The Happy Life of a Duchess

With Leo's guidance and help, Adele felt that she seemed to be much smoother all of a sudden.

Maybe it's her own emotional illusion, but she thinks it's more that Leo congenial with her, opened her mind again, and provided her with many feasible opinions.

Counting the days, it's time for the salon.

Because it was the first time it was held, although it was grand and grand, Adele also knew that this was the first step of something in her heart, but the name still used a very common sightseeing tour.

The beauty of Bailu Manor is different in four seasons, and the things planted in the front and rear gardens will also change with the seasons.

Of course, evergreen potted trees are always there, but some more seasonal flowers and plants will also be displayed.

Adele invited [-] or [-] ladies and wives one after another, and when everyone gathered together, it seemed like a lively salon.

Because there are many people, it is also carried out in the garden, and the servants serve tea and snacks very quickly, and there is no slack in the whole process.

After being a little nervous at first, Adele breathed a sigh of relief, and quickly entered the state.

She looked around, everyone looked relaxed, chatting with each other about various topics, she controlled the time properly, and then cut into the views and discussions on Mr. J's latest novel at the right time.

Literary appreciation, like fashion appreciation, is somewhat personal, or in other words, everyone's tastes are very different.

Many ladies like that kind of beautiful love story, and they are not very interested in those stories that are not lingering and sad, but preaching or realistic depiction.

Some people will pay special attention to the rhythmic pattern in the language, just like tasting poetry. If the described sentences are not beautiful enough and the rhythm is not suppressed, they will think that it is a very "vulgar" work.

But the current trend is basically that love must end in tragedy. Although everyone likes to read love stories with a sweet and happy ending, people who write novels don’t think so, as if it’s not the kind of tragic sadomasochism, it’s not romantic enough , Not poignant enough, not touching enough.

"Speaking of which, I just read Mr. J's new novel recently..." Adele looked at the crowd with a smile. As a famous lady who was also the host of the salon, everyone respected her. When speaking, they stopped their respective words and turned to listen to her express her views.

"I think the protagonist in that book, Charles, finally fell in love with his first love sister, that is, his younger siblings. It's really..." She showed a little confusion just right, "It's really surprising...but it doesn't seem to be so. Incomprehensible."

"But if he likes Ann, why would he..." A single young lady answered.

"It's not a contradiction between him thinking about his first love and being with other women at the same time." Mrs. Costa smiled and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and looked at Miss Innocence who was speaking with a smile.

"That's right, man, that's how it is." Mrs. Dressel chuckled lightly, and then looked at Mrs. Castellana.

Mrs. Castellana responded very easily. She took a sip of her tea, raised her eyelids slightly, and seemed to glance at Mrs. Dreisel, but she didn't seem to. Then she smiled and talked naturally to the side Madame speaks.

Speaking of it, her marriage seems to be worse than that of Mrs. Dressel. Mr. Dressel may not have had a lover, but at least she has not been bullied by outside lovers, but Castellana Madam is different. Everyone knows that she was almost "bitten off a piece of meat" by that lover, and her reputation was seriously affected, and she spread a very unfavorable notoriety.

As a result, the topic naturally changed among the wives, and became dissatisfaction and criticism of certain male behaviors. The most talked about was naturally the issue of lovers. As for illegitimate children, they could only be regarded as oligarchs.

Adele also discovered that in the eyes of these wives, the children of those lovers are not very important. As long as she can control the financial power of the family, her own dignity and glory as a wife are all important, and those illegitimate children will never threaten to the head of one's own child—

In today's situation where the survival rate of infants and young children is extremely low, for many wives, illegitimate children are indeed a thorn in the side, but compared to husbands who change their hearts for lovers, illegitimate children have become a relatively unimportant issue.

It seems that in everyone's opinion, the real big problem is that the husband has lost his love for him, and he does not have enough property and power to be with him.

Adele listened with a smile while trying to figure out the thoughts of these ladies.

Then she realized another key point, for marriage and loyalty, everyone doesn't really care about it.

She realized that almost half of those wives who realize that their husbands have changed their minds or feel "lonely" will choose to cheat in the same way, and they will also look for some young lovers or lovers who have a more suitable temperament and can give them enough care and love. Satisfy yourself.

This is an attitude vaguely expressed by them when they are restrained.

After all, this is just a salon. Although everyone knows each other, but because of the large number of people, it is impossible to talk to each other all at once.

Adele pondered for herself, and gradually felt that she seemed to have found a way.

Is this logic wrong?No, a man can find a lover. Anyway, the other party has changed his mind and has been disloyal. There will be a little trouble.

Except for women who are tough enough, most people are still half-covered.

As far as Adele knows those wives who have lovers, or courtesans among the nobles, some of them are in a situation where although they know each other well, for the last bit of decency, they will not expose it, as if they acquiesced in unspoken rules. .

"But, if it's possible..." Adele was fanning, and everyone sat in one place. The weather today was not too hot, it was a comfortable sunny day, and the dress looked like a flower.

"Who wants to do that?"

The scene was subtly silent for a moment, and then Mrs. Castellana's laughter broke the silence.

"You're right. Dogs like to eat shit, but humans don't. If it's not impossible, who would? Who doesn't walk into the church full of longing?"

What Mrs. Castellana said was half-truth. Of course, she knew that some people were forced to marry certain gentlemen, or they did not know each other well, and they married without knowing it. Her own daughter is Such bad luck fell on a ruthless father.

