Entering the library, which held thousands of books, the head of household of Wington Hall locked the doors securely and lit the fireplace. When the first warm tongues of flame covered the fragrant birch wood, the girl climbed with her feet into one of the large armchairs and sat staring blankly at the bookshelf until a knock at the door and Jane's voice brought her out of her weightless state.
– Miss Vivian! Oh, I mean, Mrs. Wington! – called in a cheerful tone the faithful Jane, who, as before, held the position of personal maid to her now married friend. – 'Your husband has ordered me to call you to breakfast!
"What? Is it breakfast already? But what time is it? – Vivian wondered, and glanced at the large wall clock, which showed eight-thirty-three in the morning. – Time has flown by so fast… But it's a good thing that, unlike my Aunt Beatrice, Jeremy likes to snuggle in bed."
Reluctantly leaving her hiding place, Vivian went to the door and let Jane into the library. She, dressed in her new, freshly pressed uniform, smiled happily and handed Vivian two letters.
– Your mail, Mrs. Wington! – The maid held out the letters to her friend, but when she saw Vivian's tired face and the circles under her eyes, she frowned. – Are you having insomnia again? You look as if you'd been up all night!
'That's precisely what it was, Jane… I don't belong to myself at night… As well as during the day,' Vivian thought, but forced herself to smile softly and reply:
– 'I beg you, in private, call me what you used to call me, Miss Vivian. Yes, insomnia again-I got up incredibly early. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd read a good novel," she lied, taking the letters from Jane, and glancing at the sender's address, grinned ironically. – A letter from Anthony… I wonder how he reacted when he found out I'd married his best friend?
– If he did, Miss Vivian," Jane put in. – He's so far away! Up north!
– Of course he found out, silly! – Vivian laughed softly as she unsealed a letter from her cousin. – All births, deaths and marriages are reported in many newspapers, and the Cranfords always get at least three different fresh papers every morning. I think Anthony has learnt of my wedding late, but, my dear, he, and my dear good Aunt Beatrice, must be extremely glad of the news. Especially my aunt-she has been trying so hard to pass me off as old man Darbinell! I hope she is biting her elbows now, knowing that her poor niece has become the wife of a man much richer than herself. – Grinning to herself, the girl ran her eyes over the lines Anthony had written and smiled broadly: "Well, there! I was right! Listen to what my cousin writes! "My dear Viviane, this news, I confess, has astonished me to the very depths of my soul, but this astonishment was a feeling of pleasure, for now, knowing that you have achieved your purpose, I am calm for you and your Richard…"