aristocratic engagement

Annie was awakened from her sleep by the rhythmic sound of horseshoes, and when she opened her eyes, she saw the bright light in the house, and Annie immediately woke up from sleepiness.

"Did I go to bed late?" Annie muttered and sat up from the bed, her long hair was draped over her shoulders, and her messy strands were sticking up in front of her eyes. After a few rough strokes, Annie got up and slowly moved to the window side.

She was blinded by the silvery light, only to see a vast expanse of whiteness outside, and the snow was still falling silently.Not far away, four people were riding away on horses, leaving behind the snow that was trampled by horseshoes.One night, the snow had fallen ankle deep.Anne could not help wondering whether it would be convenient for them to walk when they returned in the evening.

After a brief wash, when Annie came to the front hall on the first floor, Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng was changing the flowers in the vase.Annie looked at the delicate Bulgarian roses on the table, and planned to stop by the conservatory when she went to deliver some gifts to the church in Hansford Village today.

"Ms. de Bourgh, good morning, you still got up so early." Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng noticed the figure appearing in front of the arch, put down the scissors in her hand, and saluted respectfully.

Annie nodded, walked towards the front hall, played with flowers with her, and asked casually, "Is mom awake?"

"I didn't hear the bell ring."

Annie nodded to show that she understood, and after she tied up a few bouquets of flowers together, Du Li also appeared in the hall.After Du Li said good morning to Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng, she told Anne: "The kitchen is ready, we can leave anytime."

Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng's eyes widened suddenly: "Oh! Are you going to Hansford? Mrs. Catherine also asked me to prepare some things for you to give to the pastor. Miss de Bourgh, I will ask Dawson to send you."

Annie didn't refuse her kindness, and Du Li left together under her gaze.

They first came to the kitchen, and the cook handed the wrapped package to Du Li, and then the two passed through the side door, where Dawson had already parked the carriage and was putting ropes and snow chains on it.Du Li put the heavy package on the car, and when she opened the door, she saw a big box that occupied half of the car.

"Oh!" Du Li exclaimed, "Madam Catherine is more generous this year than last year?"

"I'm afraid you won't have a place to sit down when you come back!" Dawson grinned, "Everyone's harvest is good this year. When I went shopping in the village a few days ago, some tenants kept talking to me. I want to know what the ladies and wives like."

"You must not have said it?" Du Li stared, her tone pretending to be threatening.

"Of course!" Dawson answered immediately, putting down the pedal. "Please get in, Miss de Bourgh."

Anne looked behind the manor, as if waiting for something.Du Li was feeling strange when he saw a black shadow appearing in the corner of the wall.Fenrir's fur was particularly black and shiny against the white snow. It ran bumpily and bumped into Annie's leg.

Annie pointed to the carriage, Fenrir's eyes lit up, and he jumped into the carriage with his strong hind legs.

Annie and Du Li sat face to face in the car, and Fenrir was still small and lay on her lap.While stroking his warm fur, Annie looked at the monotonous snow scene outside, and suddenly asked: "Are the two rabbits brought back by Darcy still alive?"

"Daniel built a warm box for them. These two rabbits can eat and drink, so they are very uncomfortable." Du Li laughed.

Anne and Du Li got off the carriage and were surrounded by children.Du Li looked at their dirty little hands, and stared vigilantly for fear of soiling the lady's precious and gorgeous silk dress.

"Relax, Du Li." Annie said with a smile.

"Ah——Miss de Bourgh! You are here again!" The old pastor Jones came out of the house next to the church, stood in front of the door and saluted her, "I really don't know how to express my love to you." Thank you very much, every Christmas we will receive the favor of Rosings Manor without interruption. Your generosity makes me really..."

"Old Jones, you have to say these words every year, but my mother and I are just performing our duties." Rosings Manor is not only an independent manor, it is also responsible for this land, "You look a little I'm tired, I'm sorry...you still haven't found an assistant? It's not easy to manage such a church, not to mention that you are kind enough to take in so many children."

Old Jones didn't shake his head with the same sad sigh, and invited Annie into the house while talking: "My old friend's widow and son will be here in a few days. When he passed away, he asked me to take care of him as much as I can." This poor kind-hearted man has no land, and he generously distributed his rations to me when I was desperate, so that I survived. How can I not take his will to heart?"

"So it is. His kindness has been rewarded. What's the name of this family? I'll ask the station to keep an eye out for them."

