The Lost Mermaid [Zhongyingmei]

Jack and Edward watched the three ladies turn back together from afar, and immediately hid behind the tree and left.

"I didn't expect that Miss Crawley, who has always been calm and polite, would be so detached. I don't know Miss Bucket. I only heard from my mother that she is not a deviant person—except that she insists on going to college. "Edward said while kicking the knee-high grass.

"Go to college?" The beautiful and plump figure of Miss Bucket and the unique style of gestures appeared in Jack's mind. He never imagined that she was still a college student. "What did she learn? Those lady manners?"

Edward shook his head: "I heard it's about painting appreciation... I don't understand why a lady should go to college, it will make them lose a lot of social opportunities."

"Painting appreciation? It seems that this lady has unusual taste."

"Hahaha! You may have a common language." Edward smiled at him maliciously.

Jack just smiled, but a faint blush appeared on his face: "She is a lady from a noble family, how can she have a common language with me." Having said that, Jack still couldn't help but imagine himself talking to Ruth face to face.

"That's right." Edward didn't object.

Jack looked at the reasonable expression on Edward's face and restrained his smile.Indeed, he is just a wandering painter who can't even earn a living. Such a goddess can only be looked up to.

"I heard that Mrs. Bucket intends to be married to that American 'new money aristocrat'."

"New money?"

"That Hockley who runs the steel mill."

"What!?" Jack exclaimed. Didn't that Hockley have a deep love for Doris?Doris disappeared that day, and Carl Hockley was as anxious as if the sky had fallen. How could it be...

Edward gave him a strange look: "Why are you so surprised? This is a very common thing. Although the Bukett family still has a title, it has already fallen. Miss Bukett wants to find another good marriage in England. That's not easy. Coupled with high inheritance taxes and debts, Mrs. Bookett chose an American 'new money aristocrat' husband for her, which is the most appropriate choice."

"Debt? Can't they sell those treasures to pay?"

Edward was amused by Jack's naive words: "Jack, you are thinking too simply! That's not a debt of tens of millions. Even if you mortgage the Bucket family's ancestral home, it may not be able to fill the gap." !"

Jack was dumbfounded, this was obviously not a world he could touch.

Edward pointed to the three ladies looming in the distance, and said: "That's the case with Miss Crawley's mother, the Countess of Grantham. She used to be the heir of an American textile factory and brought a large dowry to save her. The estate of the Earl of Grantham, who was on the brink of decline—of course, she also gained the status of a nobleman, and her children also enjoyed that honor."

"That's fair, Jack. High society is full of deals like that," Edward laughed.

Jack agreed, "Sounds great."

Then the two fell silent.

Miss Bucket's bright but slightly melancholy expression kept appearing in Jack's mind. Does Miss Bucket know that Cal Hockley's feelings for Doris?Is she also willing to be a bargaining chip in the deal?

Cal Hockley is such a jerk!

Jack cursed him inwardly.

Soon, the figures of the group of fishing friends appeared in the sight of the two of them, and the skirts of the ladies fluttered in the wind like blooming flowers.

"That Miss Boardman is an interesting person, Jack, how do you know her? You don't look like you have a chance to meet her." Edward narrowed his eyes dreamily, "She is like this Looks, I dare say, are among the best beauties I've ever seen, I don't know..."

His demeanor and words made Jack feel disgusted immediately.

In fact, Jack does not regard Edward Rose as a true friend. He sees his own class status clearly, and for Edward, he is nothing more than a fresh "object of pleasure".

Malice welled up in Jack's heart, and he pretended to say nonchalantly: "If you want to pursue her, I'm afraid it will not be an easy task. The 'new money nobleman' Carl Hockley is her servant. "

Unexpectedly, Edward's expression became even more interesting.

"That would be even more interesting! I don't believe it, I will lose to that vulgar commoner who is not young?"

"are you serious?"

Edward stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look at Jack, and raised his eyebrows: "What do you think?"

