aristocratic engagement

Annie and Liz sat down at a small wine table. Darcy thoughtfully avoided the conversation between the two, sat at a table on the other side of the tavern, took out the agreement signed by everyone and examined it carefully. stand up.

Annie looked at Liz's clothes. Like Annie, she changed into pants and tied a smock around her waist.But it is not so easy to suddenly change the dress and concept. Liz's trousers are more like wide-leg trousers, and the wide hem of the trousers is like a long skirt.

The candlelight shone in Liz's eyes, as if his heart was burning.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bennet agree that you—"

"Of course, no." Liz interrupted her, with a little irritability and worry in her tone, "Father didn't say anything, I can't tell whether he agrees or disagrees, but I guess he already knows what I'm saying What did I do in [-], and I guessed my decision. But my mother didn't know it before, and this time she was hysterical, claiming that she would take me back to Longbourn in two days-just as the summer has passed, we would have arrived to go back At Longbourne."

"That's fine too."

"No, that's not good!" Liz shook her head, "My article will be published in tomorrow's newspaper, and by then, everyone who reads the newspaper will know that 'Mr. Bennet' is a woman. Anne, no matter Whether it will be criticized or moderately judged, I want to see for myself."

"And your editor?"

"He already knew." Liz pursed her lips, "He told me that once when I sent him a manuscript, a long hair was accidentally left on the letter... He doubted my identity at that time .”

But he did not change his attitude because of this, but respected the person behind the pseudonym.

"Liz, you are lucky too." Anne smiled.

Liz nodded, but the relief and rejoicing on her brows were quickly overshadowed by sorrow: "Annie, to be honest, even if there are thousands of people who will scold me after reading my articles and statements tomorrow, I can still pretend not to read them." I can't hear it, I can't hear it, or I can refute it right away. But if my mother still can't understand me, I can't argue with the strongest language."

"That's what I reminded you, Liz." Anne sighed, "I'll take you home first, it's getting dark, they must be very worried, London is not safe at night."

"...If I go back, I'm afraid I'll be locked up tomorrow." Liz muttered softly.

Anne knew that she wanted to see people's reaction to the exposure of "Mr. Bennet", so she proposed: "Tomorrow I will pick you and Miss Bennet out to play on the steamboat. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet will not refuse me." With this face, we can..." Annie raised her eyebrows.

Liz nodded emphatically, and grabbed Annie's hand gratefully.

"Now, let's take you back." Annie made a decisive decision and stood up.

Darcy has been paying attention to the movement here, and immediately got up, and left the tavern with the two of them.

Seeing that there were only two horses, Liz immediately proposed, "Annie and I ride a horse!"

Darcy didn't respond, just turned on the horse, then bent down, grabbed Anne's hand, and pulled her onto the horse.

Anne suddenly sat on the horseback, was held in Darcy's arms, and rarely smiled at Liz shyly.

Liz blinked, got on the horse, and followed the two neatly sideways, walking towards Gardner's house nervously.

The next day, when Anne arrived in front of the Gardner House in a carriage, she heard Mrs. Bennet screaming from inside.Anne, worried about what might happen to Leeds, jumped out of the carriage and knocked on the garden fence.

In the next second, the door was opened.

Liz dragged Jane and ran towards Anne in a swift stride. Mrs. Bennet's "screaming" stopped abruptly, and Mrs. Gardner hurriedly dragged her back into the house.

"Liz! Remember to bring me a silk scarf! You promised me!" The little girl's cry came from the window on the second floor. Annie looked up and saw three young girls lying neatly by the window , Probe downstairs.

Liz waved the hat in his hand, and climbed into the carriage nimbly.Jane shyly smiled at Annie, and was about to thank her, but Annie quickly said, "Hurry up and get in the carriage, why are you being polite to me?"

With that said, he climbed up first.

Only then did Jane heave a sigh of relief, and followed Anne into the carriage.

The carriage drove slowly, and Annie sat opposite the two sisters, and asked, "If I remember correctly, the one who called out just now was Lydia, right?"

"Yes, it is her, our youngest sister."

"I almost forgot to bring her a silk scarf!" Liz scratched her hair, feeling very embarrassed, "My 'culottes' were designed by her...I promised her a Phoenix cloud rose towel as a reward."

"God, that's too expensive, Liz, how can you agree to her such a condition?" Jane disagreed very much.

"This is the reward she deserves." Liz said with a serious face, "Although sisters shouldn't care so much, I think that if they can realize that they can earn money with their talents and abilities, they may be able to support themselves in the future." It's not a bad thing for myself."

