I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

Pei Xiang had just changed his clothes when he heard a knock on the door.

She scanned the room and stuffed all the disguise props belonging to the Eastern Goddess into the cabinet before sitting down on the chair by the table.

"Did Nancy come back?" Pei Xiang slightly raised his voice, "Come in."

"It's me, Marianne," said Elinor's soft voice from outside the door. "Mr. Cecil and Colonel de Vere are here to see you, too."

Hearing Elinor's response, Pei Xiang hurriedly invited the three outside the door into the room.

"Marian, are you feeling better?" Elinor walked quickly to Pei Xiang's side, and reached out to touch her forehead, "Did you stay up late to read again last night? That's why you're so depressed today."

Pei Xiang nodded and said hello to the two gentlemen who came in, and then he took Elinor's hand with a smile and said:

"I will definitely pay attention to the rest time next time. Elinor, dear Elinor, my headache has just eased a little, and I don't want to be talked about by you at all."

Elinor gave her sister a helpless and indulgent look, and said nothing more, after all, there were two guests in this small lounge.

Lester and Aldridge sat down opposite the Dashwood sisters, and they politely said a few words of greeting and greetings. After reconfirming that Pei Xiang was in good health, the atmosphere of the conversation in the room It gradually became more relaxed.

"So, I seem to have missed a lot of great scenes?"

"Hey, those sideshows and circuses are missed if you miss them, anyway, you can watch them in other places. But that mysterious old lady in black...Miss Marianne, if you are in the hall, you might be able to watch them She will calculate the trajectory of your fate for you."

"Predicting fate? Is it really that magical? It's not a trick, is it?"

"Miss Marianne, let me tell you in detail..."

Seeing that Pei Xiang was interested in this, Lester immediately told Pei Xiang in detail about a series of events that happened downstairs.

He vividly described the mysterious and powerful methods of the Eastern Goddess, the reactions of the crowd and the "lucky ones" who were selected.

Pei Xiang has been listening attentively, with rich and vivid expressions on his face.Following Lester's narration, she sometimes exclaimed, sometimes nervous and anxious, with a pair of bright and beautiful eyes shining, full of curiosity about new things and innocence unique to girls.

Aldridge has been paying attention to the subtle changes in Pei Xiang's expression.Seeing her listening with gusto at this moment, with pure surprise and yearning in her eyes, the little doubt in his heart suddenly faded away.

When Leicester mentioned that the Eastern Goddess asserted that Edward already had a fiancée, and that Edward really left in a hurry because of a letter, Pei Xiang was surprised at first, and then showed an angry expression.

The girl's beautiful brows and eyes no longer had the original ease and joy.

"I was thinking wildly... Oh, I didn't expect it to be so. Mr. Ferrars has disappointed me so much! However, he still has a sense of responsibility, and I hope he will not disappoint that poor girl..."

"Marian!" Elinor softly called her sister, interrupting her angry words of reproach.

"Mr. Ferrars' encounter is somewhat similar to the situation you assumed before. It is just a coincidence. We don't know the more specific situation and some details, so everyone should not talk about and evaluate this matter too much, lest There is a suspicion of teasing one's tongue."

Pei Xiang snorted softly pretending to be unhappy, a little unconvinced.But she reluctantly obeyed Elinor's persuasion not to continue to comment on Edward Ferrars's conduct.

This frank and self-willed temper made Aldrich start to reflect on whether he was a little too sensitive and suspicious before.

At this time, the voice of the maid Nancy came from outside the door.

"Miss Marianne, I've got everything you told me to do."

Looking at Nancy carrying big and small bags, Elinor was a little curious:

"Marian, what did you ask Nancy to buy?"

"It's just some snacks like candies, tea, ink, and refined paper. Nancy and I have been to those shops before, and she knows what I like."

While talking, Pei Xiang motioned for Nancy to put the candy box on the table.

"Try the ancestral craftsmanship of old Henry's family. This is the only one in the city of Hemmer. Every time I come, I have to ask someone to buy some. To be honest, even if I live in a bustling city like London , and may not be able to find such an authentic flavor.”

Elinor shook her head and teased Pei Xiang with a smile: "You have only been to London a few times, and you dare to make such a brazen comment? Are you not afraid of being laughed at?"

Lester tasted a piece of Snow Peach Flesh, his eyes lit up, he nodded and praised:

"It's really good, more chewy, and not so sweet. The last time I ate such a delicious preserved fruit was when I was a guest at the Earl of Markmere's house. It is said that it is a Russian fruit from their family. A cook's family tradition."

