THE SECOND VOW

CHAPTER 5 THE DAYS BEFORE

Vivienne sat before the mirror in her chamber, carefully applying her makeup, when a soft knock came at the door.

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened, and Mrs. Olivia stepped into the room.

“Good morning, Madam,” Mrs. Olivia said, offering a small courtesy.

“Good morning, Mrs. Olivia,” Vivienne replied, her attention still fixed upon the mirror as she continued with her makeup.

“You sent for me, Madam?” Olivia asked. There was a hint of curiosity in her voice. “I hope everything is well.”

“I have quite a lot to discuss with you,” Vivienne replied. She placed her makeup aside and turned slightly toward her. “Come and sit with me.”

Mrs. Olivia obeyed and took the seat beside her.

She could not help but wonder what the matter was. Lady Vivienne hardly ever requested her presence in her private chamber unless the matter was serious. In all the years she had served the Hawthorne household, she could count on one hand the number of times Vivienne had called her there.

Whatever Lady Vivienne wished to discuss must therefore be important.

“The reason I called you here is both important and urgent,” Vivienne began, looking directly into Olivia’s eyes. “You are a mother, just as I am, and I believe you will understand the importance of what I am about to tell you.”

Olivia listened carefully, her hands resting neatly upon her lap.

“Lavinia shall soon be married,” Vivienne continued.

Olivia’s face immediately brightened.

“That is wonderful news, Madam.”

Though Olivia was a servant within the Hawthorne household, her affection for Lavinia had always been genuine. She had watched the young mistress grow from a little girl into the young woman she had become. There were moments when she could still remember Lavinia running through the corridors as a child, her skirts gathered in her little hands as she tried to escape the governess who had been sent after her.

The thought of that little girl now becoming a bride filled Olivia with happiness.

Her own daughter, Elena, was nearly the same age, being only a few months older than Lavinia. The two girls had grown up around one another, and Olivia had always been grateful that Elena had someone like Lavinia to call a friend.

“Though the date has not yet been decided, the family she is to marry into shall be visiting us,” Vivienne continued. “We are to discuss the arrangements and settle upon the date of the wedding.”

Olivia nodded.

“I understand, Madam.”

Vivienne reached for the small powder brush that lay upon the table but did not return to her makeup. Her mind was already occupied with everything that needed to be done.

“I want you to take charge of everything concerning their visit,” she said. “I do not wish for anything to be out of order. The rooms must be prepared, the meals arranged, and the servants informed of their duties.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“I want everything to be orderly that day. I do not want our guests to lack anything.”

“You have my word, Madam. I shall see to it personally.”

Vivienne looked at her seriously.

“I am trusting you with this, Olivia. I do not want you to disappoint me.”

Olivia's expression softened.

“You have never had cause to doubt me, Madam.”

“No, I have not.”

For a brief moment, silence settled between them.

Vivienne knew she could depend upon Olivia. She had trusted her for years, and that trust had not been built in a single day. It had grown quietly through countless years of service, kindness, and loyalty.

“I simply do not want anything to go wrong that day,” Vivienne said.

“If I may ask, Madam, when shall they be visiting? I should like to begin preparations as soon as possible.”

“In two weeks,” Vivienne replied.

Olivia nodded thoughtfully.

“Two weeks should be sufficient, Madam. I shall begin immediately.”

“I knew you would.”

“And if any difficulty should arise before then, I shall inform you at once so that it may be resolved.”

Vivienne nodded.

“Very well.”

Olivia rose from her seat and offered another courtesy.

“You may rest assured, Madam. Everything shall be put in order.”

“I know I can depend upon you.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

“You are dismissed.”

Olivia gave another small courtesy before leaving the room.

Vivienne watched as the door slowly closed behind her.

For a moment, she remained seated before the mirror, staring at her own reflection without truly seeing it.

Her thoughts wandered.

Of all the people in the Hawthorne household, Olivia was perhaps the only person she trusted completely.

It was not merely because she was the head cook, nor because she helped manage the affairs of the household. There was something deeper than that.

Vivienne trusted her because she knew where Olivia had come from.

She remembered the first time she had met her.

It had been years ago, before the Hawthorne household had become what it was now.

Olivia had been a young pregnant widow at the time. She had already endured the loss of her husband, and with a child on the way, she had been left to face an uncertain future.

Vivienne had remembered seeing her for the first time.

There had been something in Olivia's eyes that had stayed with her. It was not simply sadness. It was the quiet determination of a woman who had no choice but to continue.

Vivienne had been pregnant herself during that period.

Perhaps that was why she had understood Olivia in a way others had not.

She could not bring herself to turn the woman away.

So she had offered Olivia a place within the Hawthorne household.

It had begun as an act of kindness.

Over the years, however, Olivia had become far more than a servant.

She had become someone Vivienne could rely upon.

Someone who knew when to speak and when to remain silent.

Someone who could manage the household without needing to be reminded of every little detail.

And perhaps most importantly, someone who had never betrayed her trust.

Vivienne looked down at her hands.

Lavinia would soon be leaving this house.

The thought made something heavy settle in her chest.

She had known from the moment Lavinia was born that one day her daughter would marry and leave her childhood home. That was the natural order of things. Yet knowing something was inevitable did not make it easier to accept.

Lavinia was still her little girl in Vivienne's eyes.

The same girl who had once followed her through the gardens.

The same girl who had come running to her whenever she was frightened.

And now she was to become a wife.

Vivienne sighed softly.

There was still much to be done before that day arrived.

The Beaumont family would visit in two weeks.

The date of the marriage would be settled.

Preparations would begin.

And after that, there would be no turning back.

She rose from her chair and returned to the mirror.

For a moment, she studied her reflection.

She wondered whether Lavinia would ever understand why she had made the choices she had made for her.

Perhaps one day she would.

Or perhaps she would never forgive her.

Vivienne pushed the thought away.

There were matters to attend to, and she could not afford to let her emotions interfere.

She picked up her makeup brush once more and continued preparing herself for the day.

Outside her chamber, the Hawthorne household carried on as usual.

Servants moved through the corridors, doors opened and closed, and the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the grand house.

Everything appeared ordinary.

But beneath the quiet routine of the household, something had already begun to change.

Lavinia's future had been decided.

And soon, everyone in the Hawthorne household would feel the weight of it.