"However, raising a family shouldn't be a lady's concern." Jane shook her head disapprovingly, "Although the money father left us is not much, it's not enough to..."

Anne and Liz exchanged glances, and they both understood that Jane was an extremely qualified and standard lady, and her thoughts were also the thoughts that most ladies and wives would have.They can't blame, but they can only silently hope to use their actions to influence.

"Where's Mr. Darcy? Didn't he come with you?" Liz asked suddenly.

"He's going to the bookstore first, and he will meet us later."

Anne didn't say what Darcy was doing in the bookstore, but Liz immediately realized what his purpose was, and immediately fidgeted nervously.

Beside the Thames, steam yachts were docked along the bank, and white mist and smoke rose from the water.The laughter of the playing ladies and gentlemen almost overturned the yacht, and Liz and Jane immediately lay down by the carriage window, eager to try.

"I want to show you what I can do!" Liz exclaimed excitedly, seeming to put those troubles out of the blue, "I drove a yacht independently for a long distance last time! I drove very well! You give I testify, Jane!"

Jane covered her mouth: "Look at you, you look like a boy."

"Of course I'm no worse than a man, Jane!" Liz tossed her hair indifferently.

Annie laughed.

At this time, the carriage stopped slowly in front of a small "ferry" renting a yacht, and the three of them couldn't wait to jump out of the carriage and ran towards the "ferry".

"I'm really sorry! Ladies, all our yachts are fully booked for today!" The man behind the counter apologized, and he pointed to the small blackboard beside it, which read "Today is fully booked".

"Ah?!" Jane and Liz yelled in unison.

Anne's gaze stopped at a sign under the small blackboard—it was the Duke of Bridgewater's sign.She hadn't thought of that person or that family for a long time, and those painful experiences seemed to be covered by a more grand and broad vision like the past.

"Annie, what should we do? Or we won't play yachts today?" Liz's call brought Annie back from her memories.

Annie suddenly came back to her senses, blinked her eyes: "If you really want to play, it's not impossible for me..."

"Viscount Richter?!"

A familiar and rough male voice sounded from behind, Annie looked back, and saw Mr. White riding a horse not far away looking here.

Seeing Anne turning her head, Mr. White immediately got off his horse and saluted them.

There were two girls beside Anne, so she made a simple curtsy to him, and then introduced the identity of the man to the two Miss Bennet.

The group of people saluted each other again, politely seeing each other.Mr. White's eyes fell on the small blackboard behind Anne, and he immediately understood. He pointed to the ferry on the opposite bank in the distance, and said, "Viscount Richter, the other bank is the business of my shipyard. I don't know what you want I am interested in a steam yacht, but I can arrange a special yacht for you now, please don’t hold it back.”

"Mr. White, you are too kind. There is no need for a private yacht. I always live in the country, so it is inevitable to waste it." Anne motioned for the two behind him to get on the horse, "Since I know it is your property, I will definitely support you Business. As it happens, the place is fully booked, and I'm afraid I'll have to change."

change what?Annie said nothing.

But it seemed like a belated farewell to her.From then on, Bridgewater will have nothing to do with her, and Anne will have more choices and a wider world.

Mr. White still had business to discuss, so he handed Anne a handwritten letter of his own and hurriedly left.

The Bennet sisters got into the carriage, and Anne was about to climb up when she suddenly stopped.She turned her head suddenly, looked at the man behind the ferry counter, and asked, "Do you know who I am?"

"...I know, Viscount Richter." The man nodded with difficulty, "I guessed your identity from your clothes from the first time I saw you."

"So, the yachts here are not fully booked, are they?"

"No, no, no! You misunderstood, I didn't deceive you. It's just..." But, if it was before, even if it was fully booked, he would find an unoccupied yacht no matter what—even Aijie Mr. Ton's special one.

Annie's heart was empty, but she didn't feel sad, but was completely relieved: "I understand, thank you."

The viscount's thanks made the man nervous and incoherent, and he didn't know what to do for a moment. When he realized it, the carriage and the inexplicably daunting Viscount Richter had completely disappeared from sight.

The sound of the roaring steam engine, the sound of water and screams echoed on the surface of the water. Liz and Annie cooperated seamlessly, and the steam yacht sailed smoothly on the water.

The last time Anne had seen the sisters by the Thames, they had been accompanied by two gentlemen, restrained and elegant, and now they were playing wild.The hat had been blown somewhere by the wind for a long time, and her long hair was flying with the wind. She didn't look like a dignified lady in the past at all.

