aristocratic engagement

The round-faced girl gathered the thin cloak around her body, and poked her head out in the dark alley.She cautiously looked around and found that no one was following her, so she quickly retracted her body.She pressed the small vegetable basket in her right hand with her left hand, and there was a slight warmth from under the linen cloth.The girl breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to run briskly into the alley.

The winter wind was not amiable, and it blew on his face stiffly.The girl pursed her lips, but did not complain.She jumped over the foul-smelling eddies, splashing a few drops of dirty water on the hem of her brown skirt.

She turned left and right skillfully in the alley, the place looks eerie and treacherous, if it is the first time for a person to come here, he must either lose his way under the cramped sky in the low room above his head, or be vaguely shadowed by the corner of the wall Terrified - when she first came here, she would not have left without a trace if it hadn't been for "Master" warning those hungry malicious people by her side.

Of course, if she was the only one, she would never set foot in this place in her life.

Just thinking about it, the round-faced girl stood still in front of a half-open door.She looked around again and raised her hand.

"Da-da-da-da-da-da-da."

A rhythmic knock on the door suddenly sounded in the alley, and after a while, the door was opened, but there was no one behind it.She cautiously lifted her skirt and jumped into the room, then closed the door behind her.

The moment the door was closed, the sound of flames rising suddenly sounded in the dark room.Looking back, beside the burning fireplace, a middle-aged man in a black robe was lying on an old rocking chair, casually flipping through a book.

The round-faced girl didn't speak, she crossed her hands in front of her, holding the small basket with her fingers, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Put it here." The black-robed man didn't get up, and the flame of the pipe he was clenching his teeth flickered as he spoke.The round-faced girl stared at him, and was relieved to see that he didn't show anger, anger, impatience... and other bad emotions.She placed the basket on the table by the hearth without removing the linen covering it.

The man in the black robe sniffed, lost his mind for a moment, and then smiled dumbly: "Bulgarian rose? I can't tell that 'he' is very romantic."

The girl noticed that he put the accent on the word "he", and her heart skipped a beat.

"Tell your master, I accept his kindness." The man waved his hand, and the door slammed open. A gust of cold wind and snow instantly dissipated the heat from the fireplace. He looked around, It seems that he just discovered that the family here is completely empty, "However, if he wants to express his sincerity, he should come up with something more..."

"Master said," the girl suddenly interrupted him.Her voice was trembling and sharp because of fear or cold, "'God told us to love each other, dear Mr. Rommel. Before Christmas, we should all avoid tit-for-tat, but exchange gifts in a friendly way, singing in unison Lelujah! It’s been a pleasure meeting you this year. I hope that next year, you will still be alive and kicking, tirelessly looking for trouble for me, instead of standing in front of God and mocking my recklessness with no power to fight back.’ Above.”

After the girl finished talking like pouring beans, the room fell into dead silence.

The man in the black robe was not angry at the harsh words, but laughed out loud.

"The resentment is so great." He shook his head and smiled helplessly, "I'm not an aggressive and bad elder, he always has to face those—yes, I know those little secrets, and I know the hostess of the manor plan. However, the decision is still hers, isn't it?"

The round-faced girl was sensitively aware that the "she" in this sentence did not refer to that amiable and respectable noble lady.

"Don't talk about it doesn't mean the problem is solved, my dear." He chuckled, and picked up the brick-like book again.The strange earthworm-like words on the book made the girl dizzy when she saw it from a distance. She turned her eyes away, wrote down his words, and left the room silently.

"Merry Christmas."

When she closed the door, she heard this whisper like a sigh.

"He really said that?"

In front of the window, the girl in a long white dress looked at the round-faced girl behind in the mirror, raised her thin eyebrows, and her eyes were sharp.

"Yes, Miss de Bourgh." The round-faced girl took out an ivory comb from the drawer, and carefully combed her golden-brown curly hair.

Miss de Bourgh—Anne de Bourgh snorted, and said nothing more.She frowned, quietly thinking about something.After a long silence, just as the round-faced girl was about to remind her that she had finished dressing her, Annie said, "They're coming tonight? Du Li?"

"...Yes." The round-faced girl—Du Li finally breathed a sigh of relief, "otherwise why should I dress up for you at this time? Dear Miss de Bourgh! No matter how much you resist, you still have to fight Get up, I'm afraid William has picked them up. Madam will send someone to the front to ask every half hour, after all, this is the first time that the young master and young lady have decided to come to Rosings Manor for Christmas!"

Annie let out a breath, finally let out a helpless wail, and covered her face in her arms.

"Let me tell you, Master Darcy didn't necessarily come here because of that rumor. Madam would send a letter to Derbyshire every year to invite them to Rosings for Christmas. It just so happened that Master Darcy came of age this year. Anyway, It's time for him to come - after all, he will officially enter the social circle through his wife's relationship."

