[Titanic] I can't help myself

The mother kept her promise, and next morning Rose had to take Carl on a brief excursion into Acton's estate with a basket of sandwiches in hand.And I had a brief meeting with the managers of the manor today. Christmas is coming, and many things must be dealt with before then.

The times have changed, and the income of the manor can barely maintain the daily life of the manor after deducting various taxes. This is on the premise that we have stopped the maintenance of some manors and all large-scale activities in these years.It can be predicted that after a few years, these meager profits may only be able to cope with high taxes, or not at all.

This is the problem that all nobles are facing right now.This struggle to engulf the nobles was carried out silently, and under the cover of superficial peace, these upper-class people who claimed to be bleeding noble blue blood suffered heavy losses, and all the singing and dancing was not the last carnival.If you don't hurry up and make changes, the gorgeous manors and vast land that the nobles are proud of will only become a golden rope that hangs them in the corner of the times.

I smiled and told Charles to send the stewards away. When I was the only one left in the study, the breath in my chest that supported my decent behavior was exhaled instantly. I stretched out my limbs and collapsed in the chair without any image. , close your eyes.

Personally, I don't want to manage the estate and the land at all, because I have neither interest nor talent for this job, but it is my responsibility, at least while my mother is alive, I can't just throw it away like this. download it.

Rubbing my stiff face, I turned my gaze to the distant mountains outside the window, and my thoughts gradually emptied.

The window of the study room is facing a short hill behind the castle. Several watchtowers built in the [-]th century stand among the densely packed dry branches. The gray walls are a little uneven under the erosion of time, and they look particularly desolate. feeling.

Mother had mentioned these lookouts to Karl at dinner yesterday, and Karl expressed his interest.Perhaps now, they are looking at the whole of Acton from these watchtowers.

I was dazed for a while, then sat up, pulled out a piece of paper and put it in front of me.The issue of the estate cannot be resolved overnight, but Christmas is just around the corner, and this year Mother is planning to invite some family and friends to Acton for Christmas and New Years, as well as organize a Boxing Day hunt.God knows I've had enough of the countless hunts back in Chatsworth.I can't figure out why she is so interested in hunting, after all, she never touches a shotgun, maybe because it can show others how rich Acton is?

The door of the room was pushed open suddenly, and the sound of high heels hitting the floor came in loudly.

I continued to face the piece of paper without looking up, and wrote another person's name on it.After all, in this house, there can only be one person who dares to make such a sound.

Soon, Rose walked around the bookshelf and stood in front of me.I looked up at her, she gave me a hard look, turned around and sat down on the sofa.

"How was your hike today?" I suppressed a yawn, "I heard from my mother that your destination is those churches and the military defenses on the mountain."

Rose didn't answer my words.George quietly brought a cup of tea and some snacks, and quietly backed out.

After George closed the door from the outside, Rose suddenly said, "I don't know what I did wrong to be punished like this!"

I paused and said, "So, it looks like you're having a good day today?"

"It's terrible!" Rose rolled her eyes in an unladylike way, and took a sip of tea, "I'm like a fool, talking non-stop by myself, and he didn't respond to a word, I don't know Does he want me to keep talking or shut up. I can't believe this bastard who is ignoring me is my future husband! This is so ridiculous!"

I pursed my lips in silence, finally sighed, and said, "Maybe he just doesn't know how to get along with a girl your age. There are huge differences in thinking between men and women, let alone you..."

"Do you believe the reason you gave?" Rose sneered.

I stopped talking, lowered my eyes and looked at the table, without speaking.A sparrow stopped at the window, twittered for a long time, and then flew away.

"No, I don't believe it," I said. "In fact, I can't think of a plausible reason for his behaviour."

Rose looked at me with that "I knew it" look.

I stood up, walked over to her, sat down, and held her hand: "Life is always like this. After all, for our class, being able to have a happy marriage is more impossible than picking up a diamond on the beach." But we still have to work hard. But even if we fail in the end, it doesn’t mean that the whole life is ruined, after all, life is not all made up of love and marriage.”

