aristocratic engagement

Under the signal of Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng, the maids quickly returned to their respective jobs. The twists and turns just now made them finally put their work in their hearts.Facts have proved that there is only a difference between intentionality and carelessness, and the maids who can be selected into Rosings Manor are not really capable of doing anything.

Anne went to Georgiana's room, with which Georgiana had slept since the siblings' arrival.This time, Darcy took her directly to the guest room, and Anne wondered in her heart if this was to show his attitude and show her face.

Anne leaned against the door frame and watched Darcy's profile in the shadows.

"Georgianna doesn't sleep well, and I think you already know this very well. She still has bruises on her legs, so I can't let her torment anymore. Let her sleep alone these few days." Georgiana only Showing a pair of eyes, Darcy said to Anne who had just entered the door.

Annie opened her mouth to explain what happened just now, but was interrupted by him again: "I don't blame you, Annie." He turned his head and looked at her, "After all, Rosings Manor is also doing things for me toss."

"I'm fine, Anne. My clothes are very thick, and I didn't feel any special pain when I fell just now." Georgiana's thin voice came from under the blanket.

"Oh, poor Georgiana..." Anne walked towards her, sat on the edge of the bed, and held her hand, "I'm really sorry, I'm also responsible for not disciplining the servants well, don't worry, that maid is not will appear in front of you again."

"Wouldn't it be too cruel to her like this? She just..." Georgiana couldn't bear it. After all, she was still a child, and she couldn't help softening her heart when she heard Baoli's screaming cry on the bed just now.

Annie was about to say that she was too kind, but then she thought, maybe such kindness and innocence are what Darcy wants to protect.She turned her head and saw Darcy standing aside, with her hands crossed on her chest, not saying a word.Annie couldn't tell what his attitude was, so she said to Georgiana after thinking for a while, "So what do you think I should do with this?"

Georgiana froze at her rhetorical question.

"If I were you, my methods would definitely not be so gentle." Darcy said suddenly while sitting at the desk in the small study.

"You call this gentle?" Annie raised her eyebrows. "I'm afraid that in the mouths of those maids, I'm already a harsh, hard-to-fool, mean-spirited master."

"In Pemberley, such a careless and disobedient maid would receive the harshest punishment from Mrs. Reynolds. The wounds that fell on the master would return to her thousands of times." Darcy raised his eyes. , looking at Annie, who was sorting out the literacy enlightenment textbooks.

"This is Rosings, Darcy. But I don't believe there will be such a maid in Pemberley." Anne tactfully praised Mrs. Reynolds of Pemberley.

Darcy made no reply, and indeed he thought so.

"I've always heard servants say that the master of Pemberley Manor is kind and generous, and he has never said anything harsh to his servants. Today you overturned my opinion." Anne said casually while flipping through the book.

Darcy blew on the ink on the letter-paper and told her: "If you have an experienced housekeeper who rewards and punishes you, whatever you do will be justified - the work of judging never waits for me to get angry. just do it."

"It seems that you are reminding me that Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng's job may not be..."

"No, I have no intention of judging the housekeeper's wife of Rosings." Darcy folded the letter paper in his hand, he stood up, and walked towards the sofa, when Annie thought he was feeling cold and wanted to get closer to the fireplace Some time later, Darcy handed her the letter paper in his hand.

"what is this?"

"A list of families that have made friends with Pemberley Manor."

"You just gave it to me?" Anne was surprised, she didn't reach out to take it, Darcy held the letter paper in her hand, and didn't let it go, Darcy nodded: "I guess you will go to find your aunt, just in time , please help me pass this list to her."

"You are really good at predicting things." Annie took the letter paper without further coddling.After thinking about it, she returned to the desk, pulled out an envelope, and stuffed the letter into it.

"You don't have to, it's no secret."

"I'm not being polite to you, Darcy. This is an important prop for me to talk to my mother." Annie waved the envelope in her hand.

Darcy raised one eyebrow, and a smile appeared in his eyes: "I underestimated you. It seems that your plan is more grand than I imagined. I really don't know where you are an elf. You are not old, but you have a heart." It's not small. I hope Georgiana is simpler, if there is another Anne, I don't know what to do."

"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Darcy."

"You're welcome."

The two smiled at each other.

After listening to Anne's narration, Madam Catherine looked at the candle and fell into silence.

Annie frowned, not sure what she was thinking.Don't look at Anne's seemingly confident Du Li to invite Mrs. Catherine to the big study, but in fact she has no idea.The changes between her and the former Anne are subtle, and it is really risky to suddenly show some of the most naked changes in front of Mrs. Catherine.

"You mean, you bought a piece of land with a part of the inheritance left to you by Mr. de Bauer, and specially planted Bulgarian roses?" Lady Catherine found her voice after a long time.

