Scarlet Rose

In the next few days, the men continued their hunting activities, while the girls went to visit museums, churches, etc.I went hunting once with Mr. Eric, and found that I couldn't stand the intensity of horseback riding, and my thighs were sore, so I simply stayed in the manor to read Mr. Eric's collection of books.

I heard the sound of the study door opening, guessing it was Mr. Green, the butler of the manor, and raised my voice slightly: "Mr. Green, I don't need tea right now, you can go and get busy—"

"Mr. Roman..." My words were interrupted by a female voice, and I looked up in surprise.

"I'm the maid here, and my name is Shirley."

"Uh, hello, Shirley. What's the matter?" I asked.

"I accidentally scratched my arm, can you take a look at it for me?" She stretched out the hand hidden behind her with some embarrassment.

A piece of cloth was simply wrapped around her arm, and the blood oozed out and the cloth was stained red.

"Is there a medicine box?" I put away the book, stood up and asked her.

"There's a first-aid kit in the study." She said, pulling out a box from the drawer at the bottom of the bookcase.

I looked, alcohol, bandages are there.

I cut off the cloth wrapped around her arm, the blood was a little dry, and the cloth stuck to the wound.I carefully tore off the cloth, and the wound that had just stopped bleeding opened again.I checked it, the wound was not deep, but it was a little long, as if it had been cut by a sharp object.

I skillfully disinfected, applied medicine, and bandaged her.

After treating the wound, Shelly begged me not to tell anyone about her injury.She didn't want the housekeeper to think she was being rash.

I complied with her request and it was nothing to me.

About the next day, Shirley came to the study to find me with some snacks.I changed her bandages.For a week, Shirley's injury has basically healed.That is, on this day, I felt that something was wrong with Shirley's eyes when she looked at me.I suspect Shirley has a crush on me - she's healed up and doesn't need to come to me every day, but she comes anyway, looking at me with a look of explicit fascination, and softly asking me what I want to eat What, want to inquire about my hobbies.

Her approach made me instinctively want to escape.I don't like such an active woman, let alone we are not suitable.Although I am not an aristocrat, in fact I have the right of inheritance.There is a gap between my identity and hers, and it is by no means a good match.Besides, I don't think she loves me.She doesn't like me just because I bandage her.Maybe she just took a fancy to the family behind me, my personal property, and my appearance.I even wondered if her injury that day was really accidental?She knows that I am a doctor, in the study, and there is a medicine box in the study.She may hurt herself on purpose, just to let me bandage her, so that I can have an intersection with her, and I am no longer a stranger...

Enough is enough, this should be stopped.I should reject her, but she didn't confess clearly, she just created an ambiguous atmosphere very cleverly.I couldn't avoid seeing her because I doubted it—changing my habits would only attract suspicion.Because she is the maid of Eric's family, I have no right to do anything to her, I can only pretend to turn a blind eye to her approach.

This afternoon, I was still reading in the study.I heard the slight turning of a doorknob and guessed it was Shirley again, which made me feel a little irritated.Mr. Eric did not go hunting today, but handled official business in his private study, which is next door to this study.It is impossible for Shirley not to know, what does she want to do?

"Roman, can I call you that?" She deliberately said in a sweet voice.

I frowned unconsciously and said, "You should call me Mr."

"But I think..." she said.

I didn't answer her, and I didn't look up at her.I stare at the book in my hand.My attitude is already obvious, she can understand, I know she is quite clever.I hope she quits.

But I didn't expect her to take a few steps closer to me.I ignored her, but I heard the rustling of cloth rubbing against each other.I realized something, looked up suddenly, and saw her unbuttoning her chest.

"What are you doing!" I was startled and angry, almost yelling, stood up, pushed her away and walked out.No, not in the same room with her anymore!

When he walked to the door and was about to open it, the doorknob was turned by Mr. Eric—"Roman, what happened?"

Before I had time to think, I grabbed Mr. Eric's hand and dragged him away.Mr. Eric was pulled by me for some unknown reason, and followed me with a good temper, without asking aloud, but cooperating with me to move forward.After I calmed down, I realized that I had brought Mr. Eric to my guest room, and my hand was still holding his hand tightly... God!I quickly let go of his hand, wailing in my heart.My face must be flushed.

"Can you tell me what happened now?" Mr. Eric didn't seem to mind my almost rude behavior just now, he asked with a gentle smile, and turned and closed the door.

"Your maid, you want to seduce me." I thought for a while, and told the truth in a calm tone as much as possible.That Shirley is not a good person, I can see it.If I didn't say anything in consideration of her reputation, she would bite me back and say that I forced her.