"Collins." Old Jones shook his head. "You don't have to be polite. I guess they will be here in a few days. The Collins mother and son are not rich and wealthy. I understand your kindness, but they may feel uncomfortable."

Annie didn't insist anymore, and sat down at the invitation of Old Jones.At this time, Du Li had asked Dawson to move Lady Catherine's gift to the yard, and the children surrounded Dawson noisily, scrambling to divide and snatch it.

Anne looked back and heard Old Jones continue: "This little William Collins also went to school, but after his father passed away, he had to leave school and take on his father's work. But Mrs. Collins wrote in the letter Tell me she doesn't think that's the job for him, and that little Collins isn't in good health, and she wants little Collins to have a decent job—"

"Like the pastor." Anne picked up his words.

"Yes."

"I have no objection to that, Old Jones." Anne stood up, "But the pastor's job is not as easy as she imagined, and I'm afraid you will still have to be troubled to teach him."

Old Jones nodded yes.After exchanging pleasantries with him, Annie made an appointment that she would come to church with her relatives tomorrow, and then she left.Du Li has been paying attention to Anne's side, seeing her leave the pastor's small house, she followed her.

Anne asked Dawson to wait for her here, and she planned to go to the bookstore to meet Rommel again.

As she walked in that direction, Anne thought to herself that the old Jones formally mentioned the upcoming mother and son in front of her this time, telling her that he had decided to keep little Collins by his side to teach, and perhaps When old Jones dies, young Collins will succeed him as priest of the land.

Rosings Manor is responsible for this land, and the churches and residents on this land also need to follow their obligations and be responsible to Rosings.

Annie came to the door of the bookstore, but saw that the doors and windows were closed tightly, and the heavy and worn curtains were drawn tightly inside.Annie knocked on the door and window in surprise, but there was no sound from inside.Fenrir sniffed his nose and squeezed into the gap in front of the door, but found nothing.

"It seems that he is really not here?" Annie murmured suspiciously to herself, looked around the door a few times, and finally found a note on the door frame above her head, with a line of words written in a mess: Merry Christmas, goodbye.

"..." Annie was speechless, folded the note, and stuffed it into the glove.

The two turned another corner and went to the conservatory for a tour. The Bulgarian roses here were blooming just right, and the gardener Brown also planted many varieties of flowers that normally would not bloom until several months later.Annie didn't see Director Brown in the conservatory, so she had to go around outside.

When leaving, Fenrir howled in one direction, Annie squinted her eyes and saw two old figures flash past behind the flower stand.

When Anne returned to Rosings Manor, Georgiana had been looking at the door for a long time.

"Ha! You went out to play secretly behind my back! I caught you! Annie, I'm angry, I ignore you!" Georgiana stood on the steps with her hips akimbo, raised her little nose, and made a gesture. Angry action.

But her arrogance was immediately pinched by Annie.

Annie pinched her little nose and shook it lightly: "Okay, then I have to practice horse riding alone... It's a pity, Daniel told me that the pony at home has been trained and can be given to horses. I practice horseback riding. Since you are angry and ignore me, then I—”

"Ah——" Georgiana was about to be pissed off by herself, and immediately put on a flattering expression, hugged Anne's waist, and swayed coquettishly.Annie pretended to hesitate and agreed.

After lunch, without waiting for a break, Georgiana dragged Annie to the open space in front of the manor, where Daniel had been waiting there with a pony early.

This pony is still taller than Anne, with shiny black fur and well-proportioned muscles. It is definitely a beauty among horses!

With Daniel's instructions and help, Annie sat sideways on the horse, which made her feel uncomfortable, as if she was about to fall off at any time.Annie hugged the horse's back, patted the horse lightly to comfort its emotions, raised her legs, and straddled the horse's back with a "swipe--".

"Miss de Bauer!!! As a lady, you can't ride a horse like this!" Daniel exclaimed in a low voice with an indescribable expression, his face flushed.

Anne laughed, and the horse kicked its hooves excitedly.

Daniel collapsed and was at a loss. As his master, Anne couldn't reprimand her for being rude and presumptuous, but he was frightened into incoherent words by her extraordinarily bold actions.

At this time, there was a clatter of horseshoes in the distance, and Annie got off the horse, slipped off the horse, and stood on the ground.

"It's my brother! They're back!" Georgiana shouted.

I saw the four horses that left in the morning and the four youths riding back gallantly. Behind them, two horses pulled a gorgeous carriage with the family crest on it, slowly driving towards here.

TBC.