aristocratic engagement

It wasn't until dinner time, when the three of them finished their conversation and left the secret room, that Anne discovered that there was another exit directly to the earl's study in the secret passage leading to her room.Like Rosings Manor, the study is the owner's private territory, and even the Countess and Anne's two cousins ​​are not allowed to come and go freely.

After saying goodbye to the two, Annie returned to her room.Dinner was settled in her own room. Anne claimed that she was uncomfortable, and the Countess thoughtfully did not disturb her, wondering if she was ordered by the Count.

Anne plans to go to the secret vault left by Sir Louis in the bank the next day to complete the formalities.Anne didn't intend to hypocritically reject Sir Louis and Rommel's joint venture income over the years—she was short of money.

In the middle of the night, Anne was lying on the bed, pinching the gold-plated key in the envelope with her fingers, holding it up in front of her eyes and looking at it carefully.Under the illumination of the candlelight, the shallowly engraved names are exceptionally clear.

The image of Sir Louis in her mind became more and more clear, but also more and more blurred.

The more you know this person, the less you understand him.

Anne was angry at the "surveillance" concealed by the earl and Rommel, but Anne could not complain about the "instigator".Because for any gentleman, even if he is full of infinite love for his daughter, he can't treat her as an equal object with a boy.

This treasury and secret inheritance was Sir Louis's greatest tenderness to her as a father to a girl.

As soon as Annie came downstairs, she heard the door of the Earl's Mansion being closed.

"The count and Mr. Rommel went to work together, and they won't be back in a few days." The countess explained, looking at Anne who was standing at the top of the stairs.

"whats the matter?"

"I don't know, my dear, I never ask the count about his business unless he tells me." The countess came over, put her hands on Anne's shoulders, and took her to the dining room, "Your health is better Is it? I went to your room to see you yesterday, but the count asked me not to disturb your rest, saying that you would be uncomfortable."

"It's much better, Auntie." Annie hugged her arm and said affectionately, "I just have a headache...you don't have to worry about me, and don't worry about disturbing me."

Countess Fitzwilliam smiled happily and touched her forehead.

Anne had just taken a seat at the table when Laurence walked in.He was dressed in comfortable home clothes, but he didn't forget to button them meticulously.He was wearing a thin woolen sweater, which looked like the Countess' handwriting.

"Oh, dear, you haven't woken up so late for a long time, what's the matter? Mr. Earl gave you a holiday today?" The Countess exchanged a good morning kiss with him.

"Yes, Mom, I can stay at home and talk to you today."

The countess immediately burst into laughter from ear to ear.

Lawrence sat down in front of Annie, and the maid poured tea for him. He smiled at Annie and said good morning to each other.

Anne looked at the countess: "Auntie, I plan to go to the bank this morning, and I may not be able to make it back in time for lunch."

The countess looked surprised, but she nodded understandingly, without asking further questions.After a while, she told Lawrence: "Since you are free, why don't you go with Anne? I remember that you have a good relationship with the Governor of the Bank of England? No matter what Anne has, it is always easy to have someone you know."

Lawrence nodded in agreement.

Annie thanked her aunt and cousin repeatedly.She had to show up today as Miss de Bourgh, but as a bean-sized aristocratic girl, it was not safe to go in and out of the bank alone, and she might be targeted before leaving the avenue.

After breakfast, Annie quickly went back to her room and changed into a dress that was convenient for traveling.The weather is getting warmer, and the heavy coat that makes it difficult to move can already be taken off.Annie put the key and transfer letter close to her body, and took the hat from Du Li.After finishing all this, when he arrived at the gate of the Earl's Mansion, Lawrence had already put on his go-out clothes, and was walking casually in the yard leading his horse.

This is the first time that Anne and Lawrence have traveled alone.Lawrence was not a talkative person, and Annie was living in her mind about what she was about to say, and was very quiet along the way.

At the gate of the bank, Lawrence asked Anne to follow him.As soon as he entered the door, he came to the innermost counter facing the gate, and greeted the people inside.

"Mr. Smith, long time no see."

"Oh! Mr. Fitzwilliam! What brought you here? If you have anything to do, just ask. I told you long ago that you only need to be notified of the things that need to be done by our bank, and we will help you in advance The VIP room is reserved." The man in neat clothes stood up behind the counter, "This is..."

"Anne de Bourgh." Anne curtsied to him.

Mr. Smith hurriedly returned the gift, and he suddenly showed a puzzled expression, and said uncertainly: "De Bourgh? Are you from the De Bourgh family in Kent? Sir Louis is your..."

"He is my father." Anne was no longer surprised to hear the name of Sir Louis being mentioned.

"Oh...that's an extraordinary person. If he is still alive, he must be one of the most respected figures in London." Mr. Smith shook his head regretfully, but he quickly recovered and looked at Lawrence , "Mr. Fitzwilliam, why did you come to the bank today?"

"Your client is not me, but Miss de Bourgh." Lawrence twitched his lips and took a step aside.

Anne stepped forward, took out the envelope from her pocket and put it on the counter.

Mr. Smith took it with both hands, glanced at Annie from the corner of the eye, and opened the letter.As soon as he looked up after reading it, he stared at Anne with wide eyes.

