She entered the room and smiled in what seemed like forever. 
                          
"Vivienne!" Fiona rushed towards her and engulfed her in a bone-tight hugged. "It's been forever."
                          
Vivienne tugged Fiona tightly against her body. She relished in the sight of seeing a familiar face. Her friend's warmth gave her the comfort she had not received in some while. To her annoyance, tears began pricking in the corner of her eyes. 
                          
Fiona pulled back, alarm lining her face, "What is the matter?"
                          
Vivienne quickly brushed away the tears with the back of her hand and smiled widely. "Nothing, I'm just glad to see you. It's been a rough couple of days."
                          
Fiona led her to the chaise, and they both settled in, "Well then my dear friend, tell me all about it, starting with why on earth you are staying at Lord Westmorland's home!"
                          
Vivienne glanced around the room nervously, for once she was glad that Lady Westmorland was not around. She could be as honest as possible to her friend. Opening her mouth, Vivienne shared everything, right from the beginning. She left no detail and even shared how the duke yelled at her when he found her identity and the harsh words they had exchanged. The only part Vivienne left out was her feeling like a burden at the earl's home as well.  
                          
When she was finished, she saw Fiona leaning back into her plush seat. "Well, I must say that's quite the tale Vivienne—"
                          
Vivienne took Fiona's hand, "No, please continue calling me Vivienne. It is what I prefer."
                          
Understanding filled Fiona's eyes and she nodded. "At least you've gotten closure about your parents Vivienne. It must have been haunting you to not know all those years."
                          
It had haunted her, Vivienne realized. There was always that spark of hope that she would be reunited with her father, but now, it had been thoroughly extinguished. However, she did not feel quite ready to move on. She still did not know why her father had left her with Agatha in the first place. Only the governess held the answers to those secrets, and it prevented Vivienne from true peace. 
                          
"Thank you for listening to me Fiona," she said sincerely. 
                          
Fiona had demonstrated that Vivienne could truly lean on her and share everything. It almost felt like having a sister, Vivienne imagined.
                          
Fiona squeezed her arm comfortingly, "Anytime," her eyes lit up. "Now, I must tell you some exciting news of my own."
                          
***
                          
"Preston, ensure that the reckless footmen do not jostle the trunks! Many of them contain pieces that are worth more than their measly salary."
                          
James nearly avoided hitting his head on one of the trunks as the footman rushed to apologize quickly before fleeing out the door. Confused at all the ruckus, he walked towards his great aunt who stood on the steps of the house watching the footmen working in front of her. He joined her to the side and asked in bewilderment, "What exactly is going on here?"
                          
Aunt-Esme looked at him beneath her grey eyes, "Good you are awake. Do tell one of the servants to make sure they are careful bringing down the items from upstairs."
                          
James ignored his aunt's request and waved his hand at the circus in front of them. "Pray tell me where exactly all of these trunks are going?"
                          
His great-aunt snapped at one of the footmen who was holding the trunk sideways, "What is with that atrocious posture? Shoulders back young man. I do believe you know what it means to hold something horizontally, do you not?"
                          
 The footman was intelligent enough to keep his mouth shut even as he straightened his frame and hold on the trunk. 
                          
"Will you tell me what is going on or am I going to be standing here all day?"