aristocratic engagement

"Aren't you in the manor?" Annie suddenly thought of something and asked abruptly.

There was a trace of doubt in Darcy's eyes: "No, I went out early in the morning. I heard from the servant that there is a dense forest and a lake nearby. I had planned to visit it a long time ago. What's wrong?"

Georgiana scratched her head: "Annie, I told you! My brother went out today, so I..." Only then can I run out to play with Annie!

When the carriage left the manor, the vague figure she saw when the carriage left the manor appeared in Anne's mind, and she felt a little strange.Needless to say, the large study was always locked, and the small study was not accessible to any servant, so who was the figure she saw when she left?Is she dazzled?

"...It's nothing, I may have misread it." Annie didn't intend to continue entangled.Darcy didn't take her hesitation to heart either, looking at the stack of books stacked high in her hand, she stretched out her hand as it should.

Annie immediately shook her head: "I can take it myself!"

Darcy didn't show any expression, but tapped his hand lightly on the top of Anne's head. His action reminded Anne of Georgiana who was disobedient when he taught him a lesson.It was rare for Annie to feel rebellious, and she turned her face away, but he took the book in her hand away without saying a word.

"He's not big, but he has a big temper." Darcy commented expressionlessly.

"Mr. Darcy!" Rommel called out in surprise at this time, "It's a great honor! I am Jung Rommel, the owner of this bookstore. You can call me Jung. Come and sit down, you must be freezing. "

"Mr. Rommel." Darcy nodded slightly,

Rommel showed a flattering expression, warmly greeted him, and made a gesture to support Darcy's arm and sit down by the fireplace.His humble attitude and overly enthusiastic actions made Anne roll her eyes in her heart, and also made Darcy's eyebrows wrinkle up, and the arc of the corner of his mouth turned downward.

Annie tilted her head and looked at his expression, thinking, as long as he wants, he can act very arrogant, very... frightening and disgusting.

"Do you want to continue shopping, or go back to the manor with me?" Darcy glanced at Georgiana, seeing her bright eyes, and knew that she had been suffocated some time ago. "I haven't started shopping yet!" Georgiana jumped off the chair, and Du Li hurriedly followed her and closed the cloak for her.

Seeing that Darcy was still looking at her, as if waiting for her answer, Anne said, "I have no objection."

Fenrir let out a howl, and swept Rommel's calf with his tail.Darcy noticed this and narrowed his eyes.

So, the four of them left the gloomy and gloomy bookstore under the "reluctant" eyes of Rommel's store manager.Anne walked at the end, and when she said goodbye to Rommel, she heard his fast and almost inaudible voice: "I see you and Mr. Darcy get along well, you have decided to be a beautiful canary, break your wings Living in that resplendent and resplendent cage? Shall I say congratulations?"

"Since you say it's a prison, why do you think I've compromised? If that's the case, I won't come to you to get these books today." Instead, I tried every means to find the most gorgeous and exquisite silk and similar to myself. Tied up, Annie squinted at him, "I just found out that he's not as nasty as I thought. Besides, I'm only 11 years old, don't you think it's too early for you to worry?"

"Rosings is going to have a social dance for him soon, and I think he'll be the best contender for ladies of his age. Maybe next spring I'll get a pink invitation from Pemberley." Anne After speaking quickly, he stretched out his hand, "Goodbye, Mr. Rommel."

Rommel immediately withdrew his disgusting flattering demeanor, and he resumed his usual composure, and shook hands with her: "Goodbye, Mr. Richter."

Anne turned her head and walked towards the brother and sister who had gone away. They were standing at the door of a store talking.

Georgiana took Du Li and stopped in a clothing store, looking at the exquisitely embroidered and colorful silk scarves in front of the counter.After appreciating Anne's "shocking, weeping ghosts and gods" aesthetics, Georgiana finally understands that Anne's tasteful outfits are all made by her caring maid Du Li; Aesthetic taste, but not the slightest interest in silk scarves, hats and the like, looking at his poker face, Georgiana wisely dispelled the idea of ​​encouraging him to match herself with Anne.

Suo Xing Du Li was also very interested in all kinds of bows and lace. The two shared the same interests and quickly put aside the distinction between master and servant.

Annie, who was disgusted, sat on the double armchair brought by the owner and the clerk with a face full of injuries, with a somber expression on her face, and Fenrir fell down at her feet and dozed off.Darcy touched Fenrir's head with his hand, and said jokingly: "I remember that my aunt has a lot of experience in matching clothes, and, I heard that this is a compulsory course for ladies?"

"Dear cousin, I believe with your keen insight, you have already discovered that I am not a qualified lady." Annie raised her eyebrows as she watched him caress Fenrir.She purposely said this unclearly, Anne wanted to test Darcy's thinking, and then decide whether to deepen the conversation.

In the bookstore just now, when she saw Darcy for the first time, her heart skipped a beat.Perhaps at that time, Darcy's stupefied also coincided with her own thoughts - she never dared to underestimate the keen insight and associative power of the male owner of Pemberley Manor.When Darcy wanted to get the books for her, she still subconsciously didn't want to give them to him, because those books firmly exposed her true nature.

She couldn't find any excuses, because no one from the top to the bottom of Rosings Manor would be interested in the world across the English Channel, and when she got along with the brother and sister some time ago, she had already revealed her interest in France. Just a few words of evaluation.

When leaving, Fenrir's intimacy with Rommel almost revealed the truth before his eyes - the person who sold Fenrir to the Darcy brothers and sisters was the unattractive bookstore owner in front of him.What's more terrible is that Rommel's English has a strong Germanic accent.