Annie's eyes met his impartially.

Mr. Smith withdrew his gaze as if frightened, continued to lower his head, and carefully reviewed it three times from top to bottom. "Okay, I have understood that part of Sir Louis's property is jointly operated with Mr. Jung Rommel, but this part was once given to Mr. Rommel by him. Now Mr. Rommel has donated half of the shares to Mr. You, including Vault 106."

"That's right, that's right." Annie nodded, but she was a little surprised.Sir Louis did not include that part in the "inheritance", but directly donated it to Rommel.How much trust is this to make a decision?

Smith nodded, then he ordered his assistant a few words, turned to Mr. Lawrence and said, "The next part is Miss de Bourgh's private business, I will ask the assistant to take you to the VIP lounge for you to rest. I will bring you Miss de Bauer went to vault 106 to check."

Lawrence did not hesitate, and immediately agreed. After he bowed his head and explained a few words to Annie, he followed his assistant upstairs from the side.

"Miss de Bourgh, your servant... I'm sorry, but she can't come in together."

"I trust her 100%, Mr. Smith." Annie said without thinking.

Mr. Smith shook his head firmly: "Sorry, this is the rule."

Annie frowned, and seeing that Mr. Smith's face remained unchanged, she turned sideways and whispered to Du Li: "Then you wait for me at the gate of the bank, find a place to drink a cup of coffee and order a cake, and I will treat it as a half-day vacation for you." gone."

After Du Li glanced at Mr. Smith, he saluted Annie and walked out of the bank.

When Annie finally came out of the deep, quiet and heavily-trapped vault, her heart was still beating wildly.

The glittering bricks in the vault and the countless hills of pounds sterling dazzled her eyes, making her eyes still covered with light spots after reaching above the ground, and she couldn't see the way clearly.Annie knew that the de Bourgh family was already very rich, but those were just a series of numbers on the ledger, not as shocking as the real thing.

Not to mention that these are not serious "inheritances".

"How much tax do I need to pay?" Annie suddenly thought of this question.

"Fortunately, you don't need to pay a pound or a penny." Mr. Smith walked in front of Anne, and after hearing her question, he explained back, "There is no tax on gifts, Miss de Bauer."

"This is not..." Annie's words stopped abruptly, and she understood.

She had to admire Sir Louis's intelligence.

The inheritance tax was implemented from the French Revolution that occurred a year after the death of Sir Louis, and before that, Sir Louis donated his property to Rommel to take care of it.Those in the treasury are only half of the income from these years of operation, which is not a legacy at all.

Perhaps Sir Louis had heard the news long ago, perhaps Sir Louis simply wanted to hide the money from Lady Catherine.

All in all, Anne got the money—six-figure pounds.

This is a figure that ordinary squires can hardly earn in their entire lives.

Annie would think of the picture in the vault, and her first thought would be, who can give her a different dimension to store money in?Now Annie can't wait to hold all those yellow and white ones in her arms, and then hide herself in the deserted mountains.

Really hit the head with money!

All the problems that bothered her seemed to be solved.But being so trusted, how Annie distributed the money became a big problem.

"If you don't know what to do, it's also a good choice to save interest in the bank," Mr Smith said.

Only then did Annie realize that she had asked this question unconsciously.

Mr. Smith continued to explain as he walked: "The current interest rate is four percent, that is to say, if you do nothing, you will have several thousand pounds more in your vault next year, which is far enough for a noble lady Expenses."

"What if I'm going to invest it?"

"Of course, Miss de Bourgh." Mr. Smith stopped at the foot of the stairs, "but I suggest you do nothing, after all, business is not easy to succeed. Let alone a lady, I see Mrs. There are many gentlemen hovering on the verge of bankruptcy, begging me to lend them money to start their business... I am a hard-hearted person, and the money I lent out failed to recover the cost, so how could I trust them?"

"Spend a lot of money and go and buy some jewels and nice clothes, Miss de Bourgh. I've heard that the 'Phoenix' off Central Avenue is now a favorite with ladies, and you can go there without burden. Take a look there, all the ladies will envy you."

Anne looked into his eyes, and saw no contempt, envy, or contempt in them.

There was no fluctuation in Mr. Smith's tone, and Anne could see that it was his most sincere thoughts and most sincere suggestions.

"Mr. Smith! Please, listen to my brilliant plan! I promise the experiment will succeed this time! No, I'm halfway there! When I sell the machine, I'll be able to pay off all the money right away. loan!"

A young man in shabby clothes ran straight towards Mr. Smith regardless of the guards' obstruction.

"Let me go! I'm not here to rob! Mr. Smith! I've brought all the plans..."

"If you run one step further, I'll shoot!" the guard/guard shouted.Despite such threats, the young man did not stop.

Mr. Smith immediately sideways in front of Annie, and pushed her up the steps, leaving her behind the wall.

"Oh! Here comes a living example!"

Mr. Smith's voice was round and impassive.

TBC.

The author has something to say: Annie: I am not interested in money, I am so poor that only money is left.JPG

Annie has achieved financial freedom, and I am in awe.