Scarlet Rose

So we went to change clothes.I was flattered that Mr. Charles, the housekeeper, came to change my clothes himself.I am not used to others helping me to dress, after all, I didn't need it before.Mr. Charles, who had a serious-looking face, treated me very kindly.

"When I see you, I think of Miss." He said, "Please don't refuse me to help you, Mr. Roman, this is what you should accept."

I awkwardly asked him to fix my tie, I could do it myself, or I could send any servant... I wanted to say this, but I couldn't, I couldn't refuse the butler's kindness.

We sat at the table when my grandmother came over to eat with us.The dining table is an oval dining table made of a whole piece of marble, and it looks a bit empty with only six people sitting.I looked around quietly, and there were exquisite carvings on the top of the pillars in the corner of the room, which were similar to the carvings on the back of the chairs we were sitting on; above the table was a beautiful crystal chandelier, luxurious and dazzling; in the center of the table was a finely carved silver sculpture. Candlesticks and fresh bouquets, white china plates and silver knives and forks were placed in front of everyone.I tried not to show any special expression to show that I have not seen the world-in my heart, I was shocked by the extremely luxurious dining environment.

"Oh, little Roman, after so many years, I finally see you..." My grandmother took my hand and said. Make no mistake.There is a sense of peace and wisdom about her that makes people trust and want to be close to her.

"Grandmother..." I called her with some embarrassment, and she answered repeatedly.The old lady was in poor spirits, and my mother's death was a great blow to her.But facing me, she still tried her best to pull herself together.

I also have various discomforts when eating.The valet walks up to each person with a plate, and everyone takes some food from the plate to their plate, and then serves another dish after eating... This way of serving meals by a valet really makes me feel uncomfortable. How can there be such trouble at home!But obviously I can't put forward any opinions, and I can only learn from them.The dinner is naturally not as exquisite as France, but the bacon and desserts have a unique taste.In all fairness, Earl's house cook is really good. I used to think that British food tasted terrible.

After the meal, we changed into evening dresses and chatted in the living room of the earl's house.Grandma kept staring at me. Although she looked at me so directly that I was a little uncomfortable, I knew she was using me to miss my mother, her little daughter.She asked me about my life and study in Paris with concern, and asked if I had a girlfriend. After knowing that I would stay here, she happily said that I would like it here.We chatted until late in the day, when my grandmother had to leave.

I went back to the guest room and changed into my pajamas, regretting that I barely communicated with my cousins ​​today.I am very satisfied with the room I live in. The decoration is not complicated, simple, elegant and comfortable.The bed was very soft, and the quilt seemed to be newly changed.Although I like this room quite a lot, I still can't stay there for a long time. To the Earl's family, I can neither be regarded as the host nor the guest, and it would be more appropriate to live in the mansion. Thinking about it this way, I began to appreciate the Countess's care again.

The next morning, I didn't see the Countess at the dinner table—I didn't know that a noble hostess like Madam can have breakfast in bed.After breakfast, the earl went out to do errands, and asked my cousins ​​to take me around the manor, which was also an opportunity for us to get to know and get acquainted with each other.

Cousin Donner has already begun to try to take over some of the affairs of the manor. He is the heir to the title and the manor, so he needs to learn how to handle these matters early.Now, he is familiar with the working process of the farm, and will gradually start to try to invest in the future.We didn't talk for long, and the footman came to rush us - it was agreed that I would go to London to measure and order a dress today.I went with my cousin Alice, who had new clothes to fetch and who also showed me London.

On the bus taking us to the train station, she couldn't wait to ask me questions: "What kind of person is Aunt Celine? I mean, what's her personality? I've seen pictures of her, and she really is. Great beauty!"

"We've been talking about her for the past two days, and you don't want to know enough?" I said deliberately.I am glad that I have come out of the death of my parents. Three months is enough for my sadness to dissipate. Here, I have re-experienced family affection, and I am no longer so sad when I mention my parents.So now, I can think of my mother in peace, with a little pride and sweetness.

"Is she really that gentle?" Alice asked unwillingly.

"That's natural! To be honest, I really didn't expect her to do such a bold and crazy thing when she was young..."

"Then how do you usually get along?" She asked the next question.

"It's the same as a normal mother-child relationship, and there is nothing special; she has a noble temperament, but she has no strange hobbies and critical attitudes." I don't know what kind of answer Alice wants to hear. To please a girl, just say what she wants to hear, this is my experience flirting with girls in Paris; but Alice is my cousin, I don't need to please her, and I am discussing with girls Experience with everyday things is not much.But obviously, she was not satisfied with my answer. I saw her raised her eyebrows and curled her lips, probably thinking that what I said was too broad, and she was not able to understand it when she grew up in an aristocratic family; And critical attitude" is what I use to refer to some aristocratic qualities, which probably displeased her, although I don't think she's that fussy.

