The Happy Life of a Duchess

After eating the candy, the empty stomach and abdomen felt a lot more comfortable, so Adele took it easy.

Although she stepped into the Duval family's carriage, she didn't go there right away. She only planned to stand aside for a while, and then wait for the craftsman who repaired the carriage to come over and make plans.

If the problem is serious and needs to be repaired for a long time, she will be sent back by Mr. Duval first. If the time does not need to be very long, then she will wait here and talk to Mr. Duval for a while.

"What are you looking at?"

Mr. Duval stood beside her.

Adele fanned her fan while looking at the immobile carriage.

"I'm wondering how long this might take."

"It won't be long," Mr. Duval responded, "There is a well-known carriage builder not far away, and it only takes ten minutes to come here."

"Looking at it this way, we can wait for a reliable craftsman after we have a conversation." Adele looked at him with a smile, "The time spent with you always feels very short to me."

"I feel the same way," he admitted.

"Sometimes, I really doubt whether such a great and just god as time is too biased..." He smiled, as if he was not saying something shocking.

"Perhaps, the god of time will also be shocked by the face of the god of beauty..."

"what do you think?"

Facing the serious face of Mr. Duval who seemed to be probing for something, Adele couldn't help but blushed slightly, and with the cover of a fan, she forced her lips together to suppress the inexplicable shyness.

"How would I know that..." She muttered in a low voice, and then the position of the fan on her heart moved slightly, still smiling and smiling, even though the blush on her cheeks hadn't faded away.

Because of the popularity of fans, some "fan language" culture has been derived from it.

The most common way is to place the fan on the left chest where the heart is, which means "to please the other party" and "to fancy the other party".

Mr. Duval's expression moved slightly, apparently understanding her posture.

He curled his lips slightly, then turned his head and looked in the same direction as her.

"About what you mentioned earlier."

"I understand a little bit."

While Adele was amazed by his high efficiency, she couldn't help but explore the other party's mood.

"Huh? I would like to hear more about it." She smiled and nodded.

"I learned a little bit about it from Armand's friend." Mr. Duval said unhurriedly.

"It's also the first time I know that he has a crush on a certain lady with a very...bad background, and it's not a day or two that he has been thinking like this."

"It seems that he happened to meet somewhere in Paris a few years ago, and he had a good impression of that lady, but...with all due respect, the identity of that lady is really inappropriate. I don't even mind it so much, but he shouldn't have meant what can be called 'focused love' to a lady who is a courtesan."

"I was a little annoyed at first. That lady, Miss Margaret Gautier, really doesn't have a very good reputation. Even if she is a courtesan or a slightly less exaggerated woman who just has some lovers, she won't have a good reputation." Such a bad reputation."

"Miss Gautier has many reputations such as vanity, admiration, arrogance, casualness, and rudeness. Just this is enough for me to deny her, but you have expressed sympathy for this lady with me before, and I I think there should be some part of Miss Gautier's reputation that does not match the rumors."

"But it's all in the past tense, and it's really not enough to fully represent her present."

"I heard that Ms. Gautier has no longer engaged in any activities related to...that career. Although this lady is still in Paris, she has already lived a life of 'reclusiveness', and other ordinary people's lives. Girls are no different..."

"Then you should have found out..." Adele paused, and he nodded.

"Yes, I understand that your father, Mr. Duke Juradi, has borne a considerable part of her living expenses, and has guaranteed her a house and some jewelry and other things."

"Yes, to tell you the truth, I have met the other girl, this girl who got my father's preferential treatment and a little liking because of her looks." She sighed helplessly.

"Let me tell you frankly, I was very worried before I met her. At that time, she almost became my sister in name, and once she was given the surname of Juradi, what would happen to her? I am sure you It is also very clear that if a courtesan becomes a member of our family, it will be a disgrace to the whole family."

He nodded, indicating that he fully understood what she meant, and Adele continued to explain.