Elinor asked Nancy casually: "Are there still so many customers in Old Henry's house?"

Nancy replied with a smile: "Yes, Miss Dashwood, I have been queuing for a while. Hey, old Henry's house is really popular. When I just came back, I met the postman Ai at the gate of the park." Burt, he also asked me if there were many customers at Old Henry's house today? I guess he must have gotten a generous reward somewhere, and wanted to buy some delicious things for his younger siblings."

"Albert?" Elinor frowned, "Albert the postman?"

Pei Xiang paused indiscernibly when he ate.

Only Elinor continued: "Nancy, is the postman Albert you are talking about the Albert who usually delivers letters and newspapers to our Nolan Manor? He is wearing a black coat today?"

"Yes, Miss Dashwood, I only know this one Albert," Nancy nodded for confirmation, "He did wear a black dress today."

"So it was the postman who delivered the letter to Mr. Ferrars..." Lester muttered.

Aldrich suddenly asked, "Nancy, why do you think that Albert received a generous reward?"

Nancy hurriedly replied: "Colonel Deville, this, this is my guess. Because when he asked me about Old Henry's house, he heard that I bought the last butter plum candy, and he was very sorry, Albert Said that his sister has always been greedy for that. Uh...Colonel Deville, to be honest, if you don’t get rich, people with little property like Albert and I would be reluctant to buy expensive snacks such as candies. And, and this It was Albert who felt sorry for his sister's poor health and was willing to spend more money for her. Anyway, anyway, I am not willing to spend money on old Henry's candy and snacks."

Aldridge said calmly: "Since his sister is not in good health, shouldn't he try to save as much money as possible to hire a doctor?"

Facing Aldrich's stern face, Nancy shook her head nervously, and replied in a low voice: "I don't know about that, Colonel Deville."

Lester touched his chin, wondering why his friend suddenly started paying attention to a postman, but this did not prevent him from analyzing the problem:

"Perhaps, that Albert not only got a generous reward, he also has more ways to make a fortune, which gave him the confidence to earn more money to support his younger siblings or take care of his family."

Elinor hesitated: "What kind of way to get rich? At first I thought it was a thank you fee from Mr. Ferrars to Albert. After all, he rushed to deliver the letter, but..."

Lester continued: "However, Mr. Ferrars has Mrs. John Dashwood pestering him and worrying about his fiancée's health. Obviously, he doesn't have the extra energy to think about how to thank the postman Albert."

Pei Xiang slowly swallowed the food in his mouth, and said warmly to Nancy with a worried face:

"Nancy, thank you for running around for me for a long time and buying all kinds of trivial things. It's hard work. Go downstairs and order some food you like. After you're full, take a good rest and watch the show Yes, I'll pay the bill. There's nothing I need you to do here before returning to Nolan Manor in the evening."

After unexpectedly getting a few hours of relaxation time, Nancy immediately smiled, and after a grateful salute, she left very happily.

There were four people in the room again, Pei Xiang rang the summons bell and asked the waiter here to bring in some hot tea and snacks.

Aldridge watched in silence as Pei Xiang sent the maid Nancy away, and then changed the subject in a few words, so that Elinor and Lester would no longer pay attention to the matter of the postman Albert.The doubts that had gradually dissipated in his heart gathered again.

——The postman Albert, the oriental goddess of unknown origin, Paddington who repays his kindness and sends money, and Miss Marianne who put forward a hypothesis...

To be honest, Aldridge doesn't quite believe in the theory of fate.

When he was calculated by that naughty oriental old lady before, he was temporarily affected by the atmosphere of the scene, and he was slightly shaken.In addition, the old woman did say something that only few people knew, so Aldridge, who was always calm, fell into a state of half-belief.

However, at this time, Aldrich had completely broken away from the mysterious atmosphere at that time, and Aldrich's rationality and shrewdness had completely returned, so he couldn't help but began to ponder the cause and effect of the whole incident.

If the premise of everything is that the oriental witch was deliberately instigated by someone.

Then, in the same way, it can be speculated that Albert, the postman who appeared in time, was also arranged in advance.

Aldridge lowered his head and pondered. There are many people who can arrange these things, but there are not many people who can let the old lady tell the details of the transaction between the Dwyer family and Brown Paddington.

The scope of this suspicious candidate was suddenly narrowed.

—Only Brown Paddington.

However, there is still one thing Aldrich can't figure out, that is, how did Brown Paddington know that the themes of the paintings customized by the Deville family were all the ideas of Earl Deville, while Aldrich Deville, who also wrote the letter, did not Does it matter at all?

