Page 4 of Inventing Vivian

Miss Lancaster glanced at her and the others, shaking her head. “I shall never marry,” she said quietly. “Not after this.”

The bit of pity Vivian had felt earlier expanded. The young lady’s embarrassment would be all anyone talked about for weeks.

Miss Lancaster removed a ruby bangle from her wrist and handed it to Miss Miller. “He gave the very same bangle to Lorene. He has...they’vekept their relationship secret. She was my dearest friend, and he...” Her lip quivered, but a hint of anger had appeared in her expression.

Seeing it, Vivian felt a surprising connection with Miss Lancaster. She’d felt the same humiliation, though in different circumstances.

Miss Miller studied the bracelet, shaking her head.

The feeling in the room was heavy, and Vivian imagined all the women were wishing they could help as well as contemplating their own frustrations.

“Well”—Miss Miller held the bracelet out to its owner—“this could be a good opportunity.”

“Yes,” Lady Sophronia said, turning her attention back to Miss Lancaster. “You have a chance to do something new, to focus on yourself and your own ambitions.”

“Ambitions?” Miss Lancaster folded the handkerchief in her lap, covering the bracelet that laid in her lap. “For the last two years my entire objective was to marry Ruben, and now...”

“Now you can stop worrying about him,” Miss Miller said. “You can do whatever you wish. Set a new course, become a new person, if you’d like.”

“I don’t have... I’ve never...” Miss Lancaster wrinkled her forehead.

“Well, we shall do it with you, shan’t we, ladies?” Lady Sophronia seemed quite excited by the prospect; whether she intended to raise Miss Lancaster’s spirits or to actually change her own course, Vivian couldn’t be certain. “I propose we each declare an objective we hope to accomplish.”

“A marvelous idea.” Miss Miller took her cousin’s hand and gave a firm nod.

“I have an ambition,” Vivian said, feeling herself swept into the spirit of the thing. “I, Vivian Kirby, should like to complete my steam-engine model and enter it for display in the International Exhibition of Industry and Science.” She projected a confidence into her voice that she didn’t feel. After all, she’d tried for years to enter the exhibition, but the stipulations in the process made it all but impossible. However, it felt good to say the words aloud.

“Excellent, Miss Kirby,” Miss Miller said. She smiled warmly.

“Please, call me Vivian.”

Miss Miller nodded and reached for Vivian’s hand.

Vivian moved closer, sitting beside Miss Miller on the sofa. Her heartbeat sped up, and the moment felt more significant than it had before.

Miss Miller took a breath and let it out. “I, Elizabeth Miller, wish to open a finishing school for young ladies of underprivileged upbringings.” Her words were spoken slowly, as if she were making a vow.

Lady Sophronia knelt on the floor in front of the others. She took Vivian’s free hand. “I, Sophie Bremerton, would like to report a real story—something important that must be uncovered, for which I must review sources and verify facts. I want to be an actual newsagent.”

Vivian smiled. What had begun as a way to bolster Miss Lancaster had changed into something much more significant, and she knew the others felt it as well.

“Have you a goal?” Elizabeth asked Miss Thornton.

Miss Thornton knelt beside Sophie and took her hand. She glanced at the others, biting her lip. “I, Hazel Thornton, hope to finish nursing school, to achieve nurse probationer status.”

Vivian thought the goal very admirable, especially considering the young lady’s struggles. She gave Hazel what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

“Very good,” Elizabeth said. She turned to her cousin. “Now, Dahlia, it is your turn.”

“I really cannot think of anything.” Dahlia’s gaze turned downward.

“You are to inherit your father’s company,” Elizabeth said. “Your goal could be to understand the management of the business.”

“That sounds very worthwhile,” Hazel said.

“It certainly does,” Vivian agreed. A very sensible goal indeed.

Dahlia looked at her cousin. “I suppose such learning could be advantageous.”

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