Southern Rose [Gone with the Wind]

"Oh! You are so cruel!" Thomas sighed.

"It's so annoying!" Josephine punched him impatiently. "You men are so childish! You will fight every now and then."

Thomas was triumphant, "Otherwise, how could we win?"

"Did you win?" she asked amusedly.

"I beat him hard!"

Bragging!Stinky to save face!She's not going to expose him, men, it's time to save some "face" for them.

"You are such a beast!"

Thomas took it as a compliment, "I'm strong enough to protect you."

Not to mention, he is not as tall as Ryan, but his small body is really undressed and quite strong, which shows that he has put a lot of effort into strengthening his body.Generally, big nobles seldom specialize in fitness, and a slim figure is the standard for nobles. Otherwise, wouldn’t they be like coolies on the pier?

Josephine knew why Thomas turned into a bully after years of separation: it was Raphael, her hapless ex-husband.Raphael was tall, athletic, and surprisingly strong.

Man, what a simple mind!

"I'm going to get up, you go out first." She pushed him.

He jumped up, "I'm going to sit in the host's seat for dinner."

"Okay. But don't provoke Ryan any more. He's not like Philip, and he might be able to trick you."

Thomas snorted contemptuously, "I'm not afraid! Tell him to come here!" He suddenly lowered his head and kissed her hastily.

The hero seat is not so easy to sit on.

First, Mrs. Jenkins was inexplicably shocked and came to confirm with the hostess.

Afterwards, Victor didn't know who he had heard about it, and hesitantly asked his mother if he was going to have a stepfather again.

"Very likely. Why? Don't you like Marquis Wolfe?"

Victor lowered his head: "Marquis Wolf treats me... not bad. Not good, but not bad. He is not as good as Mr. Tarent, he will not accompany me to read books, nor will he take me to ride a horse .”

"That's him—he's been around too shortly."

Victor first turned his face away, then turned back, staring at his mother, "But he's already moved in! Mrs. Jenkins said the Marquis is too young to be my father."

Josephine frowned displeasedly, "Mrs. Jenkins shouldn't have said this to you! I will have a good talk with Mrs. Jenkins. You have to remember that you are the master, and you will be the master of the Hastings family in the future. You Shouldn't be swayed by the butler or the servants, neither Mrs Jenkins nor Damian. Do you understand?"

"I don't understand. Mrs. Jenkins took care of us, and Damian was with me all the time. They are also... like family to me."

Josephine was a little surprised at this moment, "You can love them, but they are not your family members, me, Cynthia, we are your family members. Do you know why?"

"Because Cynthia and I are your children, and you are my mother."

"Yes. Only Cynthia and I are your blood relatives in this world. I am sad that your father is gone, but life must go on, so I will marry Mr. Talent. But Mr. Talent is not here either." It's-"

"I know. You must marry and have a husband, don't you?"

"No." Josephine smiled softly, "I don't necessarily need a husband, but I have a lot of property, and without a strong protector, it is difficult for me to protect those properties. I can protect my property, That will be left to you and Cynthia in the future, but it will be tiring."

Victor tried to understand, "I see."

"When you are a few years older, I will discuss this with you. Now, don't think too much, and don't worry."

Victor lowered his eyes, "I miss my father, my mother, how happy I would be if my father was still alive!"

The boy sobbed, very pitifully.

Josephine thought that her son was a little too sentimental, but in fact, he didn't remember what his biological father looked like, only a few photos.It is normal for boys to hope to have a father who is strong enough, and Raphael is indeed very strong and powerful in appearance.Humans always yearn for what they lack. He yearns for his father. In fact, he yearns for his father's love. It's easy to understand.

She doesn't like to see children cry, she finds it really difficult to coax.But this is her child, so I'd better coax her.

"Don't cry, you can cry for a while, but it's better not to let Cynthia see it." She wiped his tears with a silk handkerchief, and lifted his chin smoothly, "Look, how good-looking my little man is." In the future, you will be as handsome and strong as your father, and many girls will like you."

Victor smiled embarrassingly and shyly, "Mother!"

"A good boy should respect girls and be a real gentleman."

"I will, mother, I will be a gentleman." The boy puffed out his small chest, which was far from strong.He hadn't reached puberty, he was a child, thin, and nothing like Raphael.

Christmas dinner is simple and grand.Americans love to eat turkey. The Christmas dinner usually uses turkey as the main meal, and the rich and rich eat all kinds of birds and animals.

