Wingless Bird

After quickly passing Mademoiselle de Croix, who was still staring at her rival, the girls left the shop and walked briskly towards the carriage waiting for them round the corner. They were so engrossed in discussing the beautiful Frenchwoman that they did not notice the bustle, the carriages or the people around them, and soon Vivian accidentally bumped into a passer-by walking in the opposite direction. The hat flew off the girl's head, revealing to the world the splendour of her fiery hair, which, in the sunlight, burned brighter than usual.

– Oh, I beg your pardon, sir! – Vivian exclaimed with remorse in her voice, glancing at the man whom her inattention had brought her into contact with.

– 'It is I who apologise to you, miss,' replied a handsome, tall, rather young man gallantly. He was dressed in a grey riding suit, and his feet were adorned with tall black boots.

"He's a good-looking man! And what beautiful hair he has: what a striking white colour!" – involuntarily thought Vivian, looking at the stranger, and when he smiled, the girl's cheeks suddenly lit up, and she hastened to look away from his handsome face.

The stranger bowed slightly and was ready to speak again to the beautiful woman who had so unexpectedly got in his way, but Vivian was terribly embarrassed by the situation, so she hurried to continue on her way. The man who had made her cheeks flush looked at her with admiration, and a slight smile curved his handsome, thin lips.

– Miss Vivian! There is no way…" Jane began enthusiastically.

– No, please, Jane! Be quiet!" Vivian interrupted her. – God, what a disgrace!

Jane was tempted to say something, but she obediently remained silent. She smiled mysteriously all the way, making her friend wonder what was the meaning of her smile.

Di

Vivian was full of fresh emotions and impressions that she had received during that exciting day, and Anthony still felt unwell, but forced himself to appear at the di

It was not until all three had eaten their dessert that Lady Cranford looked at her niece and asked in an indifferent tone:

– How was your day, my dear? I hope you had a good time?

– It has been a wonderful day, auntie," she answered in the same indifferent tone. – I did a lot of shopping and renewed my wardrobe. The new clothes will be made as soon as possible and will be delivered to Greenhall a few days before my debut.

– That's wonderful. I am delighted for you.

– Thank you, Auntie.

With that, the trio left the dining room and went to their rooms.

It was not until bedtime, when Jane had changed her friend into her nightdress and braided her hair, that Vivian learnt from her that the handsome stranger she had so awkwardly encountered in a crowded London street was none other than England's most desirable groom, the Duke of Nightingale.

Chapter 8

– I wish it were a masquerade ball," Vivian sighed when, at an early breakfast, Lady Cranford handed her an official invitation from the Duchess of Marlborough herself to what was to be the debut of "my dear niece," as the mistress of Greenhall had written in a letter to the Duchess. – I would be a forest nymph and carry a little flute! And you, cousin? What would you dress up as?

Anthony immediately pictured Vivian in the garb of a forest nymph, namely a short green dress, with a brightly coloured floral wreath on her head and her long red hair loose, and the image captivated his mind. And then this nymph would sit on his lap and play a beautiful quiet melody on her flute. And then he would gently take the flute from the nymph Vivian, run his fingers through her luxurious hair and kiss her soft lips. Yes, they must be very soft, her lips....

– Anthony? – suddenly, as through a mist, he heard the voice of the one he had seen in his dreams. The young gentleman blinked, banishing the sweet picture from his imagination, and smiled. – Alas, my dear Vivian, I have no thoughts on the subject. But you would have my permission to order me to be what you please.

"What familiarity! Calling each other by their first names!" – frowned Lady Cranford, listening in amazement to the dialogue between son and niece. It was thanks to her that Vivian now held in her hands an elegant invitation from the Duchess of Marlborough, for it was in answer to a polite request from her old friend Lady Cranford.

– In that case, I would have you dressed as a faun! You would hold a golden goblet full of wine in your hand all evening, but you wouldn't be able to take a sip. Just think what a merry couple we'd make! – Vivian, full of delight at her idea, clapped her hands and laughed a beautiful melodious laugh.

"If I were a faun – I'd chase you everywhere, all eternity, my sweet cousin," ran through Anthony's mind, and he chuckled faintly at this embarrassing thought of his. – What does mythology say? What pleasures come when a faun captures a nymph in his embrace? If you only knew, red-haired lovely, how eager I am for your caresses, you would not tease me with images that make me burn with the flames of lust!"

But neither Vivian nor Lady Cranford noticed his sneer.

– And you, auntie? What would you dress up as? – The girl asked.

Lady Cranford smiled: now that she was sure that Anthony had no romantic feelings for her cousin, and that she had none for him, the shadow in her heart was gone, and her niece no longer seemed an ungrateful adventuress.

– What an interesting question! – replied the Countess readily. – I think I would order myself a costume of Artemis.

– Artemis? – Anthony interjected. – You wouldn't mind using a bow and arrow as well, would you?

– You may be surprised, my dear, but before I was married I was very fond of hunting, and often hunted in my father's grounds," his mother said, her blue eyes shining with a soft light. – I had my black Arabian horse, a gift from my father for my fifteenth birthday, saddled for me almost every day. Shadow was the name of my horse, and he was the fastest and quickest horse in all England.

– Why did you stop hunting? – The fact that his mother was a keen hunter was a revelation to young Cranford, for up to that moment he had been convinced that her heart was too soft to kill defenceless animals. He could not recall a single occasion when his mother wished to hunt, so he hunted at first with his elder brother, and when the latter married and left London, Anthony went out hunting alone or with friends.

– Your father forbade me. He thought hunting was unladylike," said Lady Cranford sullenly. The light in her eyes faded and her lips turned into a thin line.

– I didn't know father was so adamant," said Anthony thoughtfully. – I always thought there was peace and quiet and respect between you two.

– Marriage is not an easy thing, my son. When you are married to a pretty girl, you will realise that marriage and family are perpetual give-and-take. And even if you want something badly enough, you can't always get it. – Talking about the past was not to the Countess's liking, and she wished to interrupt the conversation on the subject. – But, Vivian, tell us about your impressions of London. I am anxious to hear how you found it.

– Oh, Auntie, London is wonderful! I am so glad and grateful to you for allowing me to come! I shall never forget your kindness," smiled the girl.

"I hope you won't forget it when we find you a suitable spouse" – thought her aunt, but said aloud:

– 'You are not to be thanked, my dear. You are my sister's daughter, and how could I refuse the help of my own blood?