Chapter 6: A Day on the Town

The following day while Vivien began working on her chores she could hear voices coming from the drawing room. Leaning up against a wall she began listening. 

“Lady Alexander, I hate to break it to you but you are no longer the loveliest in all of London.” Max the butler said as he found Catherine looking into a gold mirror surrounded by diamonds. Over the years her looks had begun to dwindle as she grew in years. But Catherine didn’t see it that way. What she saw was her youthful self at the young age of 21. 

“You think I don’t know that!” Catherine yelled as she glared at him from the mirror. She found this very infuriating. “I’ve known that for quite some time.” 

“What do you plan on doing?” Max asked as he stood with his hands behind his back. Since he knew her rather well he knew what was going to come. 

“I’m sick of the sight of that girl. I’m sick of her beauty. I want to be the loveliest in all of London!” Catherine yelled as she stomped her foot. “That’s why I want you to take her far away from here.” Catherine stopped as something left her hand, skidding across the marble floor and in front of Max’s feet. 

Vivien could feel her breath being taken from her body. She knew her stepmother didn’t want her let alone even want to look at her. Putting her hand to the wall she leaned in closer.

“What’s this for?” Max asked as he picked up the sharp object and held it with both of his hands, while a light reflected off of the small dagger. 

“You’ll know what to do with it.” Catherine said as smile came to her red lips. If this was the way she had to become the most beautiful in all of London then so be it.

“I will not kill her. I will not play your games.” Max protested. He couldn't hurt Vivien, Richard would never forgive him. 

Vivien’s eyes got wide with terror. This was what Catherine had planned all along. She was planning to kill her because she was the most beautiful in all of England. Vivien’s blood went cold as she found that she couldn’t move. Could her life be over before it barley had begun? 

“You will do as you are told or I will have your family killed in front of you.” Catherine threatened as she turned from the mirror. 
“As you wish my lady,” Max said as he bowed his head and looked upon the knife that was to seal Vivien’s fate. 

Shaking the terror from her body Vivien ran from the room. She knew she had to get away or she would be dead within a few short moments. Running up the staircase she could feel her heart beating as if it were to beat right out of her chest. Running as if she was never allowed to stop she came to her stepmother’s room. Opening the door Vivien saw Callie in the small cage. “Oh, Callie, we’ve got to get out of here.” Vivien whispered as she began franticly looking for the key. “Where is it?” she asked aloud as she put a hand to her forehead. Would she ever find it? Her time was running out as she could feel the seconds creeping by. 

She could just hear Catherine saying “Looking for this.” As she held up the key as a deep laugh came from her throat. Shaking her head Vivien began looking in the dresser. Opening and looking through the many things. Finding all kinds of knick knacks, from jewels, to-no that was her mother’s wedding ring. Vivien gasped as she found herself holding it. Why does she have this? Vivien questioned as she continued to look at it. Not having much time she put the ring back and continued looking. She would think about the ring later, before long Vivien found the key in the top draw of her vanity. 

Going over to the cage she unlocked the door. Opening it Callie jumped into Vivien’s arms. “I’ve missed you.” Vivien said as she held her kitten close. With no time to waist Vivien went and got Callie’s leash and her black and white trench coat. In such haste she had forgot to clean up the room. 

Guiding her way through the big house Vivien feared she wouldn’t get to the front door without being caught by Catherine. Before long she could see the front door. However she met Max on the way out.

“Where might you be going?” he asked as she approached him.

“Max, I’ve got to get out of here. I heard everything that was said between you and Catherine.” Vivien said as she looked behind and all around to make sure Catherine wasn’t around. 

“You did?” Max asked as his gloved hand went to his mouth. “Oh, dear, I wouldn’t hurt you and you know that.” 

“Yes, I do know that, but you must promise me you won’t tell Catherine that I’ve run away.” Vivien whispered as she put on her long white gloves. 

“I promise, Ms. Alexander.” Max said with a smile. “I will come up with some excuse if she asked about you.”

“Thank you, Max,” Vivien said as she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Opening the big front door she looked back and smiled at Max and departed. Walking swiftly down the steps and down the walkway she could feel her nerves tighten. Within the matter of a few minutes Vivien would be half way down the driveway and braving the world she had never known before.

Getting to the iron gates of Notley, Vivien was so scared, that she wasn’t sure where she was going. Putting her trench coat on that her father had given her, she was off. Looking back once more Vivien got one last glance at her childhood home. 

“Taxi!” Vivien yelled as she found a car coming toward her. 
“Where to Lady?” the driver asked as he turned and looked at Vivien. 

“London please,” Vivien said in a daze as she found her nerves about shot. Resting on her lap Callie, shut her eyes and took a nap. Looking down at her hands Vivien saw them shaking. Shutting her eyes Vivien took a deep breath and tried her best to calm down.

Back at Notley Catherine found her room a mess and the cage door opened. “What in the world?” she said as her eyes looked around the room. “NO!” She yelled as she knocked things off her vanity. “MAX!” Her voice rang out. “Where is she?”

“I can assure you I don’t know who you mean?” Max said as he tried to cover up the truth. 

“Max, where is Vivien?” Catherine asked in a fake sweet voice.

“I don’t know,” Max lied as he could feel his knees knocking.

“Don’t give me that. Her cat is missing. I know you know where she is.” Catherine yelled as her face grew crimson. “You will go after her and do as you were told or your family dies.” 

Max couldn’t do this to Vivien, but he couldn’t stand to see his family hurt. “GO!” Catherine yelled as she pointed at the door. 
Getting the dagger and his coat Max headed out the door. What was he going to do? He couldn’t kill anyone, but yet if he didn’t do as he was told his family would be killed right before his eyes. 

Heading out the door he saw a white rabbit under a nearby tree. That’s it. He would make it appear that he had killed the girl. Only in truth she would still be getting away from her evil stepmother. Yes that was it that’s what he would do. 

Resting peacefully in the back seat of the taxi Vivien didn’t even notice they had arrived in London. “Lady,” the driver said as he looked in his mirror. Opening her eyes Vivien sat up and saw they were in London. Fixing her hair quickly she got out of the cab. 

“That will be. €68.00,” the driver said as he held out his hand. 

Going through her small black purse Vivien found that she didn’t have much money. Getting out the exact amount she handed it to the man. Thanking him she began her journey. Walking down the busy streets of London, Vivien began to realize what she had been missing. She had never really been outside Notley unless it was to go to the market or something. It must be lovely living in a city such as this one. But at the moment war was being brought upon London. 

Sighing sadly Vivien continued on her way. Before long Callie stopped dead in her tracks. “What’s wrong Callie?” Vivien asked as she looked down at the kitten. Callie looked all around as she continued to listen. What could be getting into her cat? While standing on Waterloo Bridge Vivien noticed how the lights on Big Ben went off as sirens could be heard moments later. What could be going on? 

“Air raid!” An old lady yelled as people began running for their lives. Why did that sound so familiar to Vivien? Oh, yes, her father told her about the different attacks that happened during war. Picking her kitten up Vivien began running with the rest of them. Before long she came to the underground. She had never seen a place as crowded as much as this place was. Pushing her way through Vivien found a spot and stood quietly. However, there was a lot of pushing and shoving. There was so much shoving that Vivien accidently bumped into something or was it someone.