aristocratic engagement

This night, the wind was strong, and the horrible sound of branches and leaves rubbing and trembling in the wind came in through the gaps in the windows.

Anne leaned against the window, watching the carriages in front of Earl Fitzwilliam's mansion downstairs staggered away one after another, the wind lamps on the carriages shook violently, accompanied by the exclamation and complaints of the ladies.

Although the strong wind interrupted the entire tea party, the ladies and ladies were unwilling to bother to stay in the Earl's Mansion.Their family sent a carriage and servants, and when the wind and rain subsided, they picked them up in the carriage, and set foot on the return trip in a panic and orderly manner.

"Miss Bennet hasn't sent someone from home yet?" Annie asked in a low voice as she watched the last carriage leave, but she didn't see the two ladies leaving.

"No, the countess wants them to stay, and has sent someone to clean up the room next door."

Du Li closed the door, walked in while talking.

"But the Miss Bennets are still downstairs. I just saw them passing by the porter," Dooley added.

Annie nodded.Seeing that everyone else has gone home, of course they also miss their family members.But the wind and rain outside are too strong, maybe Mr. and Mrs. Bennet have no way to send a car. After all, their family is in Longbourne, and the Gardner family is just an ordinary businessman after all, maybe they don’t even have a car...

"Then ask them to stay here, let the servants keep an eye on it, and when the wind and rain calm down, send a letter to Gardner's house." After Annie finished speaking, she closed the curtains and turned to Du Li to order, "For I'm getting dressed, it's time for dinner."

Du Li tacitly took out the dress and jewelry that had been prepared from the closet.The rules in the Earl's Mansion have always been stricter than those in Rosings. There are strict rules on what to wear when walking, what to wear when dining, and what to wear when entertaining guests. It is not uncommon to change clothes several times a day matter.

When Du Li was combing her hair, Annie suddenly asked, "Find a time to tell little Guli, and ask him to tell Mr. Smith, get ready, the opportunity for Phoenix to expand its territory has come."

"You're going to... buy Davis Textiles?"

Du Li let out a low cry, and involuntarily let go of her hands, her smooth and long curly hair fell on Annie's shoulders.

Du Li hurriedly pulled her long hair up again, and said, "Then Davis has gone through this fire and wind, so I'm afraid there will be nothing left...Miss, why do you need to take over such a hot coal? "

Not only will there be nothing left, but the injured and disabled workers may even...become their own responsibility.

Anne did not speak for a long time.She looked at herself in the mirror, her immature face was expressionless.In fact, she also had a moment of regret just now.To her, those broken machines and ashes of cloth were just changes in the account numbers, and those broken workers... either died or were injured, were the most difficult to deal with.

'But purely from the perspective of expansion, there is nothing more suitable than directly taking over a dilapidated textile factory with large orders, ancient reputation and large vacant land. '

What's more, her "tolerance" and "kindness" can add a lot of value to Phoenix.

Since then, Phoenix will no longer be a heavy and brutal predator in the textile industry, but a rare philanthropist and leader.It will not only accumulate prestige among the ladies and ladies, but also turn the hostility of those mills into admiration and praise.

So, saving those poor workers was just incidental.

Anne nodded with peace of mind - as the count and Rommel judged, as a businessman, she was always too kind.But Annie felt that it would be better if there was a way to achieve the best of both worlds without being condemned by God and conscience.

"The advantages of acquiring the Davis Textile Factory outweigh the disadvantages." Annie said coldly. She scratched her hair so that it was casually draped over her shoulders without looking messy.

Annie stood up, walked towards the door, and said: "However, when and how to buy, I think Mr. Smith has his own judgment."

Du Li was taken aback for a moment, and understood after a while.

The shrewd Mr. Smith will definitely appear as an angel when Davis is desperate.

The dinner at Earl Fitzwilliam's Mansion is no more casual than that of country folks. Appetizer, soup, main meal, dessert... everything is in order.The Bennet sisters sat on the same side as the guests with Anne. Anne sat next to the earl, opposite to the countess, and the two young ladies were facing the two young Mr. Fitzwilliam.

The countess talked about the tea party during the day, and she was still bitter about the failure of the ladies and ladies of the various families to stay.

"It's very disrespectful to let them go home in such a torrential rain and wind." The countess put down the wine glass, wiping the handkerchief lightly on her lips.

"It's not your fault, my dear. If it were you, you would definitely want to go home in such weather and reunite with your family. Fortunately, Lance is back today, let him have a good talk with you." The earl made a gesture The color was given to Lance, but he didn't respond.

Annie coughed while cutting the barbecue on the plate.

She raised her eyes, and saw Cousin Lance's hand controlling the knife and fork, unconsciously scratching the empty plate, his eyes fixed on the bouquet of roses in front of him, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Cousin Lance." Annie cleared her throat. "This bouquet of roses is a new variety delivered this morning. You think she is beautiful, don't you?"