Jack's blood surged immediately. He maintained his superficial calm and turned his head. Because he was walking too fast, he could no longer see the figures of the three ladies.

With the nagging and help of Mrs. Alyssa, Mary and Ruth cleaned up the splashed water on their bodies. Doris begged Mrs. Alyssa not to tell the countess about it.

Madame Elisa was stern, and at first she was uncompromising, vowing to tell the Countess every detail of the ladies' faux pas.But when she saw Doris sitting in a wheelchair, begging herself eagerly, her heart softened again.

"Well, there will be no next time. Miss Crawley, Miss Bucket, you are noble ladies, you should not be able to do such a thing... If those gentlemen see it! What will happen to your reputation!" Ellie Mrs. Sha ordered the maids to go further away, and at the same time planned to send the three ladies back to those friends who had gathered for fishing.

Mary refused, and she said: "It will be strange if they see you. Don't worry, Mrs. Alisa, we will definitely not mess around again."

Miss Crawley has always been the most well-behaved person. With her promise, even if she was a little rude just now, Mrs. Alisa had no choice but to agree-she really wanted to protect the reputation of the ladies.

After bidding farewell to Mrs. Alyssa, the three walked back together.

Ruth volunteered to roll up her cuffs, carrying the bucket, and the fish struggled and jumped in the bucket.

"Why should we bother those ladies' self-promotion? I don't think they want us to go back." Ruth couldn't hold back anymore, and spoke the truth.

Mary didn't agree or object. She held up the corner of her skirt and asked Doris beside her hesitantly, "Miss Boardman, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course." Doris guessed what she was going to ask.

Mary stopped, turned sideways to face Doris, the words were on her lips, but swallowed them back.Her hands were clasped tightly together, looking bewildered.

Doris glanced at Ruth and signaled her to avoid it.Ruth nodded and stepped aside.

"Would you like to ask me about Mr. Patrick Crawley?" asked Doris directly.

Mary showed a surprised expression: "Yes, Miss Boardman." She took a deep breath and finally made up her mind, "I want to ask, do you know why my cousin rented out the manor? According to what I know You know, he has never been short of money, and even... he may even be the future heir of the Earl of Grantham."

"The earl's heir?" Doris was attracted by this word.

Mary showed an embarrassing expression: "Because of the limited inheritance law, I can't inherit the property of Downton Abbey-this is something that the upper class understands, Miss Boardman, you are from the United States, maybe you can't understand. Actually, I can't either I understand, why should I, as the eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess, want to hand over the family property to someone else?"

Doris shook her head: "I don't understand, but according to what you said, don't you like Patrick? Why? My brother and he are friends. As far as I know, Patrick is not a low-level person."

"Miss Boardman, liking and love cannot be forced." Mary lowered her head, and she pressed down on the long skirt fluttering in the wind, "I may like him, but that is far from love He also grew up in Downton Abbey, and we used to be playmates, but later when I knew that he might become his father's heir, that good feeling deteriorated."

"Why are you telling me this?" Doris asked suspiciously, she was not an empathetic person.

"Maybe it's because you are also an American." Mary closed her eyes. "My mother married my father at the age of 20. She didn't love him at first, but now she tells me that she is extremely happy. Although her The property has been merged into Downton Abbey's property, and I can no longer control it, and even want to flow--to the hands of an outsider!"

"She said she hoped that I would be happy too, even though it might be insensitive or even painful at first." Mary opened her eyes, and tears were overflowing in her bright eyes.

Doris also frowned deeply affected by her strong emotions. The Mary in front of her was just like Ruth back then. In the forced "marriage contract", it seemed that the only way to go was painful acceptance.

But fortunately, Ruth has made up her mind to resist.

But the eldest daughter of the earl in front of her was overwhelmed by her responsibilities, unable to struggle.

"I will try to love him, just like my mother." Mary shook her head, "So, can you tell me why Patrick is so 'lack of money' that he wants to rent out the small manor? You must Understand? I'm worried he's got a bad taste in him - it's important for Downton Abbey's reputation."