"That's right!" Anne wanted to pull her hair irritably, Du Li widened her round eyes, and hurriedly stopped her from destroying the hairstyle she just made, "You also said that Darcy is going to officially enter the social circle I dare say that in the whole of Kent there are only innocent children who don't know what their mother's plan is!"

"It's not that exaggerated, Miss." Du Li couldn't help laughing, "Anyway, to protect your reputation, madam won't be so reckless."

"...Well, everyone who should know knows it well." Annie gritted her teeth.

Since losing her husband, Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh has been determined to marry her only daughter to her most promising offspring—young Mr. Darcy of Pemberley Manor.

The previous owner of Pemberley Manor—that is, Mrs. de Bour’s sister and brother-in-law passed away early in an accident. At that time, her nephew was only Miss Anne’s age, and she took on the responsibility of taking care of her sister and running the manor. .

At first, Mr. Darcy was too young to play well with the tenant servants of the Darcy family and the offshoots who had more hearts than the holes in the hive, and suffered a lot.The young Miss Georgiana Darcy was sent to Rosings Manor by him and entrusted to the care of his aunt, Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh.

Mrs. Catherine and Mrs. Darcy have been sisters since they were young, otherwise they would not have given their eldest daughter the same name as their sister. At that time, Mrs. Catherine even thought about naming her future son Fitz william.Little Georgiana and little Annie were about the same age, so they played together naturally.

Until the male owner of Rosings Manor suddenly became seriously ill one winter, Lady Catherine neglected to take care of him hastily.In an accident, Miss de Bourgh fell into an ice hole and almost lost most of her life. Since then, she has become unresponsive and reticent—Mr. Darcy realizes that Rosings Manor has been separated because of the illness of the male owner. Frustrated, he took his sister back to Derbyshire.He offered to repay his aunt and assume the responsibility of taking care of his cousin, but was rejected by the fragile but strong mother.

Sir Louis de Bourgh's illness, under the best efforts of the physicians, had barely slowed down the pace of death.Until three years ago, when Sir Louis passed away, after the funeral, the foolish Miss de Bourgh also realized her father's departure. She passed out and lost her breath for a while. The successive blows made Lady Catherine completely depressed. almost crazy.

——Miss de Bourgh did not breathe, otherwise how could the soul of an adult occupy the magpie's nest?

Annie came to this world inexplicably at this time.Before she opened her eyes, she was still at her friend's wedding, watching the bouquet made of delicate roses thrown straight at her amidst the screams of joy.The bouquet failed to bring her luck, but instead made her fall into this strange and classical world.

Annie stood in front of the window, holding a dozen thick ledgers in her hands, and staring in one direction with fixed eyes.

The maid Du Li behind her has long been used to her serious attitude. She knows that the Miss Anne de Bourgh she serves is not the arrogant lady who is used to looking at people with her nostrils. On the contrary, She always treats the servants around her politely—she just puts on such an unapproachable posture in front of people on purpose, so as to refuse those temptations and temptations that are openly or secretly.

Miss de Bauer is only 11 years old, but she has already left an "unfathomable" impression in Du Li's heart.

She was only sent to Miss de Bourgh as a maid three years ago, and there were several other girls of the same age with her, but she was the only one left by the "difficult" Miss de Bourgh down.According to Du Li herself, even she didn't know where she got into the eyes of the noble lady. You know, she was the only one among them who didn't have an elder who held a senior position in Rosings Manor——she was determined to work hard earnestly serve the future master

Du Li has really seen the strange methods and minds of the little master who are not suitable for her age.Du Li secretly thought it was a pity in her heart, if she were him...

"Miss! Look! They're coming!" Du Li came back to her senses, raised her voice, and exclaimed in surprise.

Annie put down the booklet in her hand, narrowed her eyes, and opened the translucent gauze curtains.

In front of Rosings Manor, a wide road stretches out.Far away on the horizon, dots of light shone unsteadily, getting closer and closer to this huge manor.

When the sound of horseshoes was getting closer and closer, and Annie could see clearly the shape of the three carriages and the heroic posture of the rider on one side in the candlelight of the manor, she closed the thin curtains with a "swipe--".

"Go downstairs, Du Li. Pull yourself together, we have a tough battle to fight." Annie turned her head away from the window.

Du Li followed behind her, calmed down, stomped her feet lightly, and followed her back.

The person on the horse looked at the figure standing quietly by the window on the second floor, and was about to raise his whip to greet the person in the window amidst the girl in the carriage whispering in surprise, but saw the thin The curtain was closed neatly, and the figure disappeared.

"Is that Anne?"

A thin voice came from the carriage, and Georgiana poked her face out.

"I'm afraid so." Darcy raised his eyebrows and lowered his eager hand. "We'll see her in the living room in a moment. Close the window and sit back in your seat, Georgiana. The cold wind is not right." We are polite."

TBC.