Darcy put the books on the table, sat beside her, flipped through the covers and covers casually, raised his eyebrows and said: "You are right, ladies are not interested in Kant and Humboldt." He quickly He recognized that the book in his hand was the one that had caused a great uproar across the English Channel.

""Metaphysical Principles of Law", "On the Function of the State", oh...and a "Journal of Philosophy"? This issue is not easy to buy." Darcy flipped through them with interest.

Annie saw his expression getting more and more serious, but his eyes were shining, and she thought to herself, 'As expected, I bet right! ' The young Mr. Darcy, unlike his father, had no interest in becoming a rent-collecting landowner, though he was.

This discovery made Annie slightly relieved.

"I didn't expect you to know Germanic." Darcy's eyes moved away from the book and landed on her face. The basic book in his hand was not a translated version.

"The ancestors of the de Bauer family came from France, and of course I can speak German."

"What kind of causal relationship is this?" Darcy laughed.

Annie blinked, but did not answer.Darcy said suddenly: "No wonder you remind me that France is not safe."

"Great Revolution." The two said in unison, then looked at each other and smiled.

"However, unfortunately, I must go there." Darcy closed the book, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Can I borrow your books? Even I can hardly get them. "

"Of course. But in exchange, may I ask you why you must go to France?"

"No."

After hearing what he said, Annie scratched her head annoyed, she was too abrupt.

"Just as you certainly don't want to tell me how you knew Rommel and how you got interested in these books." Darcy's hand was a little itchy. After moving, he finally couldn't help stretching out his hand and touched it. Her smooth golden brown hair, "Maybe one day, you will be willing to tell me. At that time, I will tell you too."

"...Don't you think I'm out of line?" Annie asked awkwardly, and what she cared about was understandable from their point of view?Lady Catherine was like that, and so was Darcy.

"I used to have a lot of 'inappropriate' ideas. My father once got angry and banned me from thinking about those things. Originally, I planned to seal up those whimsical ideas forever after traveling around Prussia this time. You see, Pemberley Manor is only A master is needed who will maintain the estate in decency and be respected by all the tenants."

But, as a matter of fact, the element of adventure was not entirely lost in young Mr. Darcy.

"No matter what kind of person you are, you have to let others know that you are a qualified lady first."

"Is this from your experience?"

Darcy put down the book in his hand and didn't speak again.

No matter how many times Anne was thinking about it, the biggest challenge before her now was to practice a piano piece well and earn face for Mrs. Catherine at the party!

Time passed quickly, and the day of the ball was getting closer and closer, and everyone in Rosings Manor fell into a state of anxiety.Mrs. Catherine supervised Anne playing the piano every day. Her good self-cultivation allowed her to close her eyes tightly when she heard the emotionless music. The eyeballs rolled quickly and tremblingly under her eyelids, and her brows were knit together.

It's not that Annie's attitude is not correct, on the contrary, when she plays the piano, her expression is as serious as a red-clothed officer in the army walking goose!

But here lies the problem!

"Annie, what you are talking about is not the battle song of the army, it doesn't need to be so sonorous and powerful!" Lady Catherine couldn't bear it anymore, "God, I really shouldn't give Lady Black a holiday, and only she knows how to teach you! If she is here, you At least not..." She was so angry that she couldn't speak.

"Mrs. Black has a family too. Don't you want her to happily praise her master's kindness and serve you more faithfully next year?"

Annie gave her a lifeless look, and let out a weak breath.She really doesn't understand, feelings?How can I have feelings when I play the piano?Hell, isn't that how pianos make sounds when keys are pressed?

Her fingers skillfully played a section of notes on the keyboard, without a trace of stuttering, portamento, or playing a wrong note.

Madam Catherine was hesitant to speak, and Anne suddenly laughed: "Mom, relax a bit, anger is not good for your health, I will ask Du Li to make you a cup of rose tea? How about some more cookies?" , she heard a rhythmic knock on the door behind her, and just as Anne turned her head, Darcy's figure appeared behind the door.

"Auntie, Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng has something to ask you. I heard from her that something happened in the kitchen..."

At this moment, no one will ask questions, why did the housekeeper let the distinguished guest pass the message.

Lady Catherine's complexion darkened, she stood up, and hurriedly walked towards the door, as if a monster was chasing her behind.Annie rolled her eyes nonchalantly, trying not to laugh.

"Darcy!" Lady Catherine stopped suddenly, "Can my aunt ask you something?"

"Just open your mouth."

"Supervise her playing the piano!" Mrs. Catherine pointed to Anne who was sitting in front of the piano and had just breathed a sigh of relief, only to see that this person suddenly became bitter and hateful.

Darcy graciously agreed.After listening to his patient promise, Mrs. Catherine finally walked towards the kitchen with confidence—the two behind her were not noticed, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, revealing a sly and smug smile.

After Darcy watched Lady Catherine leave, he walked into the piano room and closed the door behind him.He walked forward, opened his clothes and sat down beside Anne, raised his eyebrows: "Come and play a piece of music for me, so that I can know what the problem is." While talking, Darcy He reached out and turned the score forward two pages for her, returning to the beginning.

Annie felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by his focused eyes.Anyone will be extremely nervous before knowing that they are going to make a fool of themselves.

'calm!annie! ' she murmured in her heart.Annie took a deep breath, put her hands on the keys, and pressed slightly downwards.

With a slip of the hand, the first note is played wrong.

TBC.