aristocratic engagement

Joking flashed across Darcy's eyes.Anne stood there for a while, and as soon as the numbness and tingling sensation disappeared from the soles of her feet, Anne curtseyed to Darcy and planned to take Georgiana back with her.Now that the excitement has been seen, it's better to go back to the room - Anne has long thought that squatting in the snow is a stupid idea, and I'm afraid Georgiana will feel uncomfortable the next day.

Daxi didn't return the gift to her, but said, "I'll take you back."

Anne was about to refuse, but in a blink of an eye, she saw Darcy's words made Georgiana's mouth pout even higher, her little hands were twisting the hem of the skirt, her face was full of displeasure, and she guessed her little thoughts - she originally planned to obey others.

Darcy turned his head and walked towards the gate, and Anne followed immediately without saying anything more.A group of people walked through the garden, walked into the gate, and stepped up the steps to the second floor.Cheerful music and laughter along the way have been transmitted through the wooden floor and long corridors, echoing in my ears.

Suddenly the door of the ballroom opened and the music burst out, and then the music was locked behind the door.There were light footsteps in the corridor.Anne turned her head and looked, under the bright candlelight, the princess was pacing alone.Annie's eyes met hers, and she nodded slightly as a greeting.

The princess just raised her chin and looked at Darcy beside Anne.

The air was stagnant for a moment, and Anne was sensitively aware that Darcy's body, which had just relaxed, tensed up again.Looking down, Georgiana turned her face away and ran upstairs without even saying hello.

"I'll take you back to your room." Darcy said again, but this time he put his hand on Anne's shoulder and brought it over with force.Annie's footsteps were a little staggering, so she could only follow his strength and continue to go upstairs. Soon the figure of the princess disappeared behind the stairs.

When the two arrived at the door of the room, Georgiana was already leaning against the wall and waiting.

There is still dancing dance music circling in the corridor.

"What a ball," sighed Anne. "Come here, thank you, Darcy. But I think I should give you back to this ball, or mother will not let me go tomorrow. "

She pushed the door open, and without saying good night to her brother, Georgiana rushed in sullenly, throwing herself on the bed.Anne let out a "huh", opened her eyes wide, looked at Georgiana's back, and then at Darcy's face——ho!It's really dark.

Darcy nodded, he seemed to want to say something, but he still didn't say anything.He neither said good night nor said goodbye, and turned back to the way he came from.

The inexplicable awkwardness between the siblings baffled Annie.

She blinked and went back to the room.

Du Li had already laid out the fluffy velvet quilt and kept the fire in the fireplace small.Annie stirred up the charcoal fire and added a few dry pine firewood, the fire quickly became brighter, and the big room instantly became warm.Annie opened a crack in the window again, but she didn't expect for a moment that the sound of music from downstairs rushed in through the crack of the window.

This movement caused Georgiana, who was lying on the bed, to thump the pillow angrily.

Annie sighed in her heart, after dealing with this bad-tempered cousin, she was going to be a confidant big sister again.As expected of brothers and sisters, this pair of brothers and sisters even have the same temper. No matter how much anger they want to vent, they just keep it in their hearts, and even resistance and dissatisfaction will not make a big noise.

Anne sat on the edge of the bed and asked, "What's the matter? I thought you were very happy when you took me downstairs to watch them dance together - ah, except for the princess. Yes, don't look so wronged I, dear, I know you don't like her. But even so, you have no reason to be angry with Darcy?"

"...brother... dancing..." Georgiana was vague, and Anne couldn't hear what she said.

"Are you worried that your brother will be snatched away?" Annie said suddenly.

Annie reached out to stroke Georgiana's shoulder, only to feel that her body was stiff, and it twitched after a while.It is one thing to like to watch the excitement, but this excitement means another world for Darcy.As his sister, as the only blood relative who grew up and survived by him, Georgiana may feel afraid and terrified because of this.

Georgiana buried her face in the quilt and wept quietly.Annie didn't disturb her venting. Sure enough, after a while, Georgiana adjusted her mood, rolled like a silkworm baby, and wrapped the quilt around her body.

Annie looked at her glowing red eyes, and couldn't help laughing: "Now you are really a rabbit, your eyes are probably even redder than your Bonnie!"

Georgiana's face suddenly flushed.

"I'm not a rabbit!...Annie, do you think that princess would like her brother? She must be looking for him just now! If, I mean, if she is engaged to her brother, do I have to listen to her? Oh...that's too bad, this woman is so arrogant! And those people, all looking at their brother's money, and the Darcy family property. Damn it, did you see their eyes?  … Georgiana muttered, her face showed complex emotions that did not belong to her age-sorrow, disgust, worry, hesitation, fear.