The cold wind and the unpleasant smell came oncoming, but Annie felt that the smell was very familiar, and her heart beat very fast, as if she saw the future.

At first, Jane also insisted on ladylike etiquette, and did not dare to scream loudly, but the excited shouts of the two and the extremely exciting speed of the yacht made her face gradually turn red, and finally she couldn't restrain herself, and imitated their appearance screamed loudly.

"Liz! Let's rest for a while!" Jane shouted, "It's so exciting, I can't breathe!"

Annie nodded, made a captain's gesture, pointed to the ferry at the time of departure, and ordered loudly: "Listen to my instructions! Go forward!"

Liz laughed so hard that she almost fell on the steering wheel.The yacht slipped, and the three of them screamed in fright. Annie straightened the steering wheel quickly and steered the yacht towards the ferry—the familiar figure was already standing there

On the ferry, the staff prepared long poles and ropes early, and docked the yacht steadily.

Annie raised her legs and came to the edge of the boat step by step. A hand was stretched out in front of her. Annie pursed her lips and clenched those hands.

The owner of these hands firmly grasped her hand, and the other hand wrapped around her waist. With a little force, Annie fell into his arms.

Darcy whispered something to Anne, which made her ears turn red. When she realized it and turned around, the two sisters had already landed with the help of the crew.

"Get in the carriage. I'll take you to the bookstore." Darcy said, holding Annie's hand and walking towards the place where the carriage stopped. "I've already bought a newspaper and put it on the carriage. You can take a look. There are some comments from editors and guest writers in the newspaper, but I think the thoughts of real readers are what Miss Elizabeth cares most about."

"You are right, Mr. Darcy."

Without talking all the way, Liz quickly broke away from the excitement of driving a mini yacht—Anne originally wanted to use this exciting entertainment to distract her and stop thinking about that terrible thing, but the effect was mediocre.

However... Annie looked up at Miss Bennet: Jane's soft and beautiful face was no longer purely worried and troubled, but added a trace of imperceptible firmness.

Sensing Annie's gaze, Jane turned her gaze away from her sister, and smiled at Annie with a hint of gratitude in that smile.

The carriage soon arrived at the center of the city. Annie looked out the window and happened to pass by a newsstand—a group of people gathered in front of the newsstand, arguing about something with red faces, and could faintly hear "Bennet" and "Liar "" "Great" and other words.

Annie suddenly turned her head and looked at Liz, only to see that her eyes were a little dazed, her teeth were clenched, and her face was extremely stern.

The carriage didn't stop and kept driving forward.

Annie's hand was suddenly wrapped in a warm ball, she looked sideways, and Darcy's face suddenly approached, and her lips touched her forehead lightly.

Annie's lips moved slightly: "I'm fine, I've already seen it."

She has heard those words countless times, and it can't hurt her at all at this moment.As someone close to her, it was not so easy for Daxi to get rid of her anger. Every time she heard such words, she couldn't help but want to cover her ears and eyes.

Liz glanced over the two people in front of him, and pursed his lips enviously.

The carriage gradually slowed down, and the four of them looked outside at the same time, only to see the largest bookstore in the city center across the road.At this time, the road was no longer as neat and clean as usual, it was crowded with people, and large pieces of torn newspapers were scattered on the ground.

"Dawson, go and pick up those shredded newspapers and show me!" Annie knocked on the compartment of the carriage.

The coachman Dawson immediately took orders, jumped out of the carriage, and ran to the road.He bent down and picked up a lot of torn newspapers, but he didn't rush to hand them over to the owner. Instead, he squeezed beside the group of people who were yelling and tearing up the newspapers, and cleverly listened to their loud and angry remarks.

Annie saw Dawson's face turn from white to blue, and then from blue to red, and soon he stopped listening, and turned around and ran towards the carriage angrily: "Viscount Richter, please."

Annie stretched out her hand to take the newspaper he offered—but she couldn't, and the other hand snatched it from her fingertips.

Liz flicked through the pages randomly, and Anne opened her eyes wide and looked down, and saw that the broken newspapers coincided with the pages dedicated to the works of "Mr. Bennet" in the past.There are also light or heavy footprints printed on the newspaper, and some even emit a stench.

At this time, it happened that three or four gentlemen passed by the carriage together, and the words of the conversation entered their ears.

"...Did you see the newspaper, that 'Mr. Bennet' turned out to be a woman..."

"It's outrageous! I can't believe what works those women can write? My wife often reads books written by women. They are all about the love/love stories of down-and-out children and opera actresses! Suspense? How could their IQ be possible? I can write it!"

