She took off her damp shawl, hung it on the back of a chair by the blazing fireplace, pulled the cord to call Jane to her chamber, and sat down at the dressing table to make sure once again that the high collar of her morning dress concealed the bruises on her neck.
Jane appeared a few minutes later.
– You wanted to see me, Miss Vivian? – She asked readily.
– Sit beside me, my dear," Vivian smiled at her reflection.
The maid moved a soft chair to the dressing-table and complied with her friend's request.
The girls chatted quietly on diverse topics. Jane also happily informed her friend that her mother was now able to pick up objects and attend to herself again, but was still struggling with the effects of her burns.
– Miss Vivian, you forbid me to talk about this… But you are so unhappy. You don't want to tell me, but I understand, I understand everything. He beats you. And yesterday I saw him coming into your bedroom with a whip. And then I saw your hands, but only today I realised that he had beaten you with that damned whip! – Jane said in a quietly determined tone, and gently took her friend's red, swollen hands in her own.
– I knew you wouldn't get away with it," said Vivian, smiling sadly. – I think I was wrong, Jane. I was wrong to marry him. But I-I don't so much regret it. It was all for Richard. When you meet him, you'll realise I made the right choice. But when exactly you'll see him, I don't know. Soon, I hope.
– Miss Vivian, I am so sorry for you… Tell me, is there anything I can do for you? – Jane asked quietly.
– 'What can you do for me in my position, my dear? – Vivian grinned, touched by the devotion of her faithful Jane. – Make me a widow?
– It is a great sin, Miss Vivian! – The maid said firmly, furrowing her brow, and leaning down to her friend's face, whispered: – 'You have only to ask… Only to give me permission and I will free you from him!
– Jane! My sweet, kind Jane! – Vivian exclaimed quietly, and squeezed her friend's palms with force. – What are you saying?
– I know how to rid you of that dreadful man! Just put a little poison in his brandy! – Jane went on whispering unperturbedly. – Don't think I've poisoned anyone before, no! Only rats.
– My dear, wait! – Vivian interrupted gently but firmly. – I am very grateful to you for such loyalty and for wanting to protect me from him, but, believe me, this is not the way. I don't want you or I to take on such a sin. And it would be easy to find poison in his blood. And then we'd both be imprisoned, maybe even executed. No, Jeremy's not worth it!