Jane made a silent curtsy and hurried to her new miss.

– Gertrude, you know how much I appreciate your culinary skills," the landlady said in a displeased tone to the cook. – But if I catch you and anyone else idling and gossiping, I'll have Mr. Brown calculate that person this very day. And tell that to the others. I hope it won't happen again.

– It won't, ma'am!" exclaimed Gertrude, the cook, frightened by her mistress's icy tone; she had no wish to lose her warm position.

Satisfied with the answer, Lady Cranford made her way to the South Balcony.

"Perhaps this Vivian is not so bad. Her bouquet was so modest… She could have brought a whole bunch of my flowers to her chambers," she thought as she went on her way: the last letter from her late sister, begging Beatrice to look after her daughter's future, had softened her heart. But the lady's lips were pressed into a thin line: "But Anthony… I don't like his behaviour: I must speak to him. And with her. Especially her. Let her not even think of making him fall in love with her”

It was only a couple of minutes before lunch, but Vivian had already appeared on the South Balcony, accompanied by Jane. Having previously locked themselves in Vivian's chambers, the girls had hurried to prepare their guest for lunch with her wealthy relatives. Vivian's luggage had been brought to the room before her walk in the garden, and while Jane hastily searched through the suitcase, and then ironed with a hot charcoal iron the dress which her miss wished to wear for the occasion, Vivian herself washed her face, palms, and armpits in cold water, and applied a drop of sweet but not cloying perfume to her neck. Jane then helped the girl into a fresh dress and tucked her unruly red curls into her hair.

– Luncheon will be on the South Balcony," Vivian said to her maid, admiring her reflection in the large, oak-framed mirror.

– 'Our ma'am likes to have lunch there, Miss Vivian,' Jane replied, also admiring her new mistress's beauty.

– Is there much sunshine there? Shall I wear a hat?

– No, Miss Vivian: the luncheon table is always placed in the shade.

– That's fine! – Vivian grabbed her white gloves. – Well, I'm ready! Lead the way!

– But, miss, you're not wearing any jewellery! – Jane exclaimed.

– Is it so important? – her mistress frowned.

– Of course it is! You must have noticed that Lady Cranford wears a gold chain with a small cross on it?

– О? No, I must have overlooked it," said Vivian indifferently, and it was the truth: whenever she met her aunt, the girl looked only into her cold blue eyes to show her fearlessness before her. – But if you assure me that it's important… – Without finishing her sentence, she took out a small round silver box from her suitcase, pressed it to her breast and said quietly to Jane: "This is my mother's jewellery. She had a hard life.

– Oh, Miss Vivian, I don't mean to be rude, but I already know something about your mother," she smiled sadly.

– You do? How? – Vivian gave her a surprised look.

– Lady Cranford was talking about your mother to her son, Mr. Cranford, as your carriage drove up to the house. And I stood behind them and heard everything.

– And what did my aunt tell my cousin?

– Not much, miss… But I gather from what she said that she and your mother had a complicated relationship," Jane said delicately. – I beg you, Miss Vivian, do not tell Lady Cranford that I told you what I heard!

– Foolish girl, of course I won't," said the red-haired beauty, smiling forcibly, flattered by the confidence of her maid, good sweet Jane.