"Ah..." Lance turned around, his face flushed, and he stammered, "No, that's right, she is beautiful... Ah! Yes, such a rose couldn't be more beautiful."

"It's just a bouquet of roses." Lawrence glanced at his absent-minded brother, as if thinking, what is this stupid brother doing?

"This seems to be... a special variety from the Rose Manor in Hertfordshire." A slender and clever voice sounded.

Everyone's eyes turned to the smallest guest on the table. Miss Elizabeth Bennet's face flushed instantly, and she put down the knife and fork helplessly, but she quickly took a deep breath and said fluently: " My father once took me to visit the rose garden near Longborn, where I seem to have seen such flowers... You know, Hertfordshire is also known as the land of roses, and every time it comes to the season when roses are in full bloom, there are flowers everywhere It is filled with romantic and charming rose fragrance."

"Romantic? Miss Elizabeth, your vocabulary surprised me." Lance flattered.

"It's a very simple word, sir. I often see it in books." Liz scratched his head and gave him a strange look.Lance took a sip of his tea in embarrassment.

Jane immediately picked up Liz's previous topic: "Liz is right. When spring and summer meet, there are always nobles from London who rent small manors in the country for vacation. It is not only to relax, but also to appreciate the beauty of the world. garden roses."

Anne saw the countess look yearning, and said: "Auntie, if you want, why don't you rent a small manor in the countryside of Hertfordshire for vacation like Miss Bennet said?"

The countess was about to nod, but she glanced at the eldest son beside her: "It's not because of Lawrence. Before he gets married, I don't worry about social balls in London."

"Mom." Lawrence shook his head, with a hint of disapproval in his eyes, "The guests are still..."

Anne looked sideways, and all the Miss Bennet lowered their heads in embarrassment.

"Okay, since Lawrence doesn't want to go to the ball, don't force him." Earl Fitzwilliam spoke, he frowned impatiently while cutting the steak, "He works with me, Very good, much better than those playboys who hang around nightingales. Do you still have to worry that he won't be able to marry a suitable girl? This is something that doesn't need to be discussed at all."

"If he really concentrates on his work, then I..."

"Cough." Annie coughed again.

The countess stopped talking abruptly.

Everyone stopped talking for a while, Lance glanced at his family members strangely, and gave Annie a wink for no reason.Annie just shook her head.

The two Miss Bennets ate their dinner in silence, pretending they didn't exist.

"I'm just... a little nervous. I met so many ladies and ladies today, and I can't help but feel a little anxious when I hear them talk about what happened in London in recent days." After a long silence, the countess explained a few words.

Anne knew what she meant.

This spring, the social season in London has already passed most of the time.Annie was still wondering why Cousin Lawrence didn't even attend a ball at the right age. Based on the Countess's reaction just now, Cousin Lawrence probably already has a sweetheart.But this person was not recognized by the countess.

After thinking about it, Anne could only think of that one person—at the end of the banquet at Rosings Manor, Cousin Lawrence had exchanged correspondence with a Miss Campbell alone.

That Miss Campbell's family background is mediocre, and the only thing left to her by her ancestors is a small house and aloof integrity.

Annie looked up at Cousin Lawrence, only to see that he was also fascinated by the bouquet of roses.

After dinner, the count and countess returned to their rooms early.Brother Fitzwilliam discussed with the housekeeper and servants how to reduce the damage caused by the storm.The Miss Bennets were a little tired, so Anne advised them to relax and go back to their room to rest.

"I will send a letter to Mr. Gardner's mansion to tell Mr. Bennet about your situation. You don't have to worry." Anne and the Bennet sisters said goodbye at the stairs.

"Thank you!" Jane's eyes lit up immediately.

"I'm worrying about this! I wonder if Mom and Dad are going crazy!" Liz cried.

"It should be, you are my guests." Annie also smiled, her brows and eyes curved, "I will send a carriage to take you home when the wind is less tomorrow - of course, if you want to stay longer, I will I can stay with you for a while longer."

"What?" the two sisters said in unison, "Are you leaving too?"

Annie shrugged: "I'm not the lady of the Earl of Fitzwilliam's house. Is it something worth making a fuss about going home? If I don't go back, I'm afraid my mother can't wait to drive over to teach me a lesson!"

Ashamed to say, Anne really almost "lost to leave" and forgot the distant Rosings Manor.

Anne returned to the room, sat down at the table, and took out the letter from the drawer.

The author has something to say: Fat is coming!Everyone has been waiting for a long time woo woo woo woo!20 red envelopes are also distributed at the bottom of this chapter, so how many people still remember me?

The next chapter begins to cut perspectives and time jumps【.

Anne's business map has been laid out, and the emotional drama is about to slowly emerge!

感谢在2020-11-0423:58:42~2020-12-0200:07:20期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angels of the irrigation nutrient solution: 3 bottles of minerva￡athene; 72 bottles of MK231552661; Huang [-], yvonne, [-] bottles;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!