Rose forced an ugly smile, withdrew her hand, sighed, and said, "Don't bring up this disappointing topic. What were you doing just now? I heard that the stewards of the manor came today, so you are here Take care of those boring business?"

"No, not the dizzy stuff." I followed her lead and let the subject go, stood up and went back to the desk, "I'm making a list of guests for Christmas. I think you should know that Mom is planning to organize Something about a Boxing Day hunt."

"Oh, my God, let those poor birds go." Rose came over and picked up the paper, "Let me see who's there... Oh, my God, I read that right, it's Vio Aunt Wright?"

"That's right, mother intends to invite their family over." I said helplessly, and started to spin the pen between my fingers, "It is very likely that our dear cousins ​​from the Scottish Highlands will spend Christmas and New Years here together."

"Why invite them!" Rose frowned and quickly threw the paper back to the desk, as if the paper was stained with some terrible virus, "Please, is this Christmas?"

"If I could decide, I wouldn't let them step into Acton." I spread my hands.

Rose quickly understood what I meant.

"Mom is so boring!" She sat back on the sofa angrily. "Maybe this is my last Christmas in Acton. Is it going to be ruined by those cows?"

"But you can look at things from another angle," I reassured. "This may be the last Christmas you spend with them."

Rose snorted coldly: "I'd rather not this last time."

We sat for a while and discussed the guest list and the presents to be given to the servants on Christmas Day.Rose was passionate about the latter, so I thought about it and decided to give her the task.Rose, who is full of kindness to the servants, will obviously choose a Christmas gift that is more in line with her heart than her superior mother.

At the end of tea time, Rose was going to go back to her room to change clothes, but when she got to the door, she stopped suddenly and turned back to stand in front of me.

"These days, whenever I think about the future, I feel a lot of panic. Because I can't see the hope of happiness." She whispered, shoulders slumped, and for a moment, the whole person looked helpless and tired, " If Carl and I are always in this state of getting along, I really don't know how long I can last. But I promise, one day I will collapse." In the end, she turned red eyes.

I walked over quickly and hugged her.We stood in this hugging posture for a long time, and finally she gently pushed me away, took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes.

"Don't, don't be sad," I comforted intermittently, "It's only been a few days, don't be so pessimistic..."

"Please, stop comforting me." Rose impatiently raised a hand to stop me, "We all know what's going on, don't we?"

I am silent.I'm equally tired of these hypocritical clichés repeated over and over again.

"As long as I am the Earl of Richardmond and the master of Acton, this will always be your home." I whispered.

Rose hummed, straightened her hair, and left the room.

At dinner, my mother asked about the list of people invited for Christmas.

"Aunt Violet's family, Uncle Connery's family, Earl Branson's son Robert Branson, Viscount Stuart, and Viscount Wilton's family."

Uncle Connery is my grandma's nephew, the sister of my grandma, the heir of the old Viscountess Connery, who was born through hard work when she was in her 40s.He is only 27 years old this year. When his grandmother was still alive, he often came to Acton as a guest. In the most difficult years of Acton, he also extended a helping hand.His wife died in childbirth five years ago, and now he and a pair of five-year-old twins are left.Robert Branson's mother and my mother handed each other handkerchiefs. Earl Branson took his wife to India last year to serve as the governor and deputy king. Robert was left in China to continue studying for a university degree.Viscount Stewart was an old friend of my father's - he was a very strict old-fashioned gentleman and I've always wondered how he became friends with such an incongruous rebel as his father - his wife died early and his son died in a car accident three years ago , and now he is the only one left living in the huge manor.As for the Viscount Wilton's family, their second daughters, Rebecca and Rose, are close friends who met in Dresden, Germany.Rose has been feeling down lately, and I thought it might be easier for her to bring in her best friend.

Sure enough, when Rose heard Wilton's name, her eyes lit up.

"Viscount Wilton?" The mother frowned. "If I remember correctly, Viscount Wilton's eldest daughter seemed to be in London because of a riot for, oh, for women's voting rights or something. Parade was put in jail?"

