The Happy Life of a Duchess

Mr. Duke was also a flirtatious "sexy man" when he was young.

Like many other men, he used to be proud of being pursued and admired by many courtesans, and his ample wealth was enough for him to have sufficient capital to do this.

Until he was in his 50s, he still didn't feel that he was old, and he still enjoyed the beautiful days of being taken care of by a few lovers——

When his health gradually deteriorated, and he himself realized this, and sent away the few remaining children one after another, he slowly changed his temper and began to step into his healthy old age life.

Just because he was such an experienced person in the past, he is very aware of the "virtue" of these young men now.

If possible, he certainly hoped to choose the best husband for his daughter, who was also the only child left.

He doesn't need to exchange his last daughter for any benefits, and he doesn't want to do such a thing.

All he considered was who could look good to his daughter, who could still give her full care and respect after his death, so that she could spend the rest of her life richly.

Based on the experience of Adele's sister, the last Mrs. Sethman who was independent, bold and successfully married, Mr. Duke silently set an extremely implicit standard when choosing a husband for Adele.

At least better than that kid from Frankfurt.

He believed that the death of his poor daughter was more than half the fault of Mr. Sessman, and this was the greatest cause of his quarrel with the other party.

Although his relationship with his sons and daughters was indeed weakened, perhaps it was God's punishment, but at any rate, his daughter was healthy when she married Sethman.

His well-behaved daughter came to Sethman's house, but not long after giving birth to his precious daughter, his granddaughter Clara, she died of illness——

Isn't that Sethman's failure to take good care of his wife, or is it someone else's fault?

At home, although there were many illnesses and disasters, at least that daughter was in better health than Adele, otherwise she would not have been able to be sent to a noble girls' school to study, and she never had that kind of lingering sickness, and His wife, his youngest daughter, Adele, are not the same.

But just a few years after she got married, she died of illness. Isn't it because of her husband's incompetence and family's inability to provide enough care and medical care?

So, Mr. Duke held his breath in his heart and kept thinking about——

My youngest daughter must not marry too far away, not in England, not in Spain, not even in Austria-Hungary.

It would be best to be in France, and Paris would be even better, the closer the better, he would still be able to visit her often in the future, and then he would be able to hug his little grandson and granddaughter.

And this son-in-law, first of all, has a high status, at least a bit higher than the baron status inherited by the Sessmann family.

Then the career must have some future, the title must be high and the career must not be bad, and it is best to be promoted in the future. Of course, the family must be rich, otherwise what will happen if his precious daughter is wronged in the past?

Then there is him himself, he must have a good character, and he cannot be a ruthless or utilitarian guy, otherwise his precious daughter will definitely be bullied when he marries.

It would be great if he was someone with a simpler temperament, and he would not be able to deceive his daughter.It would be even better if he could be more specific, at least it was a good thing for his daughter.

The relationship between the two husband and wife is harmonious, and the husband will save a lot of things if he doesn't mess around outside, but he also knows very well in his heart that this is probably the most difficult thing.

Most importantly, this person should be liked by his precious daughter.

Now she is the most popular girl, she is the only one who picks others, no one picks and chooses hers, so naturally she has to find the one she likes the most.

In this way, considering all the above-mentioned conditions, Mr. Duke felt that it was impossible to pick anyone.

It is not easy to meet the first few conditions. If you add the latter, then he will be too picky, and he will not be able to choose a reliable candidate.

Mr. Duke thought about it, but he didn't see that his daughter told him that he had a special affection for any gentleman, and he also felt that she was not too old, and maybe she could see each other for another half a year or a year, so she was not in a hurry .

Originally estimated that it would be difficult to get in and out of the social circle and understand all aspects, but I did not expect his daughter to perform so well. She has successfully entered the social circle in the first social season and occupied the core position. Location.

"How did that happen?"

Mr. Duke was very puzzled.

He thought he could wait a little longer, but it's completely different from the reality that his daughter has already taken a fancy to a man? !

Mr. Duval was politely "invited" out of the study, but he didn't leave immediately.

The housekeeper greeted him and treated him as an ordinary guest with due consideration of etiquette.

Mr. Duval has been to Bailu Manor several times, and he is familiar with it, but since he was interrupted by the angry Mr. Duke, he can only come out.

He smiled helplessly. The butler seemed to have realized something from Mr. Duke's violent temper. Although the smile was subtle, his attitude towards Mr. Duval, a guest, was the same as before, treating guests as he wanted.

"Dad, do you have anything to ask?"

Adele sat on the sofa, feeling a bit cramped.

"How long has it been?" Mr. Duke walked up and down in front of her with his hands behind his back, looking extremely irritable.

He silently counted Mr. Duval's shortcomings and inappropriate places in his heart, but he had to admit that, as he himself said, in terms of utilitarianism, his conditions to marry his daughter were indeed barely enough. ——

The main reason is that the Duke's family has no real power, and there is no title and money, but the family property cannot be given to Adele, and the title cannot fall on her. In fact, she has a good blood, and Mr. Duval happens to be in the circle. At present, it seems that among the people with real power, the one who is most suitable for marriage.

Mr. Duval's sincerity has given a lot, especially a few very weighty promises.

He didn't know if his very assertive daughter had talked to the other party, but one of them, that no other woman would be faithful to marriage, was already very important, and Mr. Duke had to admit that he had heard I was not surprised at the time.

He was surprised that a man dared to make such a promise.

Mr. Duvall is not some [-]-year-old boy - the boys at that age are the ones who indulge in love as if there is nothing else, but it is their immaturity that makes them fall in love after the shelf life of love is over. , Immediately indulged in "new feelings and love".

Mr. Duke has seen too much about the situation of a wife who is married back in this way.

