aristocratic engagement

But her anger was all the more comical in Darcy's laughter.

With a smile, Darcy's brows and eyes stretched, and he finally had the look that a young man of this age should have.

Annie's face swelled up: "Are you teasing me on purpose? Well, Darcy, I didn't expect you to be like this! Georgiana has always said that her brother is a handsome gentleman, and she should really let her see him." You're... playing tricks like this!"

"Her evaluation of me is not biased." Darcy restrained his smile, pursed his lips, and turned into that indifferent and arrogant gentleman at first glance, "Aren't I a handsome gentleman?"

Darcy's eyes narrowed slightly, and thin wrinkles formed at the end of his eyes, showing his good mood.

Annie pursed her mouth, and complained silently in her heart, brother, your character is broken!

She didn't answer, turned her head, and tried to climb on the horse again.This time Darcy kindly held her waist and lifted her up.

Annie felt the strength and temperature of her waist, and her whole body was a little stiff.Although she is only a small child on the outside-maybe that's why Darcy didn't avoid suspicion-but her inner shell has long been out of immaturity!

Anne stumbled and sat sideways on the saddle. Looking up, Earl Fitzwilliam in front of the team got off his horse and was leading a group of people to rest on the spot.Anne understood that they were not going to leave at once.It was for this reason that Darcy let her enjoy the ride.

Annie saw that other people were some distance away from her, so she whispered, "Just pretend you didn't see it!"

Without waiting for Darcy's question, Anne turned around and straddled the horse steadily.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time!" Annie blinked her eyes, and then spread her skirt to cover the traces of her legs, "Ah! It's so much more comfortable! What a horse, what a horse!" She leaned over He patted the horse's neck and encouraged him affectionately.

Darcy's saddle is naturally used for straddle riding, unlike the side riding saddles of ladies with special devices, side riding is really frightening.Annie straightened her waist, stretched her waist, and the exhaustion of sitting in the car for a day was swept away.

Darcy turned his face away, looking at the Thames River shining red and gold, as if in a daze.

After a moment of silence, listening to the relaxed conversations of other people not far away, Annie racked her brains to find a topic to break the slightly awkward silence: "You..."

"You..." Unexpectedly, Darcy and her spoke in unison.

"Ladies first." Darcy pursed his lips.

Anne was even more embarrassed. She blinked her eyes: "It's nothing important. I just want to ask, how long before you leave the UK? Have you made all the preparations? Tickets? Servants? And the people there residence……"

"Nothing is perfect preparation, and accidents always come first." Darcy patted the horse's neck lightly, and said casually, "I will set off after visiting my father's old friends in London. Yes, ticket Already bought it, next month."

With that said, Darcy took the rein, pulled the horse and led her to the bank of the Thames.

"Are you going to take Wickham with you? With all due respect, he is not a very good travel companion." Annie suddenly thought of this "marginal character". Du Li once told him quietly in Rosings' days. She, Wickham, was good-looking and sweet-mouthed, and often made the quick-witted little maids jealous, and Mrs. Jiang Jinsheng lost her temper for it.

Annie's evaluation of him is only three words: restless.

Darcy shook his head and looked towards the crowd.Annie followed his gaze and found that Wickham was standing in front of the carriage where Allen was sitting and talking.Sensing their gaze, Allen and Wickham stopped talking, and waved hello to the two people here.

"I will obey my father's last words, send him to school, and let him accept public school discipline." Darcy's voice was low, "After graduation, I will arrange for him to take over his father's original position. It's the best of benevolence. His father was my father's best partner during his lifetime. He was a loyal and generous man. Even for his sake, I would not allow Wickham to go down. You know, he Such an appearance and personality, if not restrained, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of trouble when I grow up."

This is the first time Annie has heard about Wickham's background. She shook her head and said softly, "I hope he can understand your kindness, Darcy."

"Good intentions?" Darcy sneered, "I just hope he doesn't hate me."

