aristocratic engagement

Annie sat back in her seat, and Georgiana hugged her arm intimately.Seeing that Lady Catherine gave her a satisfactory color, Anne was relieved, her efforts were finally not in vain.Mrs. Catherine invited the noble ladies to sit down on the sofa in front of the fireplace, leaving the seats by the window for the young ladies.

Miss Campbell continued to play the piano, and several gentlemen complimented her virtuosity politely.The face of the princess was a little cold. She stopped singing and sat down with several ladies to discuss the current fashion and jewelry in London. It was a lively scene.It seemed that Miss Campbell's music was the accompaniment.

The gentlemen gradually gathered on the other side of the living room, some chose to sit down and play cards, others talked about the issue of land management, and Darcy became the object of pursuit of this group of people.At such a young age, he manages the property left by his parents in an orderly manner. What a praiseworthy thing - you must know that many people have difficulty making ends meet even when their children are old enough to talk about marriage. .

"Miss Russell, your tailoring skills are really exquisite, and this fabric - I have never seen such dark patterns. Although there is no embroidery, there are such exquisite patterns under the silhouette." Ellie Miss Sarah Carter wanted to take a closer look enviously, and the princess pulled the shawl from her hand.

Miss Carter's younger sister, Alice Carter, rolled her eyes, as if she didn't like her sister's flattery and pursuit of the Duchess.

Anne's eyes once again stayed on the princess's skirt, and sure enough, the same as the first day, the luster of the dark lines was very familiar.Annie smiled slightly. It seemed that the secretly opened textile factory had already managed to get the business in front of the noble lady.

"This must be the most fashionable jacquard silk in London!" Mrs. Sterling's eyes lit up. Seeing that her words had attracted the attention of the ladies, Mrs. Sterling brushed her curly hair from her temples and showed a shy smile. "My father asked someone to bring me a piece of this material last year—it wasn't silk, it was too expensive, and of course the luster wasn't that good—I made the maid keep it and was reluctant to use it!"

Her words aroused the curiosity of the young ladies, and they all asked where they could get such materials.

"Of course you should ask Mrs. Sterling. I heard that her father was the supervisor of a textile factory. Mrs. Sterling, am I right?" the princess asked seemingly casually.

Mrs. Sterling turned pale, and retorted in a low voice: "Father is not the director of the textile factory, he just invested..."

The faces of the ladies changed slightly in an instant.Seeing their reactions, Annie couldn't help sighing from the bottom of her heart.

Even if Anne hated Mrs. Sterling, who could not recognize the form and was unfaithful to the family, she had to feel a little sympathy and helplessness for it.Not to mention in aristocratic families like the Duchess—even if it's just an ordinary manor family, relatives who are businessmen are looked down upon by them.

This is why Anne has been keeping her small textile mill business a secret from Lady Catherine.She chose to boldly tell Lady Catherine about the operation of the rose garden, but it was just a "side ball", at least it was a matter of the land.

but……

"Mrs. Sterling, isn't the textile factory your father 'invested in' the First Phoenix Textile Factory?" Annie asked suddenly, looking directly at her.

Mrs. Sterling shook her head suspiciously: "No, Miss de Bourgh, do you want the servants to go shopping too?"

Annie shook her head, she didn't show it on her face, but she knew in her heart that there might be a ghost in her textile factory.Anne had long expected that this day would come. Anyone who saw the subtlety of this weave would understand the potential huge commercial value behind it.

"Mrs. Phoenix told me that this is the latest style they will sell next year. I didn't expect that your father's textile factory can already make the same product? That's amazing, Mrs. Sterling." The princess took a sip Tea, with a light tone, could not tell whether it was ridicule or praise, "It seems that next year your father will be able to save enough money to buy a piece of land, and you don't have to worry about your brother's marriage."

Mrs. Sterling's natal family married a daughter of a jazz family because they were eager to squeeze into the world of decent people, and made a lot of jokes.

Mrs. Sterling turned pale, and nodded submissively, with tears welling up in her eyes.

At this time, Madam Catherine's angry and surprised voice passed through the crowd and reached Anne's ears clearly: "Sir Sterling, are you kidding me?"