But what he didn't expect was that Mr. Duval not only dared to make a promise to treat her wholeheartedly and be faithful to the marriage in the future, but also dared to sign a similar contract with him, guaranteeing that once he actually committed an act of betrayal, Mr. He pursued, if the Duke himself is no longer here, it is perfectly fine for Adele to ask her cousins ​​to help.

In this way, he will inevitably have to pay a lot of price, not only money, but also reputation and other important reputations. This can indeed ensure that at least Adele will marry in the future and will not be easily betrayed. Will not be reduced to nothing.

Mr. Duke thought about his usual style, and felt that it was not incomprehensible.

Mr. Duval is not a sentimental person, and he is very clean in his private life, which is rare among men, otherwise no one would speculate that he is an ascetic.

Of course, there are others like this. For example, Lieutenant Costa, this young man is also young. Maybe he and his wife are on their honeymoon period and have a good relationship, or he is in the army and there is no way to mess around. No rumors about him seeking a woman have been heard.

And the most important point is that Mr. Duke found that his daughter Adele and the other party obviously had a friendship with each other, and the two obviously had some feelings for a long time, which is why today's marriage proposal came about.

"The first sight." Adele said very calmly, "I was at the ball of my cousin Marianne Henley, it was the first time I attended a ball after I returned to Paris, and it was also the first time I saw Mr. Duval—it seemed to be the same For the first time since his transfer to Paris, he attended a private ball."

"The first time I saw him, I thought he was a very handsome and attractive man."

"You are..." Mr. Duke pointed at her, and after a long time, he uttered a few words, "Greed for his body!"

Adele was not ashamed at all, she had a relaxed smile on her face, as if thinking of the scene at that time, she just found it very interesting.

"What's the matter? I just like his handsome face. What's the matter? There is no more attractive man than him."

"Too hasty!" Mr. Duke frowned tightly, "...too hasty."

"No." Adele shook her head.

"Just like men look at women, who doesn't look at the face first?"

"I am indeed moved by his excellent temperament and outstanding appearance, and my taste orientation is indeed biased towards more mature and stable men, not the white-skinned, thin-looking little ones that most ladies like. young."

"That's why I got to know him and tested him." Adele said frankly, "During the process of getting along, I found that he is not only a good-looking man, but also has a reputation of integrity and friendliness praised by everyone in the circle. Afterwards, I also think that this reputation is completely in line with him, and it is not something falsely boasted."

"We've talked about the future. If you're obsessed with his children, then I don't think it's necessary." Adele sighed, and poured herself a cup of tea from an empty cup.

"I get along very well with Morgana. She is still young, and I don't mind being her half-teacher. As for Mr. Armand, he is also a gentle and easy-going gentleman, and he will move out in the future. He His job is legal, which does not coincide with Mr. Duval's status as tax bureau chief. He was also nominated by Mr. Duval because he has no talent in this area, and he probably won't develop in his direction, so... there are nine out of ten. The resources will fall on the children behind." That is, her children.

Mr. Duke's eyes moved slightly, and his expression seemed to be a little relieved, but after noticing her looking over, he quickly raised his face to express his anger.

"You also know that in the upper class, if you want to marry a wealthy and successful gentleman, most of the time the other party will not be too young, and most people who are too young or around the same age do not have much wealth or high status. title, unless his parents are gone."

"But without parents...for example, Mr. Barry who seems to be able to inherit the family...you know very well what kind of situation he is in. Doing business depends on talent, and politics depends on talent and connections, but both It didn't fall into their hands easily, and...doing business is a bit humble, otherwise, why would they rush to marry the daughters of veteran nobles or families with titles to improve the reputation and blood of their descendants?"

"But to take a step back, what impressed me the most was his ability to give me a guarantee of loyalty to the marriage. No matter whether it will deteriorate in the future, no one can say that kind of thing, but at least now he dares to provide me in the form of a contract. A promise to be bound and protected by law." Adele smiled.

"Ask those young people who have already fallen in love, how many of those men have such a responsibility, dare to make such a promise, dare to promise that once you meet a courtesan, you will not be allowed to use any part of your family and wife's dowry Money?" Adele looked at her father, the duke, "I am very reluctant to deal with those illegitimate children or lovers, especially when I have expectations and love for my future husband."

From Adele's attitude, Mr. Duke seemed to realize something.

She didn't mention her mother, she didn't mention Alexander or her other half-siblings, but Mr. Duke somehow read that.

Who else can be more convincing than Mr. Duval, who insisted on abstinence for many years and still has not touched those messy relationships between men and women after his wife died?

Morgana and Armand don't have those messy brothers and sisters who don't know their blood, which makes Leopoldina Hugo so envious...

Mr. Duke finally realized that most of the "masculine charm" he was probably proud of also hurt his children. This is what he only realized after most of his life.

The first few daughters were not that close, and he was still young at the time, and the children were left to his wife to take care of them. They were not as bold as Adele, and even had a somewhat "out of common sense" idea, although he also I know, it's not impossible to do this, it's just that most men are unwilling to do it.

And the sons, of course, would not blame their own fathers in this way.

After that, they all left, even their wives left, leaving him alone, and his poor youngest daughter Adele who was almost gone...

Now, his youngest daughter is also getting married.

A feeling of sadness suddenly rose in Mr. Duke's heart.

"I don't agree with it anyway!"

Mr. Duke stiffened his neck, but still refused to agree.

Adele was a little anxious. Just about to say something, she blinked her eyes and suddenly stopped her voice.

She considered her father's complexion, and guessed his mood and mental activities, and finally nodded yes, with a smile on her face.

"Okay, Dad," she said.

"This is indeed a very important thing, and you should think about it more."