— he guessed?

——He knows me and my father's personality and aesthetics very well?

——We have never met each other, never been close to each other, and the news of the Earl's Mansion is not so easy to inquire... By the way, Lester and Paddington are pen pals...

——Of course, Leicester will not casually disclose information about me and the Earl's Mansion.

—So, Paddington tricked Lester into inadvertently leaking the inside story?

Thinking of this, Aldridge frowned involuntarily, and temporarily drew a symbol of doubt in his heart.

He put aside the doubts that could not be resolved for the time being, and continued to think about the whole matter.

If Paddington was the one who ordered the hiring of the Eastern Goddess and the postman Albert, then what was his purpose for doing this?

O'Redley stirred the sugar cubes in the cup, and looked thoughtfully at the two sisters Dashwood.

——After tossing this out, the final result is to reveal the secret that Edward Ferrars is engaged.

—Then, who is in the interest of revealing the secret?

—Miss Elinor Dashwood, of course.

However, in Aldrich's view, although Miss Dashwood ultimately benefited, she was definitely not the one who took the initiative to operate this matter.

——The person who did this was actually to let Miss Dashwood see clearly what Ferrars was like, and not to fall into a relationship destined to be painful.

--so……

Aldrich's eyes dimmed, and he felt that it was time to look at Miss Marianne Dashwood with fresh eyes.This girl not only dared to guess, but also dared to put it into action.

He could not help sighing as he recalled that morning walk, the barrage of hypotheses and questions that the fair lady had raised, alluding to Edward Ferrars.

- Paddington and Marianne...

——What is the relationship between these two people?

— There must have been close private communication between them.

Presumably up to this point, Aldridge thinks he has figured out a general context.

—Miss Marianne suspects that Edward Ferrars has been engaged in secret because of some unknown ways or reasons, but she has provoked her sister Elinor, so she intends to expose him.

—But Miss Marianne had no evidence to convince others, unless Edward Ferrars himself admitted it.

—so she turned to Mr. Paddington for help.Paddington, no, or these two people designed today's plan to pretend to be a ghost, so as to expose the truth in public.

Thinking clearly about these causal relationships, Aldrich was not happy to solve the mystery in his heart. Instead, he paid more attention to the relationship between Brown Paddington and Miss Marianne.

They must have corresponded in private.

There are frequent correspondences between men and women, so...they are also secretly engaged?

—Then Miss Marianne's sudden awareness of Edward Ferrars' secret engagement made all the more sense.

——Perhaps empathy?Also want to hide a relationship, so some details are exposed?

—But why were Marianne and Paddington secretly engaged?Is there any unsolvable trouble in the middle?

Aldrich thought of Brown Paddington's behavior of never showing up in public, of his generosity to help the Dashwood mother and daughter, and thought of the day by the lake, Miss Marianne's love for Brown Paddington. The maintenance and praise suddenly turned cold in my heart.

At this moment, Lester patted Aldrich on the shoulder abruptly, and asked his friend's opinion on a certain building in London with a smile. This action interrupted Aldrich's train of thought.

In the process of getting along afterwards, Aldrich has been silently observing Pei Xiang's every move, and even took the initiative to mention Brown Paddington several times, so as to observe Pei Xiang's reaction.

And Pei Xiang seemed to be cooperating with all of Aldrich's guesses. Every time she heard Paddington's name, she would show a small but sincere smile of joy.

Although she was already very secretive and restrained, once she attracted the attention of those who cared, it was difficult to completely conceal the hot emotion between the corners of her eyes and brows.

Seeing this, Aldrich's expression became more indifferent and solemn.

Pei Xiang seemed unaware of Aldrich's probing gaze.

With a smile on her face, she listened to Lester's witty topics, gladly accepted the teaching and care of her elder sister Elinor, and occasionally took the initiative to take care of the taciturn colonel. She couldn't be more calm.

It wasn't until he sat in the carriage at night that Pei Xiang quietly breathed a sigh of relief in the dark shadows.

When Nancy said the name of the postman Albert, Pei Xiang knew that he would definitely arouse the suspicion of the cautious heir to the earl.

In this regard, Pei Xiang had a few ways to quickly remove the suspicion on her body, but at that moment, she chose to make the mistake and deepen the misunderstanding.

—Perhaps it would be better to misunderstand my relationship with Paddington.

——I will definitely switch back and forth between the two identities in the future.In case things go wrong, having an unproven engagement can make things seem more natural.

——This is a chess game where one step forward can be attacked, retreated and defended.