aristocratic engagement

At lunch they were interrupted by Wickham's return rather than Darcy's.

When Georgiana saw Wickham's figure appearing at the door of the restaurant, her eyes lit up instantly, she immediately put down her knife and fork, and stood up to greet him.

Wickham was wearing a riding suit, and at first glance he was indeed heroic, like that.

Annie had to feel that he did have the capital to deceive the little girl's heart.

He has a delicate appearance, with a face and physique like a Greek sculpture, and even from some angles, his facial features are as delicate as a lady's softness, and he is undoubtedly the type that girls are most likely to fall in love with.

However, Annie always felt that he looked a little strange—he was lacking in energy, as if he had been struggling for a long time before getting out of some place.

It wasn't just the fatigue of riding around at all, for he was overdressed.

Although there are a large number of guests invited from all over Derbyshire this time, Darcy will not embarrass him to send guests outside Derbyshire, and it is just a temporary idea to send him out to do things.

Annie intuitively felt that he had many wonderful experiences in the past few days.

——Those experiences that cannot be known by Georgiana.

"Miss Darcy, you haven't finished your lunch, how can you leave?" Mrs. Black's voice sounded stiffly, "I can't help doubting my teaching ability, Miss Darcy, if you follow my teaching, you will No such faux pas. I now know at last why Mr. Darcy invited me to Pemberley Park."

The smile on Georgiana's face froze, panic flashed past.

Wickham frowned, seemingly unwilling.

"Georgianna, please sit down. If you have anything to say to Wickham, we can talk about it after dinner." Anne's eyes flicked between the two, "Mr. Wickham is full of dust and dust, and I'm afraid he has to go back to his room to get some rest. Fan, look at the bruises under his eyes. Did you sleep well last night, Mr Wickham?"

There was a hint of panic on Wickham's face, and he stroked his fingers under his eyes.But he quickly adjusted his state, rubbed his temples as if he had a headache, and said, "Yes, you are really careful. I had some insomnia last night, and I didn't fall asleep until dawn, so I rode on the road early and wanted to come back as soon as possible .”

As he said that, he looked at Georgiana and showed a comforting smile: "Miss de Bauer is worried about my body. She is right. I really need a rest now."

"But..." Georgiana wanted to say something, but Wickham pressed his index finger to his lips.

Coupled with his pale face, there is a kind of considerate and innocent feeling.

——Could this be green tea?

Annie thought silently.

A slight aggrieved and fragile expression on Wickham's handsome face can make people feel pity.Georgiana, looking almost heartbroken, sat back reluctantly in the midst of Mrs. Blake's heavy coughing.

Anne's knife ran across the plate.

She looked up, and Wickham was still standing near the door, his eyes full of affection.Annie reminded loudly: "Mr. Wickham, Mrs. Reynolds will deliver your lunch to your room. Please take a good rest and see you at dinner."

Wickham opened his eyes wide as if awakened from a dream, saluted the ladies, and turned to leave.

Because of Annie's suggestive words, Wickham didn't leave the bedroom all afternoon—in fact, Annie really felt that he was trying to catch up on sleep, and she didn't know what he did the night before.

Georgiana played the accompaniment for Anne's dance class as usual, but she seemed very absent-minded.

Annie wanted to go forward and make a few points, but felt that it was too much.

She had discussed the matter openly with Georgiana that day.The next step is to see if she really listens to Anne's words and withdraws from the uncontrollable feelings a little bit.

When Annie just finished today's class, she heard a commotion outside the ballroom.

Anne changed her dancing shoes, and before she had time to take a sip of water, the door of the ballroom was opened from the outside. Mrs. Reynolds walked in quickly and reported to Anne: "Mr. Darcy is back, and Mr. Bingley and his sisters."

"Have they entered the house yet?"

"Yes, I met Mrs. Catherine for a walk at the gate of the manor. After seeing each other, I asked the servant to take them to the bedroom. Mr. Darcy also went back to the room to change clothes." Mrs. Reynolds looked up and down at Anne, who was hit by sweat. With her wet dance skirt, she said, "Miss de Bourgh, you should go back to your room and change as soon as possible. Dinner is almost ready."

"Do I need to change?" Georgiana stood up at the piano.

"As you please, Miss Darcy." After finishing Mrs. Reynolds's words, she left in a hurry.The guests had just arrived, and she was the busiest person in the manor.

Annie and Georgiana returned to the second floor together, and heard voices from the third floor at the stairs.Wickham seemed to have met the guests, and soon there was another laugh, the voice of a strange gentleman.They could not hear their conversation clearly, but they could tell that the new visitor seemed warm and easygoing, and a pleasant person to get along with.

Immediately afterwards, there was a sound of opening the door, and a beautiful female voice flowed out, like the jumping of a stream.

Mr. Bingley introduced Wickham to his sisters, and they tried again and again.

Georgiana was lying on the handrail of the stairs, and wanted to continue to eavesdrop, but Annie grabbed her back and walked towards the bedroom.

"What's the rush, we'll see our guests at dinner later."

When Annie returned to the room, Du Li had already put out the bath water.Annie soaked in the warm hot water and sighed comfortably.I can't help but feel Du Li's thoughtfulness and care, I'm afraid there will never be another person who understands me better in this world.

Annie suddenly realized that Du Li was older than herself.The girls in the town are all talking about marriage at this age, and they don't know how long she can stay by her side—Anne only hopes that she will be happy whether she is married or stays by her side.