Doris hesitated for a moment, but still told her: "My brother said that Mr. Crawley wanted to surprise his fiancée, but he didn't want to ask his father for money because of it."

Mary was taken aback.

Mrs. Strauss and the ladies finished their afternoon tea and sent someone to pick up Doris.

She worried that Doris's body was not like those healthy young people who could socialize vigorously all afternoon until dinner, so she proposed to take her back earlier.

The Countess of Rose was sorry for her friend to leave so early.

"Honey, I can't bear you either. But Doris lives far away, and I have to send her back first, otherwise her brother will be angry with me! I'll go back after I send her home, if it's too late , my Mr. Strauss is going to talk about me again!" Mrs. Strauss blinked, "He is no better than any old man when he talks!"

Edward supported his grandmother, and saw that she was showing reluctance and he had some plans, so he said, "Mrs. Strauss, please talk to my grandmother for a while! I would like to send Bodman to you for you." Miss go back!"

"Edward is right!" The countess' eyes lit up. "My Edward is a reliable person. He will definitely be able to send Doris back safely. Just stay with me for a while, Ida."

"But……"

"Mrs. Strauss, don't you believe me?" Edward made a sad look.

Mrs. Strauss was at a loss for words, and she couldn't refuse again and again, so she lowered her head and asked Doris: "Honey, is it okay? Let little Edward take you back, and I will talk to the Countess again—"

"Yeah, in a few days, Ida will return to the United States, and it will be difficult for us to see each other again in this life." The countess was really sad, "Otherwise, Doris and Ida Let’s all stay here? There are enough vacant rooms in the manor!”

The more the Countess talked, the more she felt that this was a good idea, and she explained to her grandson, "Let Mrs. Alisa prepare the guest room! I want the rooms in the south, and put on the latest bedspread and fresh flowers..."

Edward's eyes widened too, fully agreeing with his grandmother's arrangement.

Doris didn't like this forced arrangement, so she had no choice but to say, "Just let Mr. Edward take me back, Countess."

Mrs. Strauss also said: "Okay, I have convinced you! Let Edward send Doris back, and I will stay with you for one night."

Now that Mrs. Strauss and Doris have said so, the countess had no choice but to compromise.

After coaxing his grandmother, Edward acted like a master, let the coachman harness the carriage, and asked the valet to bring his horse. Although Doris refused, she insisted on sending her back.

Doris reluctantly climbed into the carriage.

All the way, little Mr. Edward did his best to please her, and talked to her as he rode against the window of the carriage.Doris responded to him vaguely.

Doris really didn't understand, what was this Edward thinking?After he interrupted her music and saw her face, he showed such a disgusting expression of obsession; but after seeing her mutilated leg and hearing her rough voice, he was obviously shocked and unable to conceal it. disgust.

But Doris's perfunctory attitude aroused Edward's fighting spirit even more, until he arrived at the manor rented by the Boardman brothers and sisters, he did not give up and wanted to invite her to a restaurant for dinner.

Doris was so annoyed that she just wanted to get away, and said perfunctorily: "Mr. Edward, if there is a chance—"

"There is no such possibility. Little Mr. Edward, it is already dark, and you are still pestering a lady. It is really not a gentleman." Around the corner, a tall figure came, his voice suppressed his anger, "how much Miss Liz has already agreed to my invitation, you are one step too late!"

"You can't occupy all of Miss Doris's time? Sir, have you obtained Miss Doris's consent for such an announcement?" Little Edward looked back at the person who came, and looked at this from beginning to end with eyes full of vigilance. stranger.

"Besides, who are you? I was ordered by Mrs. Strauss to send her back. I have met Mr. Boardman. You are not him. Do you have the right to interfere with Miss Doris's friendship?"

Little Mr. Edward took a step forward, blocking the footsteps of the approaching Doris.

The man reached out and squeezed Edward's shoulders, and pushed him aside vigorously, blocking Doris: "I'm Carl Hockley. Doris's... friend."