***

– Come, Albert, hold the gun as I have just shown you," said Anthony patiently, lifting his nephew's elbow, who was aiming with delight at the straw scarecrow, on whose head his father's old tall hat was worn.

– 'Uncle, do you think Kitty will now lie in bed all her life? – Suddenly, still taking aim, the boy asked.

The question took Anthony by surprise and even caused him heartache. But he shrugged his shoulders, smiled and answered in a determined tone:

– Your sister is recovering quickly. The injury she suffered is, of course, serious and painful, but it is, nevertheless, treatable. The corset she is wearing is helping her spine to fuse, and Dr Norton is confident that in a few months Kitty will be walking again. However, she will have to wear the corset for another two or three years.

– I feel sorry for her. She's so young and she's already hurt so badly," Albert said sadly. – And Mum cries all the time. And Victoria with her. I wish I could run away from this house!

– You don't have to run away, my boy: your family needs you. You and your father are men, which means you're supposed to be less sensitive, but it also gives you more responsibility. You're supposed to support your ladies and wipe their tears: that's our male responsibility," Anthony chuckled good-naturedly. – But now try to knock your hat off. Go on, Albert, you can do it.

With a satisfied chuckle, the boy pulled the trigger, but the hat remained adorning the ugly head of the scarecrow.

– Eh! But I was almost there! The scarecrow now has a left eye! – proud of his skill, the boy laughed merrily. – Can I shoot again? One more time!

Anthony and Albert were quite close to the castle, so the thunder of the shot could be heard even if they were in its rooms.

– I think you've had enough shooting for today, – Anthony upset his nephew. – Tomorrow we will repeat our lesson, but the scarecrow will have to be dragged to the lake, away from the house.

– All right, Uncle, as you say," Albert sighed doomedly and handed the gun to Anthony, then smiled broadly and shrieked: – Bubbet! Bubbet is coming! Did you see me shooting? Did you? – He ran towards his elderly French governess, who immediately grabbed him in her arms and praised him for his accurate shooting.

– Come along, my young gentleman. It's time to practise your French! – said the governess affectionately, in French, taking the boy's palm in her own. Then she smiled at Anthony and handed him a sealed letter. – There is a fresh post for you, Mr. Cranford.

– Thank you," he said, and took the letter.

After waiting patiently for Babbett and Albert to get a decent distance from him, Anthony looked at the sender's address and smiled: it was from Charlotte Salton. Unbelieving his happiness, he put the paper to his lips and then inhaled the delicate, barely audible scent of roses. Impatient to know what his beloved had written to him, Anthony opened the letter, and, walking slowly towards the house, began to read it. Not even the cold, rather strong wind blowing on this grey mid-October day deterred him.

One side of the first sheet Charlotte scribbled that her parents were still in Denmark and when they would return was unknown. She also briefly relayed the new gossip floating around among the London nobility, and that was the end of the news from the capital: the remaining pages of the letter were filled with the girl's concern for Vivian, whom she said she hadn't seen for a long time, and who was constantly finding excuses not to see her.

"How strange… after all, Vivian and Charlotte were so friendly! Is my cousin so busy that she can't even find a spare hour to visit her lonely friend? And Charlotte is looking to me for answers about Vivian's strange behaviour! It's all very suspicious," the young Cranford frowned.

"You must also be aware of the rumours going around town about her husband. They say that before he married Vivian, he led a very, very dissolute life … I dread to even think of it, but I suppose that perhaps my dear friend's perpetual busyness is due to his behaviour?" – Miss Salton wrote.

"No, here you are mistaken, my dear Charlotte. I am sure: Vivian is still reeling from the conclusion of a marriage so fortunate for her. Or perhaps she is simply expecting a child? – Anthony smiled, confident in his best friend's integrity. – Yes, Jeremy likes to have fun, but even when he's drunk to death, he wouldn't hurt a mouse… But I think it's time for me to go back to London: Kitty's on the mend, and my love for Charlotte is growing daily, and I won't be at peace until she's my lawful wife.

Having made up his mind to return to London, Anthony cautiously announced his intention to his sick niece. To this Kitty only smiled and said that her sister Victoria had shared with her his secret about Miss Salton. But Anthony took no offence at Victoria: in spite of her seriousness, she was a child. And what was he to be ashamed of?

The only person who was strongly against his departure was Lady Cranford: while Richard and Agnes accepted it calmly and understandingly, his mother reproached him with selfishness all evening and repeated again and again that Alexandra, Agnes's younger sister, was to come to Devry the other day.

– That girl is only coming to meet you! – exclaimed Lady Cranford, walking round her son's chamber, where two maids were packing his things for the journey.

– 'I did not invite her, mother. You did, and here you are making excuses for my absence," said Anthony indifferently. – I am leaving tomorrow morning and taking one of our carriages.

– My carriages, my dear," said the Countess, with an emphasis on the first word, and the phrase made the young man smile disappointedly.

– Your carriages, ma'am," he repeated coldly. – Don't worry, I will ask Richard to give me one of his carriages at once, and both of yours will stay with you.

– Well, why do you punish me so? "Ma'am"! Not Mother! Anthony, you're breaking my heart! – Lady Cranford raised her hands theatrically to heaven and shook her head. – 'And what are you going to do in London?

– To live my life and my home," her son replied. – Now, I must ask you to leave my room.

– I will not leave this place until you tell me that you will give up this ridiculous idea of going back to London! – Lady Cranford said firmly, and crossed her arms over her breast.

– As you wish, ma'am," Anthony grinned mockingly, and left his chambers to find his brother and ask for a carriage, horses, and coachman to take him to the capital.

– Well, all right! Take my carriage! But stop calling me "ma'am"! – he immediately heard his mother's voice behind him.

– Thank you, ma'am. I'll be fine," Anthony said shortly, and paid no attention to the moaning and complaints thrown back at him.

Fortunately, Richard did not persist and gave his brother what he asked without question or condition.

The next morning, after a fervent farewell to his nephews, his brother and his wife, Anthony left for London.

Lady Cranford did not come out to say good-bye to her son, but watched with eyes wet with tears of disappointment as the carriage carried him away from the estate.

"Ungrateful! How much suffering I have endured, and all for you, my dear boys! I have had to correct your mistake, but of course you don't know it, my Anthony. And you never will! Do you think I'm a bad mother? Well, that's your right, but that won't make me not worry about you!" – she thought bitterly.

This time the journey took Anthony only a fortnight, for the young, sharp horses lent by Richard easily carried the rather light, latest model carriage with thin wheels. He reached Greenhall late at night, and had to wait about a quarter of an hour for one of the servants to open the front doors for him. Ordered not to unload his suitcases, as Anthony was going to finally find an apartment and leave his father's house the next day, the young man went up to his chambers, threw off his travelling suit, and gladly climbed into his own bed, under his own warm blanket. Having slept fitfully until noon the next day, Anthony summoned his valet, who helped him to dress in an elegant travelling suit, then took a quick lunch, and, full of impatience and delight at seeing Charlotte, ordered his horse to be brought to him.