"Uh..." I paused and glanced at Rose, who stared at me with pleading faces, "Although the rumors are so, it is said that the facts have been clarified in the end, and Miss Wilton just passed by. Just be careful of being implicated, as we all know, those radical activities will always drag down many innocent people."

"Honey, I'm not stupid. I can tell the truth from the fig leaf." The mother glanced at Rose. "You still have a lot to learn in this regard. Cross out Wilton's name." , Birds of a feather flock together and people are divided into groups, and not being cautious enough to interact with each other will ruin the family's reputation."

"But Mom..." Rose couldn't wait to speak.

"Mom, you're right." I interrupted Rose and gave her a look to signal her not to speak, "But maybe we can invite Miss Rebecca, Viscount Wilton's second daughter, alone, you may remember She, she is a friend that Rose made in Dresden. After all, Rose is going to get married soon, I think she must have a lot of whispers that she wants to talk to her girlfriends."

"It's not that there are no female guests among the guests. Emily is only one year older than you, Rose. You can tell her all your troubles. Why go far away?" said the mother.

Rose's eyes widened.Emily is Aunt Violet's daughter, and the two of them have been at odds since childhood, no, it's not just at odds, they are simply enemies.And I don't like that overly arrogant girl either.

"God, Mom!" I laughed exaggeratedly, "It's not like you don't know how bad our relationship with Emily is."

My mother gave me a glare. "That's really big news. I've never heard of it."

I glanced at Carl, who was sitting across from us and was listening to us with great interest, and smiled at him, "Mom, Carl is not an outsider, and there is no need to hide it. If possible, I really hope that I don't need to invite you." Cousin Emily, she has all the power to be annoying. I don't think you can bear to let Rose's Christmas and New Year's in her hands. Maybe this is Rose's time in Acton Last Christmas."

The mother frowned slightly and thought about it, looked at Rose who was begging, and finally gave in: "Well, I can only invite Miss Rebecca, but if she doesn't come, there is nothing I can do."

Rose immediately showed a bright smile: "Thank you, Mom!"

Mother ignored her, and turned to Carl and said, "Carl, are you going back to the United States for Christmas? Actually, if you want, I very much hope to invite you to stay. Acton hasn't been this lively for a long time."

I was startled, and the hand holding the tableware tightened suddenly.As much as I look forward to seeing him every day, I never thought of keeping him here for Christmas because I desperately need a buffer time to process my feelings for him, otherwise I don't know Can I calmly hold the engagement ceremony for Rose, and then hold her hand in the church and hand her over to Karl.

Rose's smile froze on her face, it seemed that this news was undoubtedly a blow to her.

Carl put down the knife and fork and glanced at me, I immediately lowered my head and concentrated on cutting the steak on the plate.I'm afraid that my eyes will show the emotion of keeping him.

The dining room was eerily quiet as everyone waited for Carl's reply.The mother may feel that the scene is a bit awkward, and said: "Don't mind, Carl, I was abrupt. Christmas is a family holiday, and it is only natural for you to return to the United States."

"No, no, I think I'd love to spend Christmas in Acton, Ruth," Carl smiled, "but first I'll send a telegram home to tell them I'm not going back for Christmas."

I said dryly, "I hope this won't be too abrupt. Your father's hall has probably been looking forward to your return for a long time. After all, such a sudden invitation is really rude."

"Why? I can't ask for it," Carl said, looking at me. "My parents won't mind, especially when they know, uh, I'm bringing back a beautiful fiancée." He glanced at Rose , "I'm afraid they are also very willing for me to stay and develop relationships with my future family members. Don't you want me to stay, Henry?"

"Of course not," I avoided his eyes. "I'm very happy that you can spend the holiday with us. I'm just worried that this will cause you inconvenience. There is absolutely no sense of unwelcome."

"Then it's settled." Mother said happily, "Henry, you can send out the invitation letter tomorrow. I have to arrange Acton well... Oh, yes, Rose, go out with me tomorrow , we need to make a few more outfits for the festival. Hope they move fast enough."