Wingless Bird
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– That's fine. I hope you have a good time. My advice is to be wary of bright colours. They're a sign of bad taste. Go for subdued colours and styles. No feathers – they look hideous and cheap. And don't forget to wear a hat, Vivian. In London all ladies must wear hats," Lady Cranford advised, and picked up the silver cutlery. – But breakfast awaits.
Vivian readily followed her aunt's example, for she was very hungry: she had missed dinner on purpose last night, and her stomach was inexorably hungry.
– But mustn't we wait till Mr. Cranford comes? – she asked, surprised that her strict aunt had taken breakfast without her son.
– If he is not here at seven o'clock, he is not at Greenhall," Lady Cranford said grimly; she knew very well the reason why her son had not been at breakfast, and she was not happy about his latest night out. But the Countess did not think it necessary to share this with her niece, for, in the opinion of the mistress of Greenhall, everything that concerned her sons was of no concern to Vivian.
Lady Cranford had expected her niece to go on inquiring about Anthony, but to her great surprise Vivian shrugged her shoulders, ate her breakfast quickly, asked permission to leave the table, wished her aunt a good day, and left the dining-room.
– 'Albert, when Mr. Cranford arrives at home, tell him to come into my study immediately,' Lady Cranford ordered the footman standing at the window.
"And you, my son, I shall have a serious talk with you, both about Vivian and about your pernicious amusements," she thought, and went on with her meal alone, considering when and how she should give a reception in her niece's honour, and realising with displeasure that it would have to be well spent.
***
Anthony did not arrive home until midday: although he had ordered the coachman to pick him up at six in the morning, his physical condition after a long night of alcohol, prostitutes and card games prevented him from leaving the Den before eleven o'clock. The young gentleman's head was splitting and he could barely stand on his feet, but he was quite pleased with the time he had spent with his friends and Mrs.Bree's brothel staff. His expensive suit, ruined by yesterday's downpour, did not seem such a tragedy to him now, but he knew that his mother's disapproving gaze awaited him at Greenhall, and that knowledge made Anthony sad. However, he did not feel "guilty of the sin of drunkenness and voluptuousness" that his mother sometimes gently reproached him for.
Sitting in the carriage on the way home, Anthony could not escape the memory of the night before: in the red-haired girls of the brothel he saw Vivian. She was his obsession, and her image kept him awake.
"Am I in love with her? – thought young Cranford with genuine surprise. – But is it possible to fall in love with any one in so short a time? I only met her yesterday! No, I think it's her beauty that does that to my mind. She is the most beautiful woman in England and perhaps in the whole world. Vivian is my cousin. I should not think of her…and yet she does not leave my thoughts! Am I henceforth lost, or can I drive this unwelcome obsession away? Anthony, don't lose your head! You know that almost all your father's inheritance has gone to your elder brother, and it is your destiny to marry a rich heiress. Vivian, as beautiful as she is, is even poorer than you. Remember that, remember that, and don't you dare fall in love with her."
When the carriage finally pulled into the Greenhall courtyard, Anthony hurried into the house to get to his room and go to bed: so tired was he after a merry night at the Den. However, scarcely had the master's son crossed the threshold of the beautiful front doors, when one of the footmen said to him, "Good afternoon, Mr. Cranford. Lady Cranford is expecting you in her study."
– Thank you, John. I'll see her later," Anthony answered the footman indifferently; he had no time to talk to his mother, and the only thing he wanted at the moment was to retire to his chambers, close the dark curtains, take off his ruined suit, lie down in his wide bed, and sleep until dinner.
– Lady Cranford wishes to see you immediately, sir," added footman John cautiously.
This phrase made Anthony feel irritated: was his mother, after all, determined to show her authority and give him, her son, an order? After all, it was an explicit, not at all veiled order, and this fact made the young man think that it would not be time for him to move out and thus get rid of his mother's insistent care?
But Anthony could not offend his mother: he respected her too much and appreciated everything she did for him.
Lady Cranford could have thrown her son out of Greenhall, for he was a grown man in his own right, but instead she rejoiced at his constant presence in the house, and paid his bills, which were not insignificant, for Anthony was fond of amusements of all kinds, hunting, and expensive, tailored suits and shoes. In addition, between mother and son since his birth established a warm affectionate relationship. So this time the young gentleman was ready to forgive his mother her order and obediently went to the place where he was expected.
The study in which Lady Cranford spent six hours every day was on the third floor, at the end of a long, bright corridor. Like the rest of the house, the Dowager Countess's study was cold, bright, and decorated with a pair of marble statues. Here the mistress of the house personally dealt with economic affairs, reconciling accounts, reading books and writing letters. She was a clever woman, and she held the reins of Greenhall in her own hands alone, needing neither counsellors nor secretaries.
– Good afternoon, mother," Anthony said, entering the study without knocking.
– Good afternoon, my dear," Lady Cranford answered him with a smile. – 'Do sit down. You don't look well.
The Countess had been counting the money she had spent on the house for the past month, but she put aside her papers and gestured to a chair against one of the walls.
– You are quite right, Mother, and I am very tired, and perhaps I shall fall asleep right here in your study, at your desk," Anthony grinned, and picked up the chair indicated to him and placed it opposite his mother's black lacquered desk.