Thomas sent all kinds of rare ingredients. The main meal is roasted peacock. The seafood includes lobster and king crab. Black Sea caviar is a must. As a descendant of France, French foie gras is also a must; there are several desserts, cream bubble Fu, macaron and so on.There are not many dishes, but they are all delicious.

At this time, there was no table manners of serving dishes one by one, and the dishes were served all at once. The servant had just finished serving the dishes when someone suddenly rang the doorbell.

Mrs. Jenkins was very surprised: it was Christmas Eve, and the heavy snow had just stopped, who could it be?

Josephine didn't pay attention at first, but unexpectedly, after 2 minutes, the servant came to report that Mr. Rhett Butler had arrived.

The person who came was a tall man with an unseemly tan, a stern moustache and a cynical expression.

"Hello, Mrs. Talent." Rhett bowed slightly to the hostess. "I hope I am not too rash. Sorry, I didn't have time to write to you in advance."

Oh, what a fool!She had just moved to Long Island, and before she had time to update her address in Savannah, Charleston, and Atlanta, he was able to find her, which showed that someone had been paying attention to her movements and reporting to him at any time.

"Sit." Josephine motioned Posey to open the seat, Rhett sat down, and Ryan was opposite him.

"Why did you come to New York? I thought you were fleeing to the Mississippi with your tail between your legs."

Rhett laughed heartily, "You're right! It's Christmas, and no one will fight during Christmas."

He explained simply and directly, "I have to come to see you, otherwise I'm worried that if I see you next time, you will become the wife of another family."

Ryan Talent was dumbfounded: This guy really dares to speak!

Thomas found it interesting: Where did this wild man come from? !

"That has nothing to do with you. Eat, don't talk." Josephine was also very simple and direct.

Rhett seemed to be famished, he didn't say anything obediently, and only cared about eating and drinking.He only glanced at the young man in the host seat when he first entered the restaurant, and then he pretended that the guy didn't exist.

The dining table is very large, an exaggerated table for 20 people, so the host and hostesses are far apart and unable to talk.Ryan and Rhett are sitting near the hostess seat, while Victor and Cynthia are sitting near the hostess seat.

Cynthia is still young and ignorant.Victor is deeply troubled: who among these three men will become his new stepfather?

"He's too old," Thomas said suddenly.

"Huh?" Victor was taken aback.

"He is not suitable for your mother, he is too old and too ugly." Thomas was very contemptuous, "Your mother is still very young, and in 20 years, she will still be a young and beautiful woman, and that man will be an old man. "

Victor thinks it makes sense!

He couldn't imagine Mr. Butler turning into an old man, probably like old Mr. Butler?He remembered seeing old Mr. Butler, a very old man!His mother will always be young in his heart, and will always be a beautiful mother. How can he be an old man's wife?

Thinking about it this way, he immediately felt that Marquis Wolfe was more suitable.

Cynthia interrupted, "Mr. Bartra eats like Damian." She couldn't say "Butler", so she pronounced it "Batra".Damian's table manners are not bad, after all, he was educated with the little master.

The strange thing is that Rhett also seems to have received an excellent gentleman's education, but he looks a little fierce.

Ryan, a rich young man from the north, looked down on rebellious men in the south. It was no secret to him who Rhett Butler was and what experiences he had. The old acquaintance of the Billard family once had a chance to become Miss Ellen's husband candidate!It's just that it's impossible for a 16-year-old boy to get married early, so Ellen married an Irishman.

Ryan already knew about Rhett's entry into the Confederate army, and this man actually sneaked into New York in the north during the short Christmas holiday. He was really brave enough!

Ryan's mood is quite complicated. Thinking of Wolfe, an enemy who is determined to win, and Butler, an affectionate and powerful enemy, it seems that his chance of winning Josephine is really slim!

Josephine didn't eat much, drank two glasses of champagne, and was the first to leave the restaurant.

Thomas then got up and left.

Cynthia couldn't sit still for a long time, and asked Uncle Ryan to take her to play. Ryan took Cynthia to the children's playroom for half an hour.

When he finally left the children's playroom, he was surprised to find that Rhett was in the smoking room talking to Thomas Wolfe about the American Civil War.

What a strange thing!

Ryan couldn't figure it out: How could these two "enemies" have such a happy conversation?And, how could Wolfe be interested in the American Civil War?

The author has something to say: Jinjiang is now insanely locked with sensitive words, so the author decided to ignore the description of x behaviors, and don't ask for "sexual tension". Not writing may result in being locked.If there are scenes that cannot be described, please make up your own brain.