The noble lady always has a little intuition

On the way home, Olivia and Edgar just chatted about what they had said to the Bradford brothers and sisters, but after they got out of the car and walked into the main house of the Campbell family, Edgar stopped. Immediately let Olivia follow him to his study.

After ordering the maid to bring the black tea, Edgar asked, "What did Mr. Hockley send?"

"I don't know either. It was inconvenient to open it when I was talking to Hockley first..." After finishing speaking, Olivia put the gift box in her hand on the table, then quickly pulled the bow on the top, and took Open the lid.

She couldn't help but smile when she saw the teddy bear in the Oxford University graduation gown lying in the velvet box, and when she took out the teddy bear and saw her initials embroidered on the bachelor's cap, she couldn't help smiling. At that time, the smile on her face rose again, "It's very cute."

While she was curiously looking at the academic gown worn by the teddy bear, Edgar noticed the gold button on the left ear of the teddy bear. He reached out and touched it, and then said in an inaudible tone The voice said: "It's a custom-made product from the German Stafford Company, and it should have been made in Germany when I told him that you had graduated half a month ago. Leaving aside the price, this is indeed a souvenir. Sex and heartfelt gifts..."

Olivia nodded, "It's pretty good."

Even though it is very clear that Carl is a well-rounded businessman, and the fact that Olivia is still the main decision-maker of the Campbell family's business is a well-known secret in British high society, so she just became the partner of the Campbell family's business. It was only natural that he would give Olivia a special graduation gift, but Edgar felt very strange that he chose to present a specially-made teddy bear instead of jewelry.

Recalling the previous interaction between Carl and Olivia, he couldn't help but frown as he suddenly had a guess in his heart, "Mr. Hockley...couldn't he be pursuing you?"

"Probably..." After putting the teddy bear in her hand back into the box, Olivia briefly explained the situation when she first met Carl at the prom of the women's university and the conversation with Carl just after the auction. Say it again.

After listening to her narration, and seeing that she, who is usually not impressed by gifts from people other than family and friends, actually showed affection for Carl's gift, Edgar frowned even deeper. "What do you think, Livi?"

"It's not particularly favorable," Olivia replied after tilting her head for a while, "However, if he is willing to accept the conditions I put forward, then he will also be a good friend to me." A good marriage partner."

"He's 13 years older than you, Olivia!" Her words made Edgar stand up abruptly, so violently that he overturned the tea on the table, "And he's an American, a man who doesn't belong to any Ordinary civilians of the Boston Brahmin family!"

Compared to his excited reaction, Olivia just took a sip of her teacup calmly, "Because he is an American, I would say he is a good candidate. Recently, the situation in Europe is not very stable, I wouldn't be surprised when a war would be triggered, and by that time, it would only be a matter of time before the flames of war spread from mainland Europe to the British Isles."

Hearing her say this, Edgar immediately understood that she intended to leave a way for the Campbells and other relatives.

If there is a war, no one can guarantee that the battlefield will not be transferred from the European continent to the United Kingdom. At that time, the Campbell family, which ranks among the top three assets in the United Kingdom, and the equally wealthy Bedford family, Bradford family, etc. It will definitely be the target that the hostile army wants to invade and rob the most, so it would be best if Olivia can meet them in the United States on the other side of the ocean.

In addition, he was once a top student at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, not only him, but his cousins ​​Philip and Anthony.So did Bedford, his future brother-in-law Joseph.Even though they may all have the chance to be elected as members of the House of Lords in the next few years, they still have a great possibility to go to the battlefield as commanders or squad leaders when war breaks out.And in the absence of male members other than his uncle, the Duke of Bedford and the Marquess of Bradford, only Olivia can take good care of the others.

"But you don't have to just marry to the United States. We can buy property in the United States first, and then slowly transfer our property and other collections there, that Calden Hockley..." This is the first time Degas showed disgust when he mentioned Karl, "As I said just now, he is 13 years older than you, and he is a businessman without any literary and artistic accomplishments. Most importantly, he once had a mistress , and it may be more than one term, and maybe they will continue to support after marriage!"

