– 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?

– Mother, your kindness has no bounds," said Anthony earnestly.

– 'You flatter me, my son.

– Not at all. Do you agree with me, dear cousin?

– Your son is right, aunty: you have such a good heart! – Vivian replied, but the words were false, for in her heart she thought her aunt was a tyrant and a despot. But she could not tell the Cranfords, could she? Where it was necessary to lie for the sake of achieving a goal, Miss Cowell was prepared to lie and express feigned admiration.

But Lady Cranford did not let herself be deceived: her intuition told her that Vivian had said these beautiful words only under Anthony's pressure. Still, she was pleased with this beautiful flattery, and hoped she could build up a relationship of trust with her niece. Besides, the Countess had always dreamed of a daughter, but the Lord had given her two sons, whom she loved more than herself.

– My dear Vivian, you have given me a good idea," she said.

Vivian smiled incomprehensibly.

– A masquerade. We will definitely have a masquerade," the lady of the house explained.

The news pleased both her niece and her son: Vivian had never been to such a party before, and Anthony was pleased that the masquerade would relieve his boredom for one evening. After all, now that young Cranford had made up his mind not to attend the Den, and to guard his reputation carefully, he had not so much amusement to offer.

– Oh, auntie, I never dreamed of this! – gasped Vivian, and this time her surprise was genuine. – But when shall we expect the event?

– Perhaps in the autumn. I think September will be quite warm," replied the Countess.

– May I ask you one perhaps awkward question? – her niece suddenly asked.

Lady Cranford squinted her eyes slightly, but nodded gracefully.

– Will you send an invitation to the masquerade to the de Croix family?

– Of course, my dear, otherwise it would be bad manners. But how do you know of the de Croix family? – The niece's question took Lady Cranford by surprise: the girl had only recently arrived in the city, and already knew about the family of the first beauty of London!

– Yesterday, in one of the shops, I noticed that a dark-haired, beautiful girl was following me, and I asked Jane if she knew her," Viviane explained calmly, but not wanting to tell the whole truth, she added: – 'Do you think, auntie, that Mademoiselle de Croix could be my friend?

Anthony cast an interested glance at her cousin: would she wish to be the friend of one who was evidently not at all pleased at Vivian's appearance in London? The naive, good-hearted nymph! How could she not break her soft heart against the callousness and coldness of the French beauty!