"Even you can think of this, wouldn't Darcy not think of it?" Anne raised her eyebrows, "Darcy is quite arrogant, if he marries an arrogant lady again, Pemberley Manor will be renamed Arrogant Manor." Anne blinked blinked.

"Annie!" Georgiana glared, and quickly relieved Annie's playful eyes, "...well, I admit that what you said makes sense."

Anne wasn't going to tell Georgiana what she thought. She should learn to judge for herself, shouldn't she?

In Anne's view, just because of Darcy's love for Georgiana, he would not marry a noble lady with high eyes and arrogant attitude early, and hand over Georgiana's fate to a tough noble lady.Although she may bring more dazzling light to Pemberley-after all, Darcy has no title-but Darcy is not a person who values ​​titles. Compared with it, he values ​​Georgiana's happiness more.

Annie touched Georgiana's head and said, "I asked Du Li and Mary to come and wash you up. It's time for you to sleep. I'll take you to train Fenrir tomorrow. Daniel told me that Fenrir has already If you can understand orders, it’s time to practice cooperating with the master’s orders.”

These words made Georgiana forget those worries for an instant, and she couldn't help thinking about the majesty of running up and down with Fenrir.

Reassured, Anne rang the bell, and it was not long before Mary came into the room to attend to Georgiana's washing.Du Li and Annie came to the balcony and reported to her what they had just gained.

"I have asked Capri to follow Baoli quietly, but I didn't expect her to slip into Sir Sterling's room. Now Capri is quietly guarding the door." Du Li lowered her voice and handed her a meaningful message. eyes.

"Nobody found her, did they?"

"Cabri? No."

"No, I mean Polly. Did no one else see her go in? Was she not stopped?" Sir Sterling's mansion also brought servants, and at this time, the servants brought by the guests should still stay in the room to tidy up luggage.

"...No!" Du Li's eyes widened in confusion, "This is really strange, how come no one stopped her?"

"It seems that our Polaroid has either been instructed by an expert, or it has been set up by someone." Anne touched her chin, biting her knuckles lightly, "I guess, Mrs. Sterling is a master at chess. Baoli thought she was lucky, she was blessed by the heavens, and hid in Sir Sterling's room smoothly, but that young and beautiful Mrs. Sterling is not a vegetarian..."

If she hadn't inadvertently discovered Mrs. Sterling's affair with Mr. Wood, maybe tomorrow there would be "Rosings Manor is not good for disciplining servants. Poor Mrs. Sterling was bullied and dared not speak out, so she had to endure it." The husband brought the beautiful maid back to serve the old lord" gossip.

Anne sneered. Serving a dying jazz would certainly bring money and status to Mrs. Sterling, but she was young and beautiful, just at the age when she was full of fire.If you can use the attitude of a victim to firmly control a maid who is determined to climb up and perform her obligations for her, it is a "good strategy".

Anne doesn't care how she plans for herself, but the premise is that the reputation of Rosings Manor cannot be damaged.

It seems that in the eyes of those people, Rosings Manor, which has lost its male master, is really easy to bully.

Du Li panicked, "Should I inform Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng to bring Baoli out?"

"No, no need." Annie's eyes stopped at a fixed point. In the garden, she saw Mr. Wood, who was looking depressed, smoking a pipe and slumped on the bench. He knows Mrs Sterling will not be in her room tonight."

Du Li nodded suddenly, and left in a hurry.

"Don't leave witnesses and handles." Annie reminded softly.

Annie returned to the room from the balcony, and Georgiana was already in bed, half asleep and half awake.Annie sat in front of the fireplace, still thinking about what happened just now.She never felt that her "scheming" was bad, but when she got up tomorrow morning, someone would definitely be injured in this incident.

On the one hand, she clearly understood that her actions were beyond reproach.She exists in this world, and as the owner of Rosings, she must safeguard the interests and reputation of the manor, which is her accusation.On the other hand, out of the conscience of a "person", he can't help but feel... guilty for the "tragedy" he foresaw will cause.

Not much guilt, just a little bit.

Annie listened to the beeping and cracking sound of the matches, and was in a daze.She was waiting for the dance to be over, for things to happen.Annie sat in the room, warmed by the fire, but she was calculating in her heart what kind of affair would happen in a certain room at the same time.

"Dong dong dong." A barely audible knock on the door woke her up.

Annie woke up immediately, hurried to the door, slowed down and stopped.

"It's me." Darcy's voice came through the crack of the door, and Anne felt relieved, and opened the door.

Standing in front of her was Darcy with a tired face.

"How is Georgiana?"

"Already asleep."

"Oh - yes, then, good night." Darcy's expression softened.

"Good night." Anne said, and when she saw Darcy bent over, she gave her a gentle hug. "Have a sweet dream, cousin."

Darcy turned and left, but Annie frowned looking at his back. The mixed smell of perfume and alcohol on Darcy's body was not pleasant.

TBC.