[Pride and Prejudice] Becoming Katherine Bennett

After Miss Bingley left the study, Mr. Darcy remained in his previous position and sat quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, Darcy saw the door being slowly opened. Behind the door, Georgiana poked her head out cautiously with a shy expression: "Can I come in, brother."

Georgiana is Darcy's own sister, the closest person he has in this world.The two of them don't look much alike. Georgiana is not as good-looking as her brother, and looks more serious than him. She is shy and always looks timid when talking to people.

Because the old Mr. and Mrs. Darcy have passed away, Georgiana lives in London with Mrs. Annesley all the year round. Although Darcy has visited his sister as often as possible, he still has many other things to do. Not many opportunities.

When Darcy got married and Pemberley Park received a mistress, Georgiana could move back and live with them.

Darcy always loved his younger sister, and when he saw her, his expression, which was very cold because of irritability, suddenly became extremely soft.

"Of course, why are you here?" Darcy said softly.

It seems that only when facing Georgiana, his appearance will make people realize that he is far from being as serious and indifferent as he appears on the surface.He has a tender and warm heart.

Georgiana was a little embarrassed. She walked to the chair with small steps, hesitated for a long time, and then whispered: "Brother, has Miss Bennett come to London?"

Georgiana's topic caused Mr. Darcy's expression to change immediately.He didn't expect her to ask this question.

Darcy couldn't help but said: "How do you know?"

"I heard Mrs. Hurst mention it while chatting with Caroline. They didn't notice that I was coming." Georgiana said.

Mr. Darcy was silent for a while before answering: "Yes, she has come to London. According to Miss Bingley, it must have been a week."

Georgiana couldn't help showing a bit of curiosity on her face, and tried hard to control and suppress this look.

Darcy looked at the tangled expression of the innocent sister, and bent the corner of his mouth: "What's the matter, what do you want to say?"

Georgiana nodded obediently.

"You say it."

"I'm afraid you're not happy."

"Georgianna, I will never be unhappy with you."

Georgiana then said: "Brother... Since she is here, why don't you go to her? Don't you want to?"

Mr. Darcy stared blankly at his sister, unable to speak for a long time.

He found that this simple question, which only needs to be answered with yes or no, seems to be the most open thing in the world to him now.

Mr. Darcy lowered his head, not wanting his sister to see his sad look, he squeezed his hand under the table for a long time, and then turned to his sister, the only girl in the world whom he trusted and entrusted most of his tenderness to, He revealed his heart that he never told others: "I think."

Yes.thought Mr. Darcy.I think.

He could lie to others, he could act as if nothing had happened, he could pretend to make people think that he had long forgotten Nedfir's heartbeat.

But he couldn't lie to his heart.

How much does he want it?Darcy wondered.

Strictly speaking, I don't seem to think too much about it, it's just that every day, every moment, every second since I left Nedfell.

Admit it, Fitzwilliam Darcy, you miss the lady.Thinking about it is going crazy.

"Then why didn't you go?" Georgiana didn't understand. "Didn't my brother keep telling me to be a brave person?"

Darcy found that his sister's words seemed more and more difficult to resist.

He couldn't help smiling wryly, hesitated for a moment, and then told his sister the truth: "Georgianna, it's not that I don't want to, it's...she doesn't."

"What?" Georgiana was very surprised. "My brother told Miss Bennet how you feel, but she refused?"

Darcy shook his head, not knowing how to explain it to his sister. In this world, feelings are the most unspoken things. People who are in it will naturally understand and understand.

No one can hide love and cough.

The girl he cared about, she was so smart and wise.Her cold and bright eyes could see through all the truths in the world, how could she not see his affection so simple that it was beyond words?

Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Darcy tried not to let his true emotions leak out: "I didn't say it, but she knew, she..."

He thought for a long time before he said a word: "She didn't give me a chance to say it."

Georgiana looked at her brother with a distressed expression on her face.The two were silent for a moment, and Georgiana suddenly said something surprising: "Then she must be fine."

Darcy thought his sister had made a mistake, so he asked in shock: "What did you just say?"

Georgiana couldn't help being flustered, and her fair complexion was a little blush: "I mean, the description my brother used when he mentioned her to me before, and what Miss Bingley said later, Miss Bennett's background seems to be different. Well, the family background is also very average. If she married her brother, her wealth and status would rise a lot, but she refused. Doesn't this just prove that she is a very good person?"

Hearing such remarks, Darcy was taken aback for a moment, and then, a lot of tenderness poured into his heart, and he was moved by his sister's kind and touching remarks.

Darcy is thankful that although Georgiana has always been far less natural and generous than other ladies because of the care of servants and teachers, she has even more contradictions than herself: she speaks less than him, but her heart is bigger than that of others. He is more warm and kind.

