Vivian looked at her cousin's face with interest, trying to determine whether he was lying about his love for her friend, but Anthony had such a calm and happy smile on his lips that she believed his words and sincerely congratulated him on his truly honourable choice. They were unable to discuss this savoury subject, however, for in a few minutes the carriage stopped and the coachman shouted loudly, "Here we are, ma'am!"

It is unnecessary to describe in detail how delighted Charlotte was when the butler brought her Mr. Cranford's card, and reported that Mrs. Wington had arrived with him. Leaping up from the table and dropping a letter to write to her parents in Denmark, Miss Salton sprang from her chambers and hastened to receive her guests.

– Vivian! – exclaimed the girl loudly, coming down the hall and enclosing her friend in a tight embrace. – You're here! I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me!

– Silly girl! How could I? – Vivian smiled broadly, hugging her back just as tightly. – Now get those thoughts out of your head!

As they hugged each other, they suddenly remembered Anthony, who was also in the hall, and must have been bored, watching their friends' joy and listening to their happy exclamations.

– Mr. Cranford! You have come back from the north to London! – Charlotte said in a friendly manner to her guest, not forgetting to give him a polite curtsy.

– Yes, Miss Salton, and I must say, "How wonderful it is to be home again!" – the latter replied with a smile.

"He really is in love with her! I've never seen his eyes shine like that!" – thought Vivian contentedly, watching her friend and her cousin with a happy smile.

Mrs. Wington was not mistaken: the young man's blue eyes suddenly turned into two shining lights, and in his gaze could be read an undisguised admiration. Anthony was desperate to touch his beloved, so he immediately suggested that they stroll through the dead Salton garden to feel Charlotte's warm hand on his elbow. In spite of the cold wind, both Charlotte and Vivian were glad of the walk, but first Miss Salton wished to go into her chambers to match her blue dress with a hat and gloves.

– Vivian, you must help me to choose! – said Charlotte, and seizing her friend by the palm of her hand, led her away. Then, still on the move, she turned to Anthony: "I beg your pardon, Mr. Cranford! We'll try to manage at least a quarter of an hour!

– As you say, Miss Salton! – He grinned good-naturedly, watching her with a tenderness that spilled into his breast and a heart full of love. He had already seen this girl as his wife, had seen her in his arms. But while his former feelings for Vivian had made him imagine passionate pictures, his love for Miss Salton painted in his mind homely scenes full of warmth and comfort. Anthony also noted the great change in Charlotte's appearance, and thought that this blue silk dress was very much to her advantage.

When they reached Miss Salton's chambers, she let Vivian in, then entered and closed the door behind her. Charlotte seated her friend on the sofa, took her palm in her own, and gazed anxiously at her face, so pale and haggard though Vivian smiled.

"She doesn't look like herself. How thin her face has become! And those circles under her pretty eyes? 'Vivian, my dear, good one! Now I know for certain that you are hiding something important from me!" – Miss Salton involuntarily thought.

– And now tell me: is it your husband who does not wish us to see each other? – She asked directly, not wishing to waste time.

Vivian was taken by surprise by her friend's guess, and she searched feverishly for words to assure her that she was mistaken.

– Charlotte, what is this nonsense again? – Vivian exclaimed in a falsely playful tone.

– I confess I did not so much believe all your indispositions that made it impossible for us to meet. But now, my dear, I see clearly that this marriage has changed you! You look tired, very tired. And unhappy! – Charlotte insisted, and her glance became stern, as if she had become a nurse reprimanding her ward.

Not knowing what to say to this fair remark, Mrs. Wington touched the silk scarf round her neck, and shook her head negatively.

– 'I really don't know what to say! Weren't we going to the park? – she asked in a deliberately amazed tone.

– Viviane, I am your friend, and I will always support you," said Charlotte affectionately. – Let me listen to you and take off your burden.

Vivian put her palm to her lips: she was desperate to tell her friend everything that had happened between her and her husband, but she knew that Charlotte would suffer when she heard the dark truth. But she couldn't bear it any longer.

– You… You're right. It's my husband! – Vivian said quietly, as if afraid of being overheard, and squeezed her friend's palm. – He loves me… But he loves me madly! He's so jealous of me that he won't let me come to see you. He's afraid that I'll smile at other men…

– But, my dear, it's so… Unimaginable! So cruel! – Charlotte whispered loudly. – He has no right to do this to you! You are his lawful husband, not some kept woman.

– Alas! I am a kept woman! – I did not bring him a dowry, and I am sure that is why he feels that I am his master. Or maybe he thinks I'm a beautiful filly he bought to please his eyes… And he told me I must bear him three children! Three, Charlotte! – She laughed helplessly. – Luckily, that's not going to happen: I need only to drink a special herb… .

– But does your cousin know about all this? – Charlotte asked pointedly.

– No… I play the role of the happy fool and make him think there's nothing but harmony and happiness between me and Jeremy. – Vivian swallowed. – But Jeremy… He… I'm afraid of him… I'm afraid his love for me will break me, kill me… .

– Miss Salton! – suddenly came the voice of the butler from behind the closed door. – May I come in?

– Yes, yes, of course! – replied the girl.

Vivian's last sentence made her turn pale with horror, and she decided to give her friend a short pause, realising how difficult it was for her to share such intimate secrets.

The door to the chambers opened and Mr. Anderson entered the room, holding a silver tray in his hand.

– Another gentleman to see you, Miss," he announced courteously, and approached the lady of the house.

– What an interesting day! One day you have no guests, the next you have three! – Vivian smiled falsely.

– You're right, my dear! – Charlotte giggled. She took a beautiful business card from the tray, ran her eyes over it, and on her face Vivian read a look of real alarm.

– It's my husband, isn't it? – Mrs. Wington asked almost inaudibly.

Charlotte glanced at her friend and silently handed her the card.

But Vivian did not need to read the name written on that neat gold-patterned rectangle. She knew him.

– He's here… He's come for me," the girl smiled bitterly, and her fingers clutched convulsively at Charlotte's delicate palm.

– Jeremy! I didn't expect to see you here! – Anthony exclaimed in surprise when he saw his best friend enter the lobby of Lillehus.

Mr. Wington gave the servant his hat and cloak, and the friends hugged each other tightly.

– You have come straight from the hunt! – young Cranford said cheerfully, only now noticing that Jeremy was dressed in a dark hunting suit, stained in places with brown mud. His boots were covered with dried forest soil.

– You wrote that you were back, so I thought I'd take my time and meet you," Jeremy said cheerfully. – But where are our beauties?

– Miss Salton is choosing a hat for her walk, and your husband is helping her. We're going for a walk in the garden, you see.