For a quarter of an hour the young men walked in a single line, the paths of the Salton garden being wide and well-maintained. Then Anthony remarked with a laugh that they were obviously eager to gossip, so Charlotte took Vivian's arm, and Jeremy and his friend Cranford slowed their pace so as not to overhear the girls' giggles and talked politics again.

– Forgive my naivety, my dear, but your husband is so polite to me that it's hard to believe that he's actually a tyrant and a despot! – whispered Charlotte to her friend.

– That's gossip! – Vivian exclaimed loudly and laughed, knowing that Jeremy, currently talking to her cousin, was staring at her back. And, leaning in close to Charlotte's face, she said quietly: – It is only a mask, only a screen. He is so charming in society, but so contradictory in his home. Many of the servants are afraid of him. Of course, they have never once voiced this fear aloud, but I can easily read it on their faces.

– I beg you, tell your cousin! He will protect you!

– I can't. If he finds out and discusses it with my husband, the news of my unenviable position will slip out of Wington Hall and be savoured all over London. And my aunt? She will be overjoyed at my tragedy! But, my dear, it's your turn to laugh.

– Probably at the ball in honour of the engagement of the Duke of Nightingale and his bride, many ladies will be weeping tears! – Charlotte said in a cheerful, loud tone.

– Are you sure they'll give a ball? – Vivian chuckled. – They've been engaged for three months and we still can't get an invitation! – She leaned down to her friend's face again and whispered: – Do you really think we shall soon be able to dance at this ball?

– Naturally, my dear. It is considered bad manners to announce an engagement and not to have a celebration," Charlotte answered in the affirmative and whispered: – But should you accept this invitation? You are married, but I suppose your feelings for the Duke are still intact?

– Oh, it doesn't matter now. Don't worry, I won't shed tears when I see him leading his bride to dance…" Vivian coughed and turned to the gentlemen and shouted: "And what are you gentlemen discussing so heatedly?

– War, my dear wife! – replied Jeremy.

– Oh, the boredom of death! – said the girl. – But what a freezing day it is!

– If you wish, we will go back to the house, to the warmth," Charlotte said to her.

– No, no, I am not cold at all. – Vivian answered her hastily, immediately regretting what she had said.

– Miss Salton is right, my dear. You look very pale. We're going home: I don't want you to be sick again," Jeremy announced in a firm tone.

– But you and I, we've only just arrived! – Vivian frowned and looked at Charlotte regretfully.

– I'm terribly sorry! – Charlotte whispered to her with a guilty expression.

– No apology necessary! It was my own fault! – Vivian replied in a whisper. – And, when the butler brought his card, I knew he would not let us spend time together… .

– Come, my dear. – Jeremy's tone of voice made Vivian grow cold.

– Come to Wington Hall tomorrow," Vivian said to her friend in a level tone of voice. She said it loudly, so that her tyrant could hear her words. – My husband and cousin will be out hunting, and I shall be alone at home.

– I have not yet heard you propose to devote tomorrow to hunting, but, my friend, my consent you have just received! – Anthony said jokingly to his friend.

– And tomorrow, Cranford, I'll give you a hard time and shoot so much game that your horse will have to carry my trophy bags," Jeremy said ironically, but then looked at his wife again. – Come, Vivian.

– I'll be there! I'll be there! – Charlotte squeezed her friend's hand tightly, and the girls walked slowly towards the gentlemen.

– I apologise for our hasty departure, Miss Salton," Jeremy said apologetically as the Wingtons left Lillehus. – My wife's health is so fragile that a light breeze is enough to give her a cold.

– I understand, Mr. Wington. Besides, I shall see Vivian tomorrow, and the thought warms my heart," Charlotte smiled at him playfully.

– Cranford, are you with us? – Jeremy asked.

– If Miss Salton does not mind, I should like to stay here and take her round the garden once more," said Anthony, and the answer brought a surprised but grateful smile to the landlady's lips.

– I shall be glad of your society, Mr. Cranford," she said quietly.

– But how will you get home? – Vivian asked her cousin. – 'We came in the same carriage!

– I'll leave you my horse," Jeremy said without opening his mouth. – Please see that it is delivered to Wington Hall by this evening. I want to take him hunting tomorrow.

– Thank you, my friend. I shall be at your house by eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Goodbye, my dear cousin," said Anthony.

– See you and have a good hunt," Vivian replied with some sarcasm. Then she hugged Charlotte tightly. – 'I look forward to tomorrow!

The Wingtons got into their carriage.

– Touch it! – Jeremy shouted to the coachman.

The carriage moved off.

– I must confess that your flight has struck me unpleasantly," said Mr. Wington gloomily, as he watched Anthony and Miss Salton waving to their friends through the window.

– Escape, my dear? – Vivian raised her eyebrows.

Her husband's scowl and stern expression made her body goosebumps, but she decided she had had enough! She wasn't going to let him boss her around anymore! It was time to show him that she no longer intended to be his prisoner!

– What else would you call what you did? – Jeremy contradicted her.

– I only wanted to visit my friend… My best friend! – She lifted her chin. – I am a free woman! Not your slave!

– You are my wife! – Jeremy said sternly and grabbed her slender wrist. – And you dare not leave the house without my permission!

– Oh, well, divorce me, if you don't like such a naughty wife! – Vivian sarcastically exclaimed, as if she didn't mind the iron grip of his fingers.

– That will never happen. You are mine. Only mine. And I will never, you hear me, never give you a divorce!

– Then stop it! Stop commanding me like some maid! You're supposed to respect my choices and my wishes, not suppress them!

– We'll talk at home," Jeremy suddenly said in a completely calm tone and let go of Vivian's hand.

– Fine! – She said coldly and turned her face away from the window. – Tell me, did you come here on purpose to keep me away from Charlotte? Or perhaps you are jealous of my cousin too?

– And if I am? – her husband grinned unpleasantly.

– If so, I'll tell you that this idea of yours is ridiculous: there never was and never will be anything between him and me. We're brother and sister. Besides, if it makes you feel any better, Anthony is in love with another girl and wants to marry her," Vivian said quietly.

Her whole being burned with disgust at her husband and the fact that he had deliberately taken her away from her dear friend. He had spoilt her day. But she did not ask why her husband had returned so early from hunting.

– What luck! – Jeremy replied mockingly.

Vivian remained silent.

After that brief conversation, neither spouse said a word all the way to Wington Hall.

When the carriage pulled up to the front door, Vivian left it in a hurry and went into the house and went up to her and Jeremy's bedroom with quick steps, and did not leave it, not even for dinner. The girl had lost all appetite, and only waited impatiently for her husband to come into the bedroom to discuss with her again the accusations she had thrown in his face.

"I will not raise my voice and I will be calm. We will talk like rational beings, not like animals living only on instinct. He loves me and I'm sure I can convey to him what he makes me suffer" decided Mrs. Wington.