Her voice attracted everyone's attention, and Anne squinted to see Mrs. Sterling lowered her head, her back stiffened.

"Haha, Mrs. de Bourgh, how could I make such a joke with you? But this matter is really hard to tell, but my sweetheart is right, since it is my fault, I must tell you I apologize to you in front of me, and take this responsibility. Baoli in the house is a good girl, she is not at fault, I blamed her last night, and regarded her as..."

"Richard!" Mrs. Sterling let out a low voice, interrupted her husband, blushed, and rushed to meet her.Anne followed her line of sight, and saw Sir Sterling's eyes were swollen and bloodshot. It looked like he had drunk too much, but his words clearly reached everyone's ears.

Mrs. Sterling came to her elderly husband, trembling and looking pitiful.

Everyone looked at each other, and Qiqi put on the look of watching a play.

Anne showed a puzzled expression: "What are you talking about? Sir Sterling? I don't understand... Did Baoli do something wrong? If so, you don't have to cover it up for her!"

"No, no, this is my responsibility. I forced her—" Seeing Anne's innocent and puzzled face, Sir Sterling shook his hand awkwardly.Darcy and Fitzwilliam looked at each other and seemed to understand something.

"Was Mrs. Sterling not in the room yesterday?" Darcy asked abruptly.

'Good question! 'Everyone watching the play cheered from the bottom of their hearts.

"Ah? This matter has something to do with Mrs. Sterling again?" Anne didn't wait for her to find a reason, and immediately picked up Darcy's words, "I'm even more confused, Sir Sterling, forced? What did you tell Polly to do?" Is she unwilling? Don't worry, my mother and I will try our best to satisfy your request. Ah! Mrs. Sterling, don't cry, no one bullies you here..." She hurriedly stood behind Mrs. Catherine , I don't know which words I said made Mrs. Sterling cry, and everyone also talked in a low voice, and a fire broke out.

Mrs. Sterling was really suffering, and she couldn't hide her bewilderment and panic on her face.

She could never say where she was last night.

"How can you force her like this! She is already very sad! Kelly was very sad yesterday, and I have been comforting her last night! Sir Sterling, if you still love her, why do you always do such things to let her She's sad!" Little Mr. Wood stood up with angry eyes, and shouted loudly.

The living room fell silent for an instant, and Mrs. Sterling stared at the young man who blocked her behind, dumbfounded.

The party turned into a farce, and the Sterlings left Rosings Manor overnight. When they parted in the middle of the night, Baoli also carried the salute on her back and left with them.

The gentlemen and ladies never mentioned what happened that night. In their opinion, this absurd old couple and young wife are really disgraceful to the upper class-even if they play in private, they can't put these things on the table. On formal social occasions.

How rude!It is simply disrespect to the owner!

And that poor and hateful maid is not worthy of being the focus of their discussions.

Mr. Wood's words were astonishing. Under the stares of everyone and Mrs. Sterling's indifference, he came to his senses and fell into a complete depression—he finally understood that he was just a young and beautiful Mrs. Sterling. adjustment.

After a few more calm days, the guests bid farewell and went home to prepare for Christmas.When parting, the princess offered to invite Darcy to talk alone, but he refused abruptly.

And Anne noticed that her eldest cousin, Laurence Fitzwilliam, and Miss Campbell had exchanged correspondence.

"Miss Campbell is a sober and interesting person." In Darcy's slightly meaningful eyes, Cousin Lawrence clasped his hands on his chest and commented calmly.

Darcy stood beside him, and after listening to what he said, he didn't comment much: "You naturally have your own judgment."

Laurence smiled slightly, followed Darcy's gaze, and saw his two cousins ​​jumping up and down, laughing loudly, without any ladylike temperament.

Anne and Georgiana held ribbons and paper-cuts in front of the two-meter-high Christmas tree. George Wickham and Lance Fitzwilliam hung the ribbons on the Christmas tree under the instruction of the two girls .

"Father and mother will be arriving tomorrow." Lawrence patted Darcy on the back, "Will you go to meet them with me?"

Darcy was noncommittal.

TBC.