– How beautiful! – Vivian exclaimed with genuine delight: she had never seen so many flowers in her life, and many of them were even unfamiliar to her modest knowledge of botany.
Jane smiled broadly: how nice it was to see this beautiful miss happy!
– Jane, there you are! – Suddenly there was a loud female voice, and turning round the girls saw a young maid coming towards them.
– That's Emily, and she's a maid too," Jane hastened to explain to her.
– How many servants does my aunt have? – Vivian asked.
– 'A great many, Miss Vivian. A house this big, and a garden and park like this, requires a lot of labour. – Jane stood patiently waiting for Emily, who was walking at a quick, nervous pace, to reach her and tell her what she needed from her, Jane.
– Jane! Mr. Brown is grumbling and looking all over for you! – said Emily, slightly out of breath, and then crouched down before Vivian in a deep curtsy: 'Good day, miss!
– A fine day!" said Vivian in a friendly tone, feeling Emily's gaze fixed on her, full of curiosity. She was well aware of the impression her angelic appearance made on others and passers-by, and was not at all uncomfortable with the maid's insistent attention.
"Let her admire it. Servants love handsome gentlemen," thought the guest indifferently, and purposely curved her red plump lips in a charming smile.
– What a pity you can't keep me company, Jane," she said to the girl. – 'But I'm sure Mr. Brown…Who is this Mr. Brown?
– The butler, miss! – Emily answered readily, ahead of her friend, who had already opened her mouth to reply.
Jane cast Emily a displeased look: having met Miss Vivian only fifteen minutes ago, she was already jealous of her attention to the other servants.
– 'Don't keep Mr. Brown waiting. Come back to me as soon as you're free. In the meantime, I'll take a stroll through this magical garden and pick myself a bouquet," Vivian said, removing her white gloves from her hands.
The maids made a curtsy and hurried into the house, while Vivian continued her slow walk through her aunt's garden. Walking along the stone paths, in a sea of flowers, Vivian pondered hard.
"The new Earl of Cranford is no longer free! Aunt Beatrice with such a pleased face told of his family! Married! Three children! Perhaps we should devise a new plan and find a new target. My cousin Anthony is very good-looking, but alas, he is only the youngest son. – Thoughts were whirling through the fiery-haired girl's head at the speed of light. She picked the prettiest, most colourful flowers and put them in a bouquet. – I'll have to write to them. They'll be upset… It's all right, London is rich in suitors, and the season has only just begun… But good God, what a heat! I wish I didn't burn in the sun!"