But she herself, before that, also fell in love with a gentleman she thought would treat her well for the rest of her life——

Moreover, everyone was young at that time. When they got married, they were all only fourteen or fifteen years old. Nowadays, the girls only get married when they are raised for a long time. Unlike them, they were coaxed away at such a young age.

He thought he had met his true love, but he didn't think that the sad love only had a shelf life of one or two years, and even unlucky ones, after a few months of honeymoon, there would be no more happy days.

From the first time I knew that my husband had a lover outside, I was a woman. Ask yourself, for most of the women present, this husband has already marked "change of heart", "ruthlessness", "betrayal" and "disloyalty" in their hearts Tags like this.

But whether it's the environment, family upbringing, or her own temperament, not all women are willing to let go and have to give up on themselves to become a courtesan woman.

It can be said that the other party cheated and was unfaithful, but some women do not want to become that kind of person themselves.

A large part of it is exactly that.

Either for educational reasons, or for children, or for family reputation, or because I don't want to...

But if there is a choice, there must be someone who is willing to divorce immediately.

It is much easier for a widow to make an appointment with a lover and become a courtesan than a married man. Whether it is the criticism of her from the objective environment or her inner psychological state...they are all different Some, as if there is no pressure.

A husband who is alive but cheating is a source of stress to the wife to some extent.

Everyone was discussing and discussing, and it seemed that this was the case.

But it is not convenient for single ladies to participate in this topic. Some girls are really raised by their families and can't even understand them at all, and the wives are unwilling to explain the psychological thoughts of some "similar people" in this way, so Both spoke with restraint.

Those who can understand will naturally understand.

It doesn't matter if you don't understand, the topic has been covered anyway.

Taking this opportunity, Adele guessed some parts that she hadn't noticed before.

This is the advantage of this kind of small salon gathering. She can control some of the topics according to her wishes. There are some deeper contents that she dare not speak out for fear of arousing suspicion, but this time it is different.

One is that she has done a lot of homework. She deliberately chose Mr. J’s novels to test everyone’s views on marriage, love, husband-wife relationship, male dominance, etc., because she is the host and takes the initiative to appreciate literature. Ask questions in a way that doesn't appear to be very obtrusive.

The second is that she intentionally selected the people who arrived several times. The circles of people in each family are different, which is convenient for the wives and ladies to communicate with each other. different attitudes.

Although this part of the sample is not enough to represent all the female nobles, the opinions they can sum up now, whether they are completely unified or opposed to each other, are quite representative.

It is through this method that Adele can learn more about the thoughts of the nobles. If even the literate nobles cannot clearly realize the inequality brought about by the gap between men and women, then to be honest, she will be more interested in most of the nobles. Whether women who are struggling to survive will have such awareness is still quite unconfident.

Only some of the people who are at the forefront have awakened their consciousness before they can drive more people to discover more problems.

But if the most advanced people in the entire society, those who don’t need to worry about their livelihood, and have nothing but time and money every day, can’t think of it, then how can she force those who need to be busy working every day to think about the value of life? Or promote society?

But looking at it today, it seems that there are smart people, and there are also people who can understand.

It's just that I'm not that bold yet, or I'm still very cautious and conservative in my speech and attitude, and I don't want to be someone who exposes falsehoods...

It doesn't matter, Adele didn't expect to be able to achieve the final result once or twice.

And judging from the atmosphere, everyone had an extra opportunity to speak out and express their opinions, and they didn't dislike such a slightly in-depth but overly clear-cut conversation. This shows that Adele will be able to go on smoothly in the future.

"That's fine."

Adele and Leo summed up the harvest.

"Thank you for helping me."

Adele's words were full of gratitude.

"It's nothing," Leo shook his head. "We are friends. It doesn't matter how many times you trouble me. On the contrary, I am happy to help you."

"Besides, I also find it very interesting. I never knew before that some ladies think like this, such as that Mrs. Miller. I know that she has a lover. She and the actors in the theater have always been a little unclear. Rumors, and she has always given people the impression of being weak and weak, as if washing her face with tears every day, always wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief... But I didn't know that she was so transparent in the relationship between men and women, and could say, "If it wasn't Part of her dowry was restricted by her husband, I would have kicked him as a heartbreaker long ago."

"Yes, I didn't think of it either."

While answering, Adele opened a letter. This is the reply letter she received after the last salon. Some of the ladies who arrived almost "can't wait" to write back to her, either praising or discussing Or express the idea that she must be invited next time, but in short Adele is very happy to share these letters with Leo.

Leo was also one of the organizers. Although Adele Jura was the first person to organize it, as her friend, Leo naturally contributed a lot.

"Huh?" Adele paused for a moment, and Leo turned his head to look, only to find her expression very strange.

"Which lady sent it?" She asked with concern.

"It's Mariana, my cousin." Adele's complexion was not very good-looking, she looked a little angry, but this anger was suppressed by reason.

"Oh... Mrs. Angli." Leo immediately reacted, his friend's face was too ugly, he was still smiling and proud of the small success of the salon just now, now he only glanced at a letter, and it became like this, She had to think a lot.

"Is there something wrong? If it's not right, you don't have to tell me, but don't hold it in your heart. Sulking yourself is not good for your health, so don't get sick."

"She told me—" Adele said word by word, with a deep expression, and no smile on her face.

"I heard that Mr. Duval is going to be engaged to Miss Sophie, the former 'No. [-] beauty' of the Barry family."

Leo almost smashed the glass with a shake of his hand.