly girl, I don't want her friendship at all! – Vivian laughed at this and took Jane's hand. – 'And there's no way I'm leaving you!

– But then why do you want it? – wondered the confused Jane.

Vivian smiled ironically and replied:

– 'Because, my dear Jane, a wise man once said: "Keep your friends close to you and your enemies even closer!".

It was one day before Lady Marlborough's reception, for which London high society was waiting with bated breath, and the dresses Vivian had ordered were still not ready. The seamstresses worked day and night, and all the dresses were made, but the embroidery, which the customer wished to have on each dress, was complicated and time-consuming. Fortunately, to Vivian and Jane's delight, the hats, shoes, capes, jackets, cloaks and gloves had been delivered yesterday and tried on the same evening. But this was not enough for Vivian: what use was all this luxury if the centrepiece of her new image was not ready? The day before the exciting and extremely important event, the girl received a note from the atelier, which said that her dresses would be ready and delivered by the evening, which made the already desperate beauty breathe a sigh of relief and smile. But alas! Vivian waited in vain all evening, impatiently looking out of the window, hoping to see the messenger with her new dresses.