"The Widow" Bertha

Lord Keeper of the Seal George Lancaster's manor on the edge of the town is quite beautiful, with lush green trees, surrounded by flowers, and grand and simple interior decoration. Being able to own such a manor in a town near London is enough to prove its status and strength.

And Mr. Lancaster is low-key by nature, and has a well-known hobby, that is, he loves to study.If he hadn't been born in a political family and had no choice but to embark on a political path, he might have already become a top talent in a certain scientific field by now.

Due to his hobbies, Mr. Lancaster knows many scholars and doctors who have made great achievements in various fields, which also makes his gatherings more academically flavored, more like a university teacher's fellowship, rather than a high society gathering.

Under such a premise, Mr. Mycroft Holmes appeared with his lover, which was not as beautiful as last time.

In the eyes of everyone, it was just another gentleman.The members of the party were naturally divided into two groups: one group was scholars, and the other group was high-ranking officials and nobles. The men and women who walked in right now belonged to the latter group—the men were tall and well-dressed, and the women were charming and elegant enough to be envied. But it has nothing to do with academia.

Bertha has been Holmes' "lover" for so long, and this is the first time she has encountered such a scene of being treated coldly.

She thought about it, then laughed out loud.

"Think of something interesting, dear?" asked Mycroft, who was beside her.

"It's nothing."

Bertha replied with a smile: "It's just that you were the most popular person at Sir Ward's party last time, but now no one cares about you. I think it's funny."

Mycroft still had a polite look on his face: "It's true, the so-called pleasing me, after all, is just because they want something from me."

These words obviously sounded like they were mocking the hypocrisy of politicians and high society, but Bertha heard another meaning: if some noble doctor wanted to ask Holmes, he would choose to bow his head.Now no one bows their heads, but because the interests are irrelevant.

"However, without the unnecessary entertainment," Mycroft went on, "isn't it nice to just enjoy the fun of the party?"

This is true.

Bertha could clearly feel that the people around him were very happy with such a "cold reception", and he wished that there would be as few people as possible to get close to him.

"Sitting in the auditorium, you don't want to be disturbed by others, do you?" Bertha teased.

"That's natural."

Mycroft nodded seriously: "I'm here to enjoy the play, not to apply for an actor."

Had it not been for his interest in the upcoming "Murder in the Chamber of Secrets", Mycroft Holmes probably would not have set foot on Pall Mall Street.It's not that he's lazy, the spy chief's time is precious.

"Speaking of actors..."

Bertha looked around the hall of the mansion and found Colonel Dent first.

The colonel who was talking with a certain lady felt something, he raised his head and looked over intuitively, met Bertha's burning gaze, and paused slightly.

Bertha, who was caught straight, was neither embarrassed nor evasive. Instead, she gave Colonel Dent a pleasant smile, as if she simply ran into an acquaintance at a party.

Colonel Dent froze for a moment, then nodded.

On the surface, he was not very familiar with Mycroft Holmes, so Colonel Dent did not take the initiative to greet him.This gave Bertha more time to observe. After she moved her eyes away, she swept over the gentlemen who looked more bookish.

"At three o'clock, the middle-aged man wearing glasses," Mycroft answered without Bertha asking, "the one in the mouse-colored suit."

"..."

Bertha recognized at a glance the man whose features Mycroft had dictated.

The pedant who was communicating with others looked about 45 years old, and his mouse-colored gown was washed a little wrinkled and even looked shrunk, maybe it hadn't been worn since the inauguration ceremony until now.How should I put it, this pedant completely fits Bertha's stereotype of the word "scientific madman" from head to toe.

"Finally met Dr. Victor Lang himself."

She hooked the corner of her mouth and said in a low voice, "Have you arranged your own people in the mansion, Mike?"

Mycroft replied unhurriedly: "If you want to ask him whether he has had secret contact with Colonel Dent, the answer is no, my dear."

Bertha gave a slight "tsk" in displeasure.

Under the "conspiracy" of the two of them, the invitation letters to Dr. Lang En and Colonel Dent were exactly the same: the signature was the Truth Society, and the colonel or the doctor was required to secretly assist the other party in completing the mission. As for the mission and what to do, they did not say anything .

The reason why Holmes dared to pretend to be an "insider" so generously was because he was sure that the members of the Society of Truth were not related to each other—if there was any connection, even if it was a clue, it would definitely not escape Mycroft's eyes .

As the head of secret agents across the UK, he has been chasing for so long and has yet to find any obvious clues. Let alone Sherlock Holmes, even Bertha can boldly speculate that the truth society has a single-line connection model from top to bottom. Link does not have contacts.

Otherwise, just following Colonel Dent's social circle would lead to a clue.