Georgiana was the most lovable girl in the world.

"You're right. She's a very, very good girl, just like you. I don't have that luck." Darcy and his sister said.

Georgiana pinched her fingers and said in a very low voice, "Then can I visit her?"

Mr. Darcy: "..."

Georgiana flinched immediately: "Brother, it's okay if you find it difficult. I don't have to go, I won't go. I just heard Miss Bingley say that she will go to Miss Bennett's house recently, so I..."

Darcy looked at his sister with pity.He knew that if Georgiana were present at the home of Bennet's relatives, the clever lady would be able to guess that it was on his account.

Because he likes her so much, his sister will love Wujiwu.

Darcy certainly did not want Georgiana to go if he could, the proud gentleman would not bow his noble head to the same lady over and over again.

But he looked at Georgiana, the introverted sister who had always been quiet and didn't dare to ask him too much. It had been a long time since he looked at him with such bright eyes, full of expectation.

Darcy quickly backed down.Compared with Georgiana's happiness, his face and self-esteem were insignificant.

"If you want to go," he nodded extremely slowly, "I will do whatever you want."

Inside Earl Gordon's mansion, Tina frowned slightly, thinking about her younger brother's marriage.

"What's the matter?" Tracy seldom saw his wife look like this, and felt very curious.

"It's not because of Willard." Tina felt that her brother-in-law hadn't passed the rebellious stage yet, "I went to find him today."

Tracy laughed immediately: "Then he must be very happy."

Tina glared at him, her tone mixed with joy and worry: "He's going to see that Miss Rose today."

"How do you know?" Tracy raised his eyebrows, he knew Willard would not take the initiative to say.

Tina thinks this is a stupid question: "Your brother dresses like a peacock with its tail open. He has been like this since he was a child. When he is in a good mood, he likes to wear beautiful clothes. Others can't see it, but I can't see it."

"I regret that I didn't go to see Willard with you this morning." Otherwise, he would be happy for a week just seeing his brother's deflated expression.

"I'm telling you business!"

"Okay," Tracy immediately cooperated, "what's wrong with him going to see that lady? Why are you upset?"

Tina thought her mood was conflicted: "I'm not upset, it's just that the lady seems. There's nothing wrong with that. She's a businessman, and Willard says they're business partners."

"Oh?" Tracy was surprised when she heard this, and understood the reason for his wife's hesitation.

Although Burns was their first child, Tracy always knew that his wife was more devoted than Burns to Willard, whom she had raised with all her heart.

Since he was forced to go to the battlefield and entrusted his young brother to his wife, the young girl grew up rapidly during that time, protecting and teaching Willard as much as she could, she was tempered and strong Gentle and gentle, Willard removed many cold thorns under her care.

In fact, Tina is much more enlightened than many aristocrats who hold their own identities. She has sponsored a large number of literati, painters, and philosophers, and she has also worked for imprisoned thought prisoners before.

But when it was Willard's turn, Tina couldn't help committing the same problem as all elders in the world: she felt that her brother was unparalleled in the world, so she naturally hoped that he was a fairy.Being a businessman is a great flaw in her eyes.

Tracy thought for a while, and chose a very convincing angle. Having experienced life and death, he didn't pay much attention to external things like identity: "You and I both know Willard's character. If he likes it, what? The origin is not the key. Over the years, his friends and children of the same age have several children, but he still refuses to get married, because you and I know why. Our opposition is useless. According to his stubbornness and courage, our opinions cannot Shake him for as long as he wants. There's nothing we can do, Tina."

Tina sighed: "You're right. I'm just talking to you. I know I have no choice but to accept me."

After a while of silence, Tina's tone brightened.She was already cheerful, and after she figured out the most difficult thing for her to accept, she felt happy for her younger brother: "Actually, this is also a good thing. With Willard's awkward personality, if he can meet a lady he really likes, in fact It's his luck. I decided to throw a party recently and ask Willard to bring her. I really wonder what the lady is like, but she must be a very nice person anyway. .”

Catherine, who was far away on Grace Church Street, didn't know that in just one day, she had been issued several good person cards one after another.

At this time, she had just finished her dinner, and she was happily chatting with Jane and her aunt about the new book.

"Six thousand volumes!" Catherine said excitedly even after several hours had passed. "You haven't seen it with your own eyes, so you don't know how many there are! They are so beautiful, shining, and beautifully packaged, almost filling up The warehouse! I couldn’t even imagine this number before, it’s amazing.”

Willard's audacity with "Bloody Return" is astonishing.

We must know that the best sales volume of the entire London publishing industry last year was only [-] copies, which is still the number for the whole year, and the result of six additional editions printed by the publishing house.