"That's not all, the plantation is also engaged in some raw material processing. The strong, seductive aroma of Bulgarian roses is irresistible, and it is the best choice for extracting rose essential oils and hydrosols. As you must remember, last October I have had people bring back many gift boxes of rose products." Annie didn't brag about her property, her voice was flat and clear, and she was inexplicably convincing.

"Yes, I remember . . . what do you mean?" Lady Catherine was about to lose her old friend—the voice again.

"That's right, the gift box that combines rose water, perfume, balm, and even rose jam and rose pastry comes from my rose planting and processing garden."

Madam Catherine's eyes became darker when she looked at Anne, and Anne's heart skipped a beat, but when she looked again, Madam Catherine's eyes were not questioning or unfamiliar, but hidden with vague nostalgia.

To be honest, the beautifully packaged gift box was very suitable for Lady Catherine's taste, but at the time she only thought that it was a novelty that Anne had found somewhere.Anne had always given her a headache in refined interests, and she was always in the dark.But this gift box has a great sense of design, each vial and box is exquisitely carved, and Mrs. Catherine knew at the first sight that this is definitely a good choice for gifts for ladies and ladies on social occasions.She was still thinking about where to buy it...

Unexpectedly, Annie gave her such a big "surprise".

"You are very similar to your father." Lady Catherine looked at the small portrait standing on the desk, where the face of the young Sir Louis was forever engraved there.

This was not the first time Anne had heard this; she had been so appraised by Georgiana just a few days before in the de Bauer family's portrait room.

"Louis has always had so many wonderful ideas, and he has a way to benefit from everything he sees. Father once said that he was a natural businessman... Ha, that's not a good comment."

Annie frowned. The low status of businessmen seemed to be a consensus in this era, whether in the West or the East.

"Before Louis married me, he sold most of his property and bought half of the land of the Rosings Manor. I have to say, this is a smart choice. The old earl will not let his eldest daughter marry Give it to a businessman, even if he has a title." Madam Catherine didn't know why, but she had the urge to talk like this, and the other party was only her 11-year-old daughter.

After hearing her words, Annie was slightly relieved.In fact, she also used the first year's profits from the Rose Garden to purchase a textile factory in the suburbs of London, which was not too big or small (with her current property and status, she could not afford such a large factory).She did not choose the most economical and practical traditional weaving method, but spent a lot of money to hire a group of people who are very good at inventing and creating, including men and women, who are responsible for thinking about new weaving methods and printing and dyeing. There are also stores in London for fabrics and ready-made clothes Sale.According to the account book she received a few days ago, the income is quite considerable, and the main customers are those who live in London, serve the nobles but have skills, and the so-called "middle class" in later generations.

And according to Madam Catherine's words just now, that's really not "decent" enough, so let's not stimulate her fragile nerves for the time being.

However, decent sometimes is not a good thing.

It's like raising those mediocre servants in order to maintain a decent life in Rosings Manor.

Anne opened the heavy drawer, took out the letter from inside, put her fingers against the envelope, and pushed it in front of Madam Catherine.Lady Catherine glanced at her, and opened the letter, which she recognized at first sight as the handwriting of her dear nephew.

"I heard that you drove Baoli to the stable, and her parents moved back to Hunsford Village overnight." Madam Catherine said suddenly.

"The first half of the sentence is true, but the second half...I think it's Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng's decision."

"That's not something a benevolent master should do for an old man who has been serving here for more than ten years."

"The premise is that they do their duty."

"That's right!" Madam Catherine suddenly smiled, "I understand what you mean, there are too many dirty places in this manor, I just pretended not to see it before, because I can bear it. Anne, you His temperament is the same as your father's, and he can't tolerate these things. Only the manor and the servants serve the master, and the master is not asked to adapt to them."

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I won't agree with your point of view?" Madam Catherine slowly folded the letter and stuffed it back.

"I thought..." Anne felt that it was necessary for her to get to know Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh again.

Madam Catherine pushed the letter back: "You can be satisfied, I have approved your application." She was still interested in making a little joke.

"Application?"

"Isn't that why you came here? You have said so much, just to let me trust your ability and attitude." Madam Catherine wanted to end this conversation, she stood up, and the gorgeous silk dress followed her The swaying of the candle was shining brightly under the candlelight, and Anne suddenly felt that her expression, which was often mean during the day, became gentle under the candlelight.

"You are the future owner of Rosings Manor. Otherwise, how can you sit in this room?"

Madam Catherine looked around. This large study room, which she rarely set foot in and once belonged to her husband, had gradually broken away from the shadow in her memory, and took on the style that belonged to Anne.

"However, even if you have countless wonderful plans, don't forget that you are a lady." Madam Catherine said as she walked towards the door of the study.

"Practice a piano piece from tomorrow, you must shine at the party."

After hearing these words, Annie's countless lofty ambitions instantly burst like balloons.She sighed wearily and fell back on the tall chair.

“钢琴啊……”

TBC.