When Miss Salton had left Wington Hall, Vivian retired to the library, and hoping that her hated husband would not be home for at least another couple of hours, took one of the books, sat down in a chair by the fireplace, and, opening the first page, ran her fingers lovingly over the fine black letters on the snow-white paper.

– Please, Lord, let him not come back… Let Jane come in now and tell me that my husband was accidentally killed on a hunting trip! – She closed her eyes and whispered with emotion.

Suddenly loud footsteps were heard outside the door, as if the Lord had heard Vivian's prayer. The door to the library opened with a violent rush, but it was not Jane, but none other than her husband who stood before Mrs. Wington's eyes.

"Alive… Safe and sound!" – thought the girl with despair, but to hide her disappointment she forced herself to smile.

Mr. Wington was in a bad mood. In spite of his successful hunt, he was cold, hungry as a wolf, and cursing his hat, which he had lost in a swift, wide woodland stream.

– Are you here, my love? – he threw to his wife as he approached the fireplace.

The cheerful hot flames were so pleasantly warming in this cold rainy weather!

– My dear, you need to change into dry clothes," Vivian said softly, putting the book aside. She realised that her husband's return had put an end to all her plans for the day.

– That'll do. We'll go to the bedroom soon anyway," Jeremy replied and glanced at his wife. – How was your day, my dear?

– Oh, I spent it with Charlotte. We sang and gossiped a lot, as all girls do! – Vivian laughed falsely. – She's such a talented pianist that I even wanted to take piano lessons.

– That's a lovely idea. But the teacher should be a woman. – Jeremy sat down in a nearby chair and glanced at the book his wife was holding. – Byron? Do you like romance?

– This collection of poems brings me peace of mind," Vivian replied. – When I was younger, I dreamed of meeting my knight. Brave. Fearless. Faithful. – She smiled dreamily. – But such heroes are only in books.

– You're right. I'm glad to have such an inquisitive wife, but books about knights and their exploits for the ladies make me despise them," Jeremy said with a mocking smile.

Vivian wisely remained silent, smiled, and folded her palms in her lap.

– How was your hunt, my love? – She asked in an even tone, knowing that such questions flattered her husband's ego.

– It rained in my eyes, and my hat fell into the river, but I shot a full bag of game," Mr. Wington said, pleased with himself. – But, devil, I'm hungry as a stray dog!

– I'll have dinner laid out for you, my dear.

– Oh, don't. I haven't the strength for food.

"Fine! You're tired, you scoundrel! Then you won't touch me tonight!" – Viviane was relieved.

– My poor husband! You should go to bed now. I will read some more, if you please," she said with a soft smile.

– You will come with me. I've been dreaming about you all this damn wet day," Jeremy said. A lustful smile appeared on his face, and his gaze seemed to go under the muslin of his wife's dress and touch her body. – And you will give me your best caresses, my love.

At these words, nausea came to Vivian's throat.

No. Oh, no! Not that!

The "caresses" he had made her give him! "Caresses" that made her hate herself and feel disgusted with herself.

– Jeremy, I -" the girl burst out, and she turned her face away to the fireplace.

– What, darling? – he asked quietly, watching her like a cat watching a mouse.

– I can't do it any more! – Vivian said in one breath and looked at her husband's face, so ominous in the bright firelight. – I wanted to tell you that yesterday, but you wouldn't listen to me.

Jeremy chuckled wickedly.

– Why not, my love? – He asked creepily.

Vivian placed her hands on her stomach, looked at her husband again, and then smiled with a calm, joyful smile.

– Because I'm carrying our baby under my heart.

It seemed to Vivian that her words did not immediately reach Jeremy's mind, which was tired from the hunt and the hard day's work: his wife only looked at her, and not a word came out of his mouth for several minutes. The young gentleman's squinted eyes were thoughtful, as if he were considering whether the news he had just heard was true or not.

But the girl was mistaken: her husband's heart was filled with warmth. He was so glad that he could not at once find words to express the intensity of this feeling.