Contrary to his imagined reaction, Olivia just nodded, "I know, so I will remember to discuss this with him beforehand."

"I didn't mean that!!"

"Mr. Hockley is already a good choice, brother!" Seeing that her brother's neck was red with anger, Olivia slightly raised her volume, trying to calm him down, "Although everyone doesn't say it publicly, but There is no one in the upper class of England who does not know that I have been handling the business of the family for the past two years. Under such circumstances, those noble heirs whose economic status is comparable to ours or slightly inferior will not choose me as their wife, because they are suspicious by nature, they will definitely worry that I will meddle in their family's property secretly. And those who cannot become heirs are not a good choice, because I am also suspicious by nature, and I am also worried that they plan to use my relationship to seize property of our family."

Hearing what she said, Edgar couldn't help but clenched his fists tightly, "Then among the nobles whose economic situation is not as good as ours, there must be a few good candidates who are similar to your age and have good temperament..."

"But the declining nobles mean that they are incapable of saving the family business. Once I get married, I may have to be busy taking care of those properties. The Campbell family may need some help, because I don't want to wrong myself and reduce my family business after I get married. My own living expenses. Ah, maybe when I am busy with business matters, my husband who is completely helpless will have a lot of free time to take care of mistresses outside..." Speaking of this, Olivia suddenly sneered "This is even more intolerable than Mr Hockley's situation, at least he's using his own money."

"Olivia!" Shocked by her inappropriate snort and words, Edgar stopped her reflexively, but soon the anger on his face was replaced by guilt, "Sorry, Li Wei, it's all my fault, if I come back right after my parents passed away, you don't have to..."

"Don't say that, dear Edgar, I forced you to agree, and I don't regret my decision at that time, it's just that it's more difficult to find a marriage partner, it's not a serious matter." At this time Olivia stood up, stepped forward to give him a hug, and rubbed her face in his arms like she did when she was a child, "But to be honest, Edgar, it's too early for you to worry now, I It’s just that Mr. Hockley is a good marriage partner. It doesn’t mean that I intend to accept his pursuit. Besides, Mr. Hockley should only be interested in my appearance. After learning about my personality, he may be interested would give up."

Edgar raised his arms to hug her back and forth, and replied in a dull voice, "No one will dislike you."

"Okay, but if Mr. Hockley's pursuit method doesn't meet my liking, I won't agree to him either."

Sensing that he froze when he heard Hockley's name, Olivia immediately changed the subject: "In addition to him, I will also accept introductions from you and my aunt, and get to know more people you approve of. If I really can't find a suitable one, and it's nothing to be single all my life, like Jane Austen, the three Bronte sisters, and our great Queen Elizabeth I."

I don't know if he was filtering in his head the relationship of one person who could be introduced to her one after another, Edgar didn't reply immediately, after a while, he said slowly: "I thought you didn't like Jane The works of the Austen and Bronte sisters..."

"I really don't like their handling of details and the arrangement of the story, but I have to admit that their writing is very good and fascinating," Olivia shook her head helplessly, "The most important thing is that I can't think of other famous of lifelong single women.”

After chuckling a few times, Edgar let go of her, and then raised his hands to cover her face, "Anyway, remember one thing, Livi, you deserve the best."

This sentence is as unrealistic as the story written by Austin and Bronte... Even though she thought so, but facing his serious eyes, Olivia just nodded quietly.

Her answer made Edgar feel a little better, he moved his hand up to her head and rubbed it, and then gently pressed a kiss on the top of her head, "Okay, it's late, you It's time to go back to your room and sleep."

After nodding again, Olivia, who was about to turn around and go back to her room, noticed the teddy bear on the table out of the corner of her eye.

While she put the teddy bear back into the gift box, she observed her brother's expression calmly. Seeing that he was only frowning, she hugged the gift box and the rose in her arms with confidence, and then went to He nodded, "Good night, Ed, you go to bed early too."

"Good dream."

After seeing the study room where Olivia left, Edgar called the butler in and ordered him to send all the documents of unmarried British aristocratic males of the right age to his desk within two days.