The final price of "Blood Return" is 20 shillings and 3 pence, and the first printing is 3 copies.This price is not high. Compared with the price of 4 or [-] shillings for an academic paper published as a book before the popularization of printing technology, the price of "Blood Return" is already relatively low.

The amazing thing is the quantity.You must know that although the permanent copyright was abolished in 1744 and the big booksellers lost their monopoly position, the industry in London and even England ushered in an era of explosion, but Willard's handwriting is still very risky, and it is popular among publishers all over Europe. belongs to the top row. ②

As far as Catherine knows, before "Blood Return", probably only the epic masterpiece "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" had such publishing treatment.The latter has 6 volumes, priced at 6 pounds and 6 shillings, and has sold more than 1 sets so far. ③

Catherine was frightened by Willard's adventure. She was very afraid that the other party would lose money, and even more afraid that he would let her lose money together.

However, Willard didn't seem to care too much. He was very confident in "Return of Blood", and even a single copy was not sold. According to him, "The printing cost is only more than 1000 pounds."

Catherine: ...worship the boss, kowtow to the boss.

Willard's optimism and certainty made Catherine fall into a mood of ecstasy.

Although she repeatedly told herself not to think too much, she still couldn't help dreaming of the dream of getting rich overnight: the author of "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" made a profit of 6000 pounds from the sale, and at that time the big booksellers were extremely powerful, In an era when authors basically had no rights, the profits of booksellers were more than ten times that of authors.According to the agreement between Willard and her, if all these books can really be sold, Catherine's profit from the book "Blood Return" will allow her to escape poverty completely. ④

If printed...

Catherine decided to eat more food at supper, so as not to be so drunk without wine.

But she couldn't help sharing her dream of getting rich with her family: "If I can make a thousand or two thousand pounds from it, I'll be content."

Both Jane and Aunt Gardner were delighted with the good news, and expressed that she would be able to do it.

Especially Aunt Gardner.She herself is a loyal reader of "Blood Return", in her words: "It's the first time I read a book until I can't sleep at night, my mind is full of plots, and I can't wait to know the next fate of the characters. Kitty , your book, at least in my eyes, is the most exciting story I have ever read."

Such praise made Catherine very happy.

However, the next topic surprised her a little.

Aunt Gardiner insisted on talking to her about Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Gardner has some business skills and has many friends in London. After he sent Catherine home today, he happened to meet a friend in the publishing industry. When the two were chatting, he took the initiative to mention Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Gardner withdrew the details of Catherine's book, and only talked about Mr. Gordon with the other party.After the two of them talked and praised this gentleman at the same time, they realized that they were not talking about the same person at all.

Mr. Gardner spoke, of course, of the young and handsome Willard, while his friend described a middle-aged gentleman.

As for the young Mr. Gordon, my friend said that he had also heard about it: this young gentleman is the younger brother of Earl Gordon.Earl Gordon was a war hero of the British Empire. He had won the battle against the French and was deeply trusted by the regent. His younger brother had a very large business with a wide scope, even involving real estate in London.

After hearing this, Mr. Gardner was stunned. After confirming with his friends again and again, he immediately went home and told his wife the news.Mrs. Gardner naturally understood what her husband meant and came to ask Catherine specifically.

"How on earth did you and Mr. Gordon meet?"

Catherine didn't know why: "He is my publisher."

Mrs. Gardner didn't know whether she was pretending to be confused or if she really didn't understand, and said, "Kitty, you may not know that only aristocratic families with extremely high status and real power can participate in the real estate business in London. According to your uncle According to Mr. Gordon’s income and vision, he will never take the money from your book seriously.”

As she spoke, she told the two nieces what her husband had heard.

Both Jane and Catherine were surprised.Especially Catherine.

Although she had guessed that Willard's identity would not be as simple as a publisher, she never expected that the other party would be so powerful.

The real estate business, in today's royal country without a government in the modern sense, is not only behind a huge chain of interests and relationships.They represent the royal family, power itself.

Catherine finally knew where Willard had the confidence to say a few shillings when he said more than 1000 pounds.

But probably because she saw too much news about the happiness of the rich that she couldn't think of, Catherine quickly digested the news, and she guessed that Willard was extraordinary before, so she didn't have much emotion.

Catherine actually understood what her aunt meant.She had heard Mrs. Gardiner implying that Mr. Gordon thought too much of her, and guessed there was something else to it.

Catherine thought the idea was funny.

First Mr. Darcy, now Mr. Gordon, her kindred were always fond of associating her affections with such one-in-a-million greats.

Catherine would like to thank her for such attention, but one thing to say, is their family filter too thick?

Do you really think she is sterling and everyone loves it?