– I'm sorry, my dear, I think I was thinking too deeply. – He ruffled the girl's hair. – 'Would you like me to tell you a secret?

– What secret, uncle? – The girl giggled softly.

– You're right, Victoria: the girl I drew has stolen my heart, and I hope to steal hers. But remember: it's a big secret, and I know you can keep secrets better than anyone else.

– So you're getting married soon? – Victoria jumped up and down in anticipation of her uncle's marriage to the mysterious girl from his drawing.

– I'll do my best to make sure it happens," Anthony smiled. – And I promise you'll be the only one allowed to sit in the front pew of the church, next to your grandmother Beatrice.

– Yes, yes!" Victoria laughed merrily. – And I promise to wear my prettiest dress to your wedding!

– But, my dear, remember that you will not be allowed to outshine my bride with your beauty! – Anthony winked at his niece, and the girl's gleeful laughter once again filled the spacious workshop.

Later, as he left the workshop, Anthony was eager to return to his chambers, sit at his desk and write a letter. A letter to Charlotte. But as he picked up the quill and dipped it into the ink, his mind failed to tell him the words with which it would be appropriate to begin the letter, so only a black blot fell on the clean white paper. Frowning, Anthony crumpled up the ruined paper, threw it on the floor, picked up a clean one, and stepped back to the window, thinking deeply.

It was not difficult for him to confess his love for Vivian: the words just jumped out of his throat. Anthony remembered that at that important and emotional moment his mind had betrayed him. But now, as he wished he could write to Charlotte to confess his feelings to her and beg her not to mock them, the young man's mind seemed to deny him that favour.

"What if I frighten her away? No, no, I must not disturb her peace so suddenly… Vivian. She will help me. She knows her friend, and, besides, she and I have a pact… which, however, she herself has broken. Now Vivian is rich, she doesn't have to honour her word. Still, I'm sure she won't be cruel to me and will help me win Charlotte. I must go to her… but Kitty… My poor little Kitty! My leaving so soon would break her heart… But I must ask her if she can let me go: my mother will stay here. But not today. In a couple of days. No, a week. It would be cruel of me to leave so soon," decided Mr. Cranford, and returning to his desk, he put the paper away, took the letters he had received today out of the drawer, and opened the letter from Vivian, sealed with the Salton family crest. He quickly read the two pages, which were covered with his cousin's beautiful, somewhat sharp handwriting, but he found no hint of her decision to marry Jeremy Wington, which again led him to think that Vivian was hiding her affair with his friend from him. And once again a shadow of displeasure and disappointment slipped across Anthony's face.

Putting the letter aside, Anthony picked up the second, tied with a thick thread, and cut the thread with a letter opener. But as his fingers unfolded the letter and the unfamiliar handwriting caught his eye, there was a loud knock.

– Anthony, are you busy? – came Lady Cranford's voice from behind the door.

– No, mother, come in," Anthony answered reluctantly, and laid the letter on the table.

His mother entered the room unheard. She walked with a smile to the table and stood beside it, for her son had been slow to offer her a chair far enough away for Lady Cranford to move it herself. The rudeness hurt her, but the woman decided not to give away her true feelings and hid the offence behind a calm smile.