Annie was about to ask the reason in doubt, when she heard Lance shout: "Where are you going? We are ready to go! We will be home in less than an hour!"

Only then did Annie realize that she and Darcy had moved away from the crowd and came to the river.

"Let's go, I'm afraid you will have a headache if you blow it again."

Darcy took the rein and strode the horse towards the earl and his party.

It was already dark when he arrived at the Earl's Mansion that night, so Allen also stayed in the Earl's Mansion, waiting to go home the next morning.

There is no need to elaborate on how the group stayed in the Earl's mansion.It is worth mentioning that Anne was told by the countess that her room was arranged on the top floor, an independent floor where no one else lived.Before Anne could get confused, the earl winked at her mischievously, as if he was very pleased with this arrangement.

Annie couldn't laugh or cry, and accepted his kindness.

The count knew her secret and was willing to keep it for her.

Annie was about to go upstairs, when the earl passed by her side, he reminded him softly: "I won't tell you, that room is worth exploring. There are surprises waiting for you in the invisible corner."

This is a huge suite, with a small living room on the outside, connected to the servant's lounge and washroom, the background layout is very unusual at first glance.Annie didn't rush to search in the room immediately, the days are still long.

Du Li ordered people to arrange Anne's belongings according to her usage habits in Rosings, and the strange room quickly acquired her strong personal style.The journey was very exhausting, and Annie climbed into bed very sleepy very early.

When Annie had almost fallen into a dream, a slight knock on the door brought her back to the world in an instant.Annie twitched in a trance, and her clear mind immediately made her heart skip a beat, and then it beat like a drum.

"Miss de Bourgh, we have your visitor." Dully's voice came from the outside room beyond the crack of the door, "it's...Mr. Edgerton and Mr. Darcy." Her voice was a little strange, but it didn't Flustered and scared.

Anne glanced at her pocket watch—at two o'clock in the morning, she closed the watch cover, and the anger of getting up and sleepiness surged up uncontrollably.

"I heard the movement in the corridor, so I came out to have a look. I didn't expect Mr. Edgerton to be hovering at the stairs leading to this floor. Anne, I suspect that your kindness has been betrayed." Darcy hid A cold voice sounded, and then there were small disputes at the door.

"Miss de Bourgh, you don't need to open the door." Alan's voice came, not as sneaky as Annie had guessed, his voice even trembled a little fragile, "I just want to ask you a question. In Rosings Manor, the unique wisdom and courage revealed in your words and deeds conquered me, and I don’t know who else can explain my doubts except you.”

"Hmph, that sounds even more malicious!" Darcy sneered.

Anne walked slowly to the door: "Ask whatever you want, Mr. Edgerton. If I can answer you, I will know everything."

After a short silence, Alan's voice came: "Half of my body has stepped into hell, but my soul and conscience are trying to pull me back to heaven. Which half of myself should I obey? De. Miss Power, if you were me, what would you do? Go to hell, or—"

Anne resolutely interrupted his overly dangerous words: "Mr. Edgerton, although I don't understand why you ask me such a question—an ordinary country girl who has never seen the world, but please let me know." I just think that you are impulsive and unable to express your complicated emotions, so you came to find an unrelated stranger to share your pain."

"If I had to give a suggestion, I would choose to stay in the human world." Annie said loudly.

There was a sudden silence behind the door, and after a long while, Darcy's voice came indistinctly.

"Good night, Anne of the world."

Annie felt depressed for a while, wishing she could scratch the door.After saying goodnight stiffly, she threw herself on the big soft bed.Anne's body was very tired, but her drowsiness had been driven away.

"Damn Ellen Edgerton!" Anne babbled in sleepy torment. "Damn Darcy!"

The next day, Annie went downstairs with huge dark circles under her eyes, and was inevitably laughed at by her cousins.

"The Duke's Mansion has accepted the invitation." The earl sat at the dining table drinking tea and looked at Anne who entered the door. "You and Darcy will come with me."

TBC.