"I don't want to have... the possibility of being repeatedly sucked blood by relatives who are not worthy of virtue. You may think that I am very rude, but... that is basically what it means." She flapped her fan and sighed slightly Tone, "This matter did not work out in the end, and my cousins ​​also wrote to me to explain that they would not allow such a thing to happen."

"But if Margaret still maintains the rotten life and emptiness of the past, then I don't think it's worth helping such a young lady." She said clearly.

"But after meeting this lady, I knew that a large part of the description of her in the rumors was slander without reason, and it was not her own fault that she fell into this path in the first place, but the people around her. The environment made her passively fall into such an embarrassing situation, in order to pay off her father's debt, she has done everything a woman can do—"

"If a woman can work, I believe she must be more willing to work hard to get some salary. Compared with men, equal pay for equal work will definitely bring her more possibilities, and she is also a person who is willing to study, likes music, and is very Studious lady."

"But the debt does not allow her to make other choices, so she has to... Maybe you will think that my thoughts are not objective at all, full of personal preferences..."

"No," he shook his head, "It is because I know that what you said is the truth, so I am more curious about your thoughts, please don't mind me, just keep talking."

"The final situation is that my father and I have made some efforts for her, paid a lot of money, paid off part of the debts caused by her extravagant life, and found a place for her. A peaceful residence will allow her to lead an ordinary life more easily."

"And now, she has indeed changed her past style and lived in a new way. The two of us have also maintained a certain frequency of communication. I am very happy to read a more peaceful mood from her letter, and Not wandering aimlessly like in the past, and carrying out terrible self-loathing."

"Although she had a bad life and could even be called a 'wrong' day, she is now a pure girl, and her hard-earned peace should not be easily disturbed."

"My father is very pleased to see that she is living the life he expected when he first wanted to adopt her. He and I are very happy."

"I'm an ordinary person." Adele looked at the other party with a smile, not wanting to beautify her own shortcomings, "If she is still like that in the past, then let me take the risk of accepting a courtesan into my home and the possibility, then I don't want to-"

"When I first met her, I didn't even know what my life would be like. I came back from the nursing home and was not welcomed by everyone as I am now. It seems that life is having a good time. , At that time, I was full of confusion..."

"In such a situation, I have to bear such a risk."

She lowered her eyes slightly. This kind of confession was a bit heart-wrenching, and it was even more difficult. It meant that she had to expose her bad side in front of a gentleman whom she had a good impression of and who had a crush on her.

But if she wants to live with such a gentleman in front of her in the future, it will definitely not be all good, and maybe such a conflict will occur at some point - judging from the predestined love between Armand and Marguerite, this is It's very possible—then, it's better to make it clear in advance, let him know that she is not really the kind person in his heart who is as pure as an angel or God without any haze.

"I am very unwilling. Of course, even if such a thing happens, the result is not necessarily the worst, but there is no doubt that including my marriage, it will be affected in many ways. I may not immediately be reduced to being pointed at by others It will be a difficult day, but if I am a little weaker...it will definitely be difficult to persevere, and no one can guarantee that I can predict all risks and face all gossip..."

"But even if I can bear the consequences of being groundlessly accused and misunderstood, and being affected by people's marriage and future, and I can only be a rich 'old woman' in the future, I don't want to be reduced to Miss Havisham. The end of my life, I died alone in the manor..."

"I... am not willing to take such risks and consequences for a courtesan, until I find that the lady, Margaret, is not the worst person I worry about. She is well-read, kind-hearted, and willing to leave That kind of life, finding a new direction in life."

"Then I feel that it is worthwhile to pay for such a young lady." She smiled and looked up, the expression on her face has returned to normal, "It is very important to help a stranger who does not know his character at all costs It’s a risky thing, but I’m already acquainted with Margaret. She is a kind lady with a decent character as I wish. So, let me say now, I’m willing to be a friend or even a sister with her, Even if you bear some gossip."

"You can also understand that she is no longer a socialite anyway, so I will be friends with her, although there will be some influence, but it will not be 'dangerous' to directly associate with a woman who lives a loose life... How about this Think, whatever you want."