"She didn't do anything to you, did she?" Mr. Eric asked me immediately with concern.I could feel his anxious eyes flicking my up and down, as if checking to see if I was touched by her.The look was a little aggressive, which I found awkward, but oddly enough, I didn't hate it.

"No, she has been pestering me for the past few days, and she seemed to want to take off her clothes just now." I was moved and happy for Mr. Eric's unconditional trust in me.Between me and the maid who worked for him, he chose to trust me.I didn't realize that my tone was more coquettish than complaining.

"Anyway, it's her fault. We didn't manage the maid well. I'm sorry that my servant has caused you trouble. Fortunately, you are fine." Mr. Eric said apologetically.His attitude makes me feel embarrassed, it's obviously not his fault...

"It's actually okay, I didn't get hurt..." I couldn't bear to see Mr. Eric's expression of self-blame.

"I'll fire that maid. If you need other compensation, just tell me. I don't like the bad memories here, Roman. I hope you like it here." Mr. Eric looked at it seriously Look into my eyes and say.

"Thank you." I smiled at him, "I don't need compensation, you are good enough to me. And I also like this place very much, there are you and Jialin here, no matter what, I will yearn and look forward to this place .”

Mr. Eric showed a relieved expression, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

"It's our honor that you like us so much. Now, would you like to have a cup of afternoon tea with me? It's my apology to you." He saluted as he spoke, with one hand behind his back and the other resting on his back, like It's a pose that invites a lady to dance.

"Very happy." I was amused by him, and naturally put my hand on his palm.

This incident just passed, and in the days that followed, I never saw that maid named Shirley again.Mr. Eric seemed to compensate me by not going hunting again, but sitting with me in the study, reading and chatting, and even took me to church once.We became very good friends and talked about almost everything.He has many unique insights and often considers issues from unexpected angles.Mr. Eric is worthy of being the dream lover of noble girls all over the UK, not only because of his appearance, but also because of his many extraordinary inner qualities.

In mid-December, I went back with the Earl and the others.It will be Christmas soon. Walking on the street, I found that people's faces are more or less relaxed and looking forward to it.

With one week left before the festival, people in the manor began to get busy.The industrious Mr. Housekeeper directed the servants to clean the castle inside and out, not sparing a single corner.The annex where I live has also been cleaned, although it is usually clean.The hall of the castle was covered with a red carpet, and a beautiful tree was pruned and displayed in a prominent place, and the maids decorated it with streamers.

I have previously sent gifts to my French friends and now have cards from them.One of my friends told me that their family had moved because of the recent turmoil near the place where they lived, and it seemed that there was some friction with Germany.He was worried about a war and was considering whether to join the army.I was a little worried about him and wrote him a letter to comfort him, but soon I didn't pay much attention to it and started enjoying the festive atmosphere.

On the night of Christmas Eve, I went to the manor with my housekeeper, Mr. Maureen, the maids and cooks in the mansion.The Christmas tree was decorated very beautifully, and there were piles of presents under the tree.In the past in France, our family would dress up and watch an opera or movie together on Christmas Eve, then go to a fancy restaurant to have a big meal, and finally go home to give each other gifts and make New Year's wishes.In comparison, Christmas Eve in the manor can be called grand and grand.Everyone is wearing new clothes, and every corner is illuminated by flickering orange candles. Even in the cold winter, the castle is as warm as spring.

"Romain." The count greeted me.Let's go to dinner together.

A crystal chandelier above the dining table casts a dreamy light.The dining table is covered with a beige tablecloth inlaid with gold threads, and the seats are covered with porcelain plates reflecting soft luster and silver tableware decorated with intricate patterns.In the center of the table is a turkey that is glowing with oil and has a charming aroma. Next to the turkey is a Christmas pudding that can be sweet to the heart in one bite.

"Cheers!" We toasted.Another year has passed.It really was a year that changed my life.I lost my parents, but found the family relationship that was missing for 20 years that did not belong to my parents.I am very grateful to the Earl's family, because it is them, at least I am not alone on this day.

When dinner was over, all of us, all the servants in the manor, went down to the hall, by the Christmas tree.The Earl's family sent Christmas gifts and best wishes to the servants who had worked hard all year.Finally, their family came to me.Grandma handed me the beautifully wrapped gift box.

"Open it up, child," she said.

I opened the box.is a photo album.Inside are all the photos of my mother before she left the UK, both alone and together.She looked very much like me when I was a kid.When she was a teenager, her mother showed her unique charm, beautiful, quiet and unique.This is my mother, who makes me proud.

Grandma wiped my face lightly with a handkerchief.I didn't realize I was crying.

"Would you like a glass of wine?" the count asked me, handing me a glass of mulled wine.

"Thank you. This is the best Christmas present." I wiped away my tears and gave them my biggest smile.