“Jane.” Father shook his head.
Vivienne winced.
“Well.” Lady Chester put her cup down. “It was lovely to see you. It’s time for me to go.”
Mother glared at Lady Chester, acting like the wronged one.
When Lady Chester left, Vivienne exhaled. Now she would be free to go.
“What happened?” Father touched her shoulder gently.
“Oh, the piano? I wasn’t focused. My heart was not in playing, Father I’m sorry.”
Mother put a hand on her forehead. “You’re warm. Are you sick?”
“Just a bit tired.”
“I’ll send for our physician.”
“It’s not necessary.” She forced a smile. A visit from the physician would mean she wouldn’t be free to leave the house.
“You’re pale, and I noticed you were a little jittery. That cursed visit to the circus has made you ill.”
“This afternoon there’s a poetry reading I would like to attend. Dobkins will come with me.”
Mother shook her head. “I’m not sure?—”
“Jane.” Father stood and clasped his hands behind his back. “Let her go if she wants to. A young lady must cultivate different interests and spend time outside to make friends.”
“Diseases don’t care about a young lady’s interests,” Mother said. “I want Dr. Acton’s opinion.”
“Dr. Acton?” Father asked. “Who is he? What happened to Dr. Stewart?”
Mother huffed. “I dismissed him.”
“I think Dr. Stewart was fine, but he didn’t tell you what you wanted to hear.” Father scowled.
Vivienne rubbed her forehead. Mother found a new family physician every other month, claiming the physicians were all incompetent.
“Well, I’m fine, and I would like to go.” She forced a cheerful tone.
“I just want to take care of my family.” Clenching the silver box, Mother left the sitting room in a flutter of black fabric before anyone else could speak.
Father touched the top of Vivienne head. “Go if you want, my girl. Don’t stay home because of your mother’s words. You must enjoy your life. Go now.”
“Thank you, Father.” She stood to leave, but he called her.
“She’s hurting. You know that, don’t you?”
“I know. She’s hurting, as is everyone.”
He released a long breath. “She’s improved. Last year, she wouldn’t have let you go.”
In her opinion, Mother was far from improved. “I love you, Papa.” She kissed his cheek before going upstairs to get ready.
When finally Vivienneleft the house with Dobkins, the sun was hiding behind the clouds. Inside their cab, Dobkins looked outside and wrung her hands, gazing outside. “Police are everywhere.”
Constables seemed to have multiplied overnight; they patrolled the streets in the centre of the city, stopping carts, coaches, and omnibuses.