She didn't mention the question just now, but asked a new question: "In your heart, what is her best quality?"

"Wisdom." I replied.

"Ah, she must be a thoughtful person who writes articles for the newspaper," said Alice, who seemed to be happy again, and there was a little excitement in her tone.

"Some of her views and ideas are very unique, and she always sees things to the point. Some of her comments made my father and I applaud." When I said it, I was a little proud, it was my mother!Unfortunately……

"Do you really have a medical license? You are still so young!" Alice was keenly aware of my depression, and thoughtfully changed the subject.

"Ah, it's true. My mother didn't start writing articles in the first few years of my life, but stayed with me all day, so I received early education and skipped grades in school." I explained.Compared with other doctors, I am indeed too young, and it is true that I have little experience, but I do have a license.

"It's amazing!" Alice exclaimed.

"Thank you for your compliment. What do you do every day?" I asked her. She didn't have to go out to work, so I was curious about what she did every day in the manor.Could it be that the lady of the noble family only needs to read books at home and learn some piano ballroom dancing, and then marry herself off, repeating the extravagant and boring life?

"I have secretly written some novels, but I dare not publish them - my father will scold me. I am very envious of my aunt, she can publish her works in newspapers for many people to see." She blinked and lowered her eyes With a little voice, although we are on the train now, there is no one around who knows us.

"Really? Then am I honored to be your reader?"

She blushed and said with a smile: "I haven't let others read it yet, and you will be the first reader. I hope you don't call me childish...but I am looking forward to your evaluation."

"Then I'm really honored. In fact, you can use a pseudonym for yourself, so that uncle won't know that you wrote the novel."

"Great idea! Will you help me? I mean, contact the publisher, discuss royalties or something..."

"Of course, if you trust me, I will help you with this." I reassure her, I don't think it's a big deal, but Alice is probably the first time to do things without telling her parents, excited and trembling , I can understand her mood, and I am willing to help her. After all, she is my cousin, and we both feel like we hit each other right away—if we knew each other when we were young, we would definitely do bad things together and cover each other up.

It was noon when I arrived in London, and Alice took me to a restaurant she was familiar with for dinner.The waiter knew Alice, so even if we didn't make an appointment, he didn't neglect at all and showed us to our table graciously.In the process of waiting for the dishes to be served, we chatted one after another, and I looked around boredly.The layout of the restaurant is very luxurious, with a feeling of resplendent and resplendent. It is estimated that it always receives people from the upper class or wealthy families.All the people who are dining are well-dressed, even if they talk, they are very quiet, and the melodious music is not overshadowed.

My gaze was attracted by the gentleman dining alone at the table obliquely in front of me.He should also be a nobleman, as can be seen from his straight back and dignified sitting posture.His dining posture is very elegant, the slender fingers hold the knife loosely, the knife cuts a small piece of meat - without making the harsh sound of the knife rubbing against the plate, and then uses the fork to slowly send it into the well-shaped and beautiful meat. in the mouth.It was only when he was chewing slowly that I realized that he is really a beautiful person.The neatly combed platinum-blonde hair reflects beautiful light under the soft light; the smooth and full forehead; the straight eyebrows; the eyes are slightly set, and the slender eyelashes cast a shadow under the eyes, which makes me unable to see I can see his eyes; but I think they must be beautiful just to match his straight nose.

"Roman, did you hear what I said? What are you looking at?" Alice stretched out her hand and shook it in front of my eyes. I recovered and realized that I was fascinated by the man.

Alice turned to look at the guest curiously, stood up after taking a look, and said in surprise, "Mr. Eric!"

Alice walked towards that Mr. Eric, I was taken aback, and then stood up.

Hearing Alice's voice, the gentleman stopped eating, put down the knife and fork, speeded up his chewing, and stood up after swallowing the food in his mouth, and greeted Alice with a smile: "What a coincidence, Miss Alice. ’ I noticed that he did have beautiful eyes, a light sky blue in color that sucked in at first glance.

"This is...boyfriend?" he asked Alice.

"It's my cousin!" She briefly introduced me to him, and then introduced him to me.He was also an earl, of course, not in the same county as the earl of Smedley.It is also a coincidence that he came to London to deal with some things this time and met us.

"You have really good genes in your family, and you're a beauty," he said as he shook my hand.

"Thank you..." I don't know how to respond when a beauty praises me for being beautiful... In fact, as a man, I don't like being praised as "beautiful", although people have praised me like this since I was a child.But his compliment didn't bother me—probably because he is also a beauty himself.

Our food order was ready and the short conversation died down.In the afternoon we went to the tailor shop, measured the data, and asked the tailor before going back.

"We'll just be in time for dinner when we get home," Alice said, laughing.