"Then you have to believe it this time, 'Mr. Bennet' blew himself up!"

"Even if he is a woman, I don't know where she copied the story from? Do you think a woman can write such a wonderful story with no logical loopholes? Anyway, I don't believe it!"

"..."

"Bang bang bang!" Liz couldn't hold back, and knocked on the wall of the carriage.Dawson yelled, waved his whip, and the carriage started to drive suddenly.The wheels "just happened" to step over a puddle of water, causing a dirty splash.

The water splashed on the trousers of those gentlemen, drawing curses out of their mouths.

But when they raised their heads, the carriage had gone far.

They could only see a low-key but eye-catching family crest printed on the back of the carriage.

"That is……"

"Viscount Richter's carriage!"

"!!!"

Several people gasped and looked at each other.

"Ha, I'm afraid that what you just said fell into the ears of Viscount Richter! She is not someone to provoke!" A gloating voice sounded, causing the companions to glare.

When sending the Bennet sisters back to Gardner's house, the distraught Liz and the red-eyed Jane caused chaos in the house again.Liz and Jane were not in the mood to say hello, so they hurried upstairs, ignoring the calls of their family members behind them.

"Liz, where's my silk scarf!" Lydia screamed and chased after her. "You promised to buy it for me! I even designed a skirt for you! You can't just keep your word!"

"Lydia!" Katie and Mary immediately grabbed the reluctant, pouting Lydia.

Anne explained the experience just now in a few words, and left the complete newspaper that Darcy had just stuffed for her to Mrs. Bennet.

Mrs. Bennet took the newspaper and glanced at it.

She widened her eyes and covered her mouth, but a painful whine leaked from her fingers: "Oh! God...how could this be, Mr. Bennet? Why hasn't he come back! I, I should What should I do... my poor nerves..." She was about to fall down, and the daughters panickedly supported her fat body with all their strength, and helped her to sit beside the sofa.

"Ouch... I have a headache... my poor Liz..." Mrs. Bennet groaned bitterly.

Mrs. Gardner took the newspaper immediately, and frowned after reading it.But she immediately put on the host's airs, and greeted Anne and Darcy politely.

The two took their leave in due time.

Back in the carriage, Annie couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Her face was suddenly covered by Darcy's hands and rubbed: "Relax, these things are for her to face. As a friend, you have done everything you can."

"However, I can't help but doubt and blame myself. If I hadn't influenced her, she wouldn't have to face these."

"Anne!" Darcy's voice suddenly became serious, "She is just the first woman who was influenced by you and thought of changing, and there will be countless others like this in the future—that is exactly your goal, but you are now Do you think this is wrong?"

"Of course not!" Annie raised her head, her face turned red from seeing those transparent eyes, but she gradually calmed down.

"You're right, I'm being emotional." Annie held his hand that was holding her cheek, and kissed his fingertips, "If you care about it, you will be confused, even if I encounter those things myself, I won't be so uncomfortable. But when I see her swollen eyes... well, I hope she can cheer up."

"She will, don't you see? Mrs. Bennet is actually standing behind her."

Darcy's words were like the sun piercing through the dark clouds, which made Anne suddenly enlightened.

yes!What Liz was most worried about before was that Mrs. Bennet could not understand her, even opposed her, and even wanted to lock her in the room and take her back to Longbourn, cutting her off from the outside world.But after all, that was her mother.When gossip cut her like a sharp knife, Mrs. Bennet almost immediately instinctively stood behind her and became a force she could rely on.

——If possible, Mrs. Bennet would rather those hurtful words be directed at herself.

Just like Lady Catherine once did, she took her under her wing without hesitation until Anne really showed her skills.From a small matter to a matter of life and death, Mrs. Catherine has not been able to truly let go of her "responsibility" and pursue her own happiness until now.

Annie nodded her head vigorously and breathed a long sigh of relief.

She leaned out of the car window and looked in the direction of the Gardner House.There was a noisy mess there, but the noisy and chaotic shouts revealed warm concern and support.

Annie couldn't help smiling, she was about to look away, but her eyes couldn't help but froze on one point.

Annie stared in that direction and tugged on Darcy's cuff: "Look, is that Lance? Am I right?"

"That's Lance!" Darcy affirmed.

作者有话要说：打算更三千结果写成了六千……不愧是我【。】感谢在2021-02-0104:03:10~2021-02-0306:23:31期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angel of irrigation nutrient solution: 3 bottles of shadow;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!