Tonight was just a slightly more formal dinner than usual.

Du Li changed into Annie's off-white loose long dress, her hair was loosely pulled up, and a white jasmine flower was inserted between her hair.She wanted to continue putting on some makeup for Annie, but Annie stopped her.

Putting on a pair of pearl earrings, Annie said, "I'm not the protagonist tonight, so there's no need to be so grand!"

"But those two Miss Bingleys must be fully armed! I saw their servants carrying boxes, at least a dozen boxes. What do you think, why do you need to bring so many clothes when you come here for a few days?"

"Mr. Bingley and Darcy are friends, and I am afraid they will stay longer than the other guests."

"That's right!" Du Li strengthened her tone. She took out a string of perfectly round seawater aurora pearls from the dressing table and put them on Annie's neck. "If you lose the wind, Madam Catherine will be the first to let you go." And me!"

"You always listen to me."

"That's right, but Madam Catherine won't get angry at you, she will only get angry at us." Du Li buttoned up the pearl necklace, and fixed Anne's hairstyle in front of the mirror, "have pity on me, miss."

Annie shrugged helplessly, took out the perfume bottle in the drawer and sprayed it on her wrists and neck a few times: "Okay, this is grand enough."

Du Li stopped talking now and just made a funny expression.

When Anne arrived at the dining room, she heard Lady Catherine's voice: "Oh, look at these sisters, they are so beautiful! Miss Bingley, will your sister come to the ball this time? How old is she?"

"Caroline just passed her 21st birthday last month. You are right that she will also attend the ball." Miss Bingley replied.

Lady Catherine whispered in feigned surprise: "You're not married yet, are you, Miss Bingley? I didn't expect—"

"Mom, why did you ask such impolite questions when you first came up? Miss Bingley is not Mrs. So-and-so." Anne interrupted her high-spirited talk, and walked into the restaurant gracefully with Georgiana.

Madam Catherine glanced at Anne from head to toe, a little dissatisfied with her oversimplified attire.

Mr. and Sister Bingley got up from the table, greeted Anne and Georgiana, and introduced themselves to each other.

"Miss de Bourgh, I heard Mr. Darcy say your name a long time ago. I didn't expect you to be a hundred times more beautiful than I imagined." After sitting down, Caroline Bingley said to Anne who was opposite Said.

These words were quite provocative, Anne raised her eyebrows, and then showed Madam Catherine's style of trying everything:

"Thank you. But I'm sorry, I haven't heard about you and your family... As you know, Rosings Manor has never been keen on socializing, and it is not suitable for holding any balls."

"Oh!" Caroline didn't seem to expect that the young lady in front of her was so shameless that she didn't even bother to tell out of polite lies, "No, it doesn't matter."

Afterwards, Miss Caroline didn't say anything, but sometimes secretly looked at the "rival in love" in front of her.

Lady Catherine resumed her discourse, and, as usual, Darcy accepted all her advice and comments.As small as how to arrange the meals at the dance party, as large as how to arrange food and accommodation for the band.

The subject seemed to play into the hands of the Bentley sisters.Miss Bingley seemed to be a person who was used to making decisions and making decisions, and she was very experienced in arranging servants and setting up venues.Miss Caroline, on the other hand, was very concerned about the arrangement of those details, even caring about how to match the embroidery and tassels on the tablecloth.

Anne was never interested in these arrangements, and she was bored, so she could only taste the steak grilled by the cook, while observing Miss Caroline, who was said to be "aspiring to win the title of Mrs. Darcy".

She framed her figure in a rose-colored silk gown—remarkably, in the same fabric that Phoenix released last Christmas.Anne guessed that Miss Caroline might have spent a whole year's pocket money for this ball.

According to the information Du Li inquired, the Bingley family was not a wealthy family.

Perhaps for ordinary squires, Bentley's family background is already considered rich.But the ancestors of the Bingley family were not lords. They gradually entered the gentleman class starting from Mr. Bingley's father.

Now, the Bentleys don't have their own territory yet.

This is very different from the Darcy family, and it is not even worth mentioning compared with Rosings Manor.

Regardless of family background or personality, Darcy and Mr. Bingley are not the same kind of people.It's hard to believe that two gentlemen so different could be true friends - but they are.

Looking carefully at the faces of these two Miss Bingley, they are bright and charming.Miss Bingley has a calm temperament, neither humble nor overbearing, and looks very assertive.

Miss Caroline seemed to be well protected, quite delicate.The rose-colored dress made her skin ruddy and delicate.The long golden hair was carefully coiled, and it was firmly held in place by a hairpin inlaid with rubies.She is quite pretty, with profound features, but...some unconcealable longing and obsession compromised her temperament.

Her eyes were always on the manor of the manor. She listened to his speech, sometimes admiring, sometimes nodding, sometimes flattering—it was busier than anyone else on the field!

Annie looked along her line of sight, and met the eyes of the manor master who couldn't help frowning because of being flattered.

Annie saw his aggrieved expression but could only hold back, she couldn't hold it back, raised the corner of her mouth, and raised her wine glass to him.

Darcy's movements paused, he also picked up the wine glass, and drank the red wine in one gulp.

The author has something to say: *Miss Bingley here = Mrs. Hurst in the original book, because she is not married yet, so Caroline Bingley can only be called Miss Caroline.The age is made up by me, it is not mentioned in the original book.

*Annie: watching a play.JPG