– 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!

– But, Viviane, why do you desire such a friend as Mademoiselle de Croix? – She is beautiful, but the only thing she wants is a favourable marriage.

– My dear cousin, you make it sound like a reproach," Vivian said softly. – I wish the same thing.

– I don't think you're trying to catch the wrong bird, dear cousin," Anthony retorted. – It is common knowledge in London that Mademoiselle de Croix wishes to marry the Duke of Nightingale, and flirts shamelessly with him every time she meets him.

– Are you comparing this girl to a bird? – his cousin replied with a laugh.

– Do you find such a comparison unworthy? – he grinned. – Girls like her are birds, but they are wingless. They cannot fly. Their destiny is to stay where they were born and walk on the ground.

– In your opinion, cousin, am I a wingless bird? – Vivian grinned coldly: What a cheeky fellow! He thinks that anyone who was not lucky enough to be born into a family of wealthy aristocrats has no moral right to dreams and aspirations!

Mademoiselle de Croix's motives and reputation were indifferent to Miss Cowell, but she was deeply offended: Anthony had unknowingly wounded her by openly saying that "wingless birds" like her could never escape their poverty, especially through marriage. "No self-respecting aristocrat of the Duke of Nightingale's rank would marry you, Vivian. Abandon your hopes and dreams: you are nothing," was how an angry Vivian interpreted her cousin's words. But she tried to keep calm, for she knew that emotion would betray her and give the Cranfords her plans, which they must never know.

– Alas, my dear Viviane, that is so. But what distinguishes you from Mademoiselle de Croix is your sober judgement: for you do not, I hope, allow imagination and pride to rob you of your grasp of reality. You are anxious to marry well, but you will not chase after the phantom hopes of a marriage with a man who is fortunate enough to have a high, high-profile title," Anthony smiled softly.

"How wrong you are, my cruel cousin!" – flashed through the girl's mind. Smiling sarcastically, Vivian brought the porcelain cup of fragrant freshly brewed coffee to her lips.

– And yet you are unfair to Mademoiselle de Croix," she finally said grimly. – And I will prove it to you. We shall become close friends, and I hope she will become the consort of the Duke of Nightingale himself.

– That will never happen. – Anthony could see clearly how his beautiful cousin's mood had suddenly fallen, but he was unwilling to back down. – Duke Nightingale will not marry even Aphrodite, if she is poorer than himself. Besides, there are rumours that he will soon marry Admiral Beckley's daughter, who has royal blood in her. So when you become Mademoiselle de Croix's friend, try to open her eyes to the bitter reality.

– You are cruel, cousin. Have you no heart? – Miss Cowell frowned and rose abruptly from her chair: her blood was boiling with anger, and she was determined to leave her cousin's and aunt's company before the volcano exploded in her. – Please forgive me, auntie: I have a headache. I always get a headache when the sky is covered with such dark, rainy clouds.

– Of course, my dear, go to your chambers and lie down," Lady Cranford said to her gently: she was glad that there had been a misunderstanding between her son and her niece, for it might have led to a cessation of communication between them. She had a hope of that.

– Could you send Jane to me with a wet towel? – Vivian asked.

– 'I will.

Vivian made a deep curtsy and retired to her chambers. Now that she was free from the scrutiny of her aunt's and her cousin's watchful eyes, her cheeks flamed with anger, and her heart was full of indignation and contempt for Anthony, who regarded her as a "wingless bird". Vivian put her fingers to her forehead and wrinkled her nose: she had a real headache and wished she could lie down.

The Cranfords went on with their breakfast, but a few minutes later there was a low rumble of thunder that made them hurriedly drink their morning coffee and go about their business.

– But, Miss Viviane, what do you want with this De Croix girl? You have me! – Jane asked quietly, sitting at the head of her friend's bed and wiping her forehead with a cold, wet towel. She knew of Vivian's plans and feared that her idol would forget about her, Jane, and trade her for the "French rat."

– Silly girl, I don't want her friendship at all! – Vivian laughed at this and took Jane's hand. – 'And there's no way I'm leaving you!

– But then why do you want it? – wondered the confused Jane.

Vivian smiled ironically and replied:

– 'Because, my dear Jane, a wise man once said: "Keep your friends close to you and your enemies even closer!".

It was one day before Lady Marlborough's reception, for which London high society was waiting with bated breath, and the dresses Vivian had ordered were still not ready. The seamstresses worked day and night, and all the dresses were made, but the embroidery, which the customer wished to have on each dress, was complicated and time-consuming. Fortunately, to Vivian and Jane's delight, the hats, shoes, capes, jackets, cloaks and gloves had been delivered yesterday and tried on the same evening. But this was not enough for Vivian: what use was all this luxury if the centrepiece of her new image was not ready? The day before the exciting and extremely important event, the girl received a note from the atelier, which said that her dresses would be ready and delivered by the evening, which made the already desperate beauty breathe a sigh of relief and smile. But alas! Vivian waited in vain all evening, impatiently looking out of the window, hoping to see the messenger with her new dresses.