Logically speaking, after getting the clues, their first task should be to test and contact them in private, especially for a pair of clues.I haven't talked to him yet, either Dr. Lang En and Colonel Dent have known each other for a long time, or...

"I'm afraid the two of them still have doubts," Mycroft said calmly, "and decided to observe more."

That was in line with Bertha's arrangement, and she was afraid that the two of them would meet in advance.

Bertha curled her lips, "Isn't the meeting of the Keeper of the Seal intended to invite all the guests to spend the night here?"

Mycroft certainly understood what Bertha meant, and he tilted his head with interest: "I'm looking forward to your plot arrangement, Bertha."

"Then I can only try my best not to disappoint you, Mike," said Bertha proudly, "but before that, let me check the other 'actors'—I haven't seen Sir Ward."

"Sir James Ward and his wife will be arriving a little later," said Mycroft. "Where is that dear friend of yours, Miss Jane Eyre?"

"She's at the hotel in town, and I've arranged for Grace to accompany her in case she needs it."

Miss Jane Eyre, not wanting to miss Bertha's show, nor to take part in such society, chose such a middle way.

In Jane's original words, "It won't be too late for her assistant to arrive when something goes wrong" - Listening to this speech, there is no trace of the restrained and docile tutor.

"Miss Jane Eyre is clever," said Mycroft admiringly.

"Yeah, it's a pity."

"what?"

Bertha glanced in the other direction.

She seemed casual, but just happened to meet a gentleman's probing gaze.

Who else was it not Bertha Mason's ex-husband Edward Rochester who was staring at him coldly from a distance?

In the original "Jane Eyre", it is described that Bertha married Rochester with a sky-high dowry of [-] pounds. Then, as an operator, she inherited all the family inheritance. According to Bertha's estimation, Edward Rochester's Assets should not be lower than that of the famous Mr. Darcy.

It's just that the plot of the novel mainly takes place in the closed Thornfield Manor, and Rochester himself has a withdrawn personality and doesn't like socializing, so Rochester's social life is not described positively.

But he is rich and has status. As this unplanned "extra actor", Mr. Rochester is not restrained and awkward on this occasion. In fact, if Bertha remembers correctly, there are several gentlemen present with him. Old acquaintances, including Colonel Dent.

Rochester, who was standing in the distance, was originally talking with several gentlemen. It was not until Bertha looked at him actively that the other party put away the topic and walked towards her.

"I thought Edward could finally get over the pain of lovesickness," Bertha said while smiling at the approaching Mr. Rochester, "but I didn't expect that Jane would not give him this face at all."

A simple sentence is enough for Mycroft to understand the cause and effect.

He showed a clear expression: "It's about men and women."

Bertha: "It's such a trouble—Edward! What a coincidence, I thought I would see you later."

The second half of the sentence was addressed to Rochester who walked over.

The letter of invitation for him came from the Lord Seal himself, and Rochester naturally did not know that it was from Bertha and Mycroft.

Meeting his "dead" ex-wife on such an occasion, Rochester felt complicated.

"Miss Marple," he said coldly, "it was indeed an accident."

What made his mood even more complicated was that there was actually a rather decent gentleman standing beside the current "Miss Marple".

She has lived in the attic of Thornfield Manor for ten years, and it has only been a few months since she got away. Now she has attended social occasions with the opposite sex. How come she has never seen her so capable before?

Bertha just smiled brightly at that.

To be reasonable, no matter how they were married, how could Bertha not know what Rochester was thinking at this moment.Not only did she not care, but she raised her right hand and took Mycroft's arm quite affectionately.

"Mike, let me introduce you," she said with a smile, "this is my old friend Edward Rochester. Edward, you have heard Colonel Dent mention it before, this is my... lover, Mike Roft Holmes."

Rochester: "..."

Wait a minute, is that Sherlock Holmes?

Mr. Rochester, who was completely unaware beforehand, experienced the same feelings as Colonel Dent—isn't the so-called "lover relationship" just a random guess of others, and why did it suddenly come true? !

Moreover, Colonel Dent did not know the specific situation, but Rochester knew that Bertha had been imprisoned in Thornfield Manor for a full ten years.Where did she get the chance to know Holmes?

But Rochester was surprised, but the man beside Bertha was not.

Mycroft even politely extended his right hand towards Rochester, as if he still disliked him for not being complicated enough, and pretended to be ignorant and smiled: "I have known you for a long time, Mr. Rochester, thank you for taking care of me at Thornfield Manor. Bertha so long."

Rochester: "..."

For some reason, he really didn't want to hold this hand.

The author has something to say:

Mike: Thank you for helping me take care of my family all these years dear :)

Rochester: ...

Bertha: Your dear (referring to Jane) I have taken good care of you :)

Rochester: ...

#Today was my ex-husband persecuted by Bertha? No, it’s Maggie’s turn to be persecuted! #