"I think……"

He is also smiling, surprised and pleasantly surprised by her frankness and boldness. Compared with having a wife who is like everyone else, he doesn't mind that his future partner is a person who is very thoughtful and even has a few secular views. As a "maverick" woman, he was ready to take some risks and wanted to protect her from the bottom of his heart.

He is no longer young, but he can still be touched by this sincere youthful emotion.

Maybe he no longer has her "sharpness", but he doesn't mind having such a wife.

His previous hesitation and consideration were not just because of some background or the gap in youth. He knew that the two were different from each other. Only by making some compromises can we better spend the long life in the future.

The only thing he is thankful for is that his "not being young" made him see more, and this more insight did not become something that bound him, and did not turn him into an annoying old-fashioned middle-aged man.

On the contrary, he has become more tolerant and accepting-maybe when he was younger, he was not able to accept a partner who was "fashionable".But now, the only thing he's happy about is that he probably still has some identity and ability to protect her precious calm respect and unique insight.

"Now you can take the initiative to bring this matter up for her and me because of your concern and acceptance for her."

"To be honest," he shook his head and sighed, "just as I couldn't accept her as Armand's wife for a while, based on what I know about my son... I'm ashamed, I don't think he thinks properly enough, he doesn't Like being able to take the responsibilities and risks of marrying a wife who was a courtesan, I don't think he can take enough risks other than satisfying his own 'desires'."

"Presumably you are also from this perspective, because knowing that Miss Marguerite Gautier is with Armand, she is likely to suffer some or more injuries. Miss's pursuit is more of an interruption to her hard-won peaceful life of ordinary people... That's why she took the initiative to mention this matter to me."

"To be honest, confess to my very brave young lady." He watched her face and replied with a smile.

"I don't mind being this villain. Judging from Armand's current actions, I believe he has not thought about such a distant thing at all. I don't even think he has considered things such as the 'future' at all, just Immersed in what he thought was love, he couldn't wait to meet a beautiful lady..."

"Don't worry, I will investigate this matter in more detail."

He couldn't give any guarantees, but he was able to give her a reliable answer.

"Then I'm relieved."

Adele seems to be relieved, but in fact, she is more grateful that the husband she fancy has not had any prejudice against her because of this, but if he thinks she is "mean" because of this, then she has nothing to say , It is probably another expression that two people cannot reach an agreement in their thinking, and that they will not be able to live happily in the future.

She also didn't want to do such unsightly things when she was happily talking about love.

But this era is too harsh on women. She can neither break the legs of those men who are looking for lovers casually, nor can they persuade those wives whose husbands cheat to use tough methods, and she has no way to find out that she has chosen a lover. The inappropriate husband then happily divorced to find a second love.

At this time, a couple is almost bound for life, and there are too many things involved.

Even in the case of Hugo and his wife, where both parties have already cheated, it is still difficult to get a divorce, and the problems involving property and children are even more troublesome.

Naturally, when she was looking for a suitable husband, she could only discuss it more carefully and in more detail, so as to harmonize the two people's concepts.

Even though everyone is talking about finding a kind, pure, and beautiful lady, she still has to show her other side——

Show your imperfections and tell the other person that she's not really that good to be flawless.

The corners of Adele's lips curled up a little bit, and Mr. Duval was still comforting her.

From his words, she fully felt that he pampered her, even indulged her. This attitude really made her want to be more "presumptuous".

If there is a gentleman who can take her not-so-beautiful and kind side as an acceptable or even different place for her...

So what else could she hesitate about?

The author has something to say:

Miss Havisham (Havisham): The supporting actress in the British writer Dickens's "Great Expectations", the adoptive mother of the heroine Estella, because she was abandoned by a man and couldn't bear the gossip, she imprisoned herself in the manor all her life. Gradually morbid, wearing an old wedding dress and never going out to die.The background of Great Expectations happened to be 1812-1840. You can understand it as a role in a drama work, or you can understand it as another famous book in it. Anyway, it’s just the background_(:з」∠)_