aristocratic engagement

The outline of London became clearer and clearer in the mist. Darcy stood at the bow of the ship, facing the oncoming salty breath, narrowed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The ship had just crossed the entire English Channel and was pushed by the tide into the Thames.

There are more and more people on the deck, and the guests on the ship are all excited to come out of the room and squeeze to the railing, eager to be the first to see the coast and their loved ones.All kinds of languages ​​are intertwined. Even if the passengers don't understand each other's words, they can still understand the same mood from the high-pitched tone and bright smile.

With lowered eyes, Darcy stood out among the passengers.An invisible "air wall" was formed around him. When the passengers on the same ship passed him, they were frightened by his icy face and the cold air that repelled people thousands of miles away.Even though Darcy was not dressed more noblely than them at this time, nor did he wear any gentleman's outfit, but because of his unique temperament and never-bending back, he was very conspicuous in the crowd.

After receiving Rommel's letter, he packed all his luggage and rushed to the port non-stop, and bought the earliest ticket from a red-eyed gambler at a high price - the steam ship.

The steamship has just been officially put into use. Although many conservative people still choose the safe and slow sailing ship, the overwhelming advantage of the steamship in speed has also attracted many people who are curious about new technologies.

"Hey! Am I right? This steamboat is much faster than the sailboat we were on before!"

"But I've been terrified all the way! I'd rather go slow, the waves scare me!"

"You should listen to me, otherwise, you can't come to your fiancée at the promised time, she will never forgive you this time!"

Pure English.

Darcy's gaze flicked across the face of the young man who was talking.After seven years of wandering on the continent of Europa, he was used to listening to various accents, but he rarely heard pure English.

Darcy laughed at himself, he couldn't believe that he would have this day, and he was a little excited and excited when he heard the familiar accent.

The two young people were still dreaming about their sweet dreams. Suddenly, the young man who was a little seasick because he was afraid of the waves turned his head and asked, "Hey, sir, do you know any shops in London that are suitable for picking gifts for girls? Come back In such a rush, I didn't even have time to bring some presents for my fiancée, so I had to prepare one in London so she wouldn't blame me!"

A small shop suddenly appeared in Darcy's mind: "I heard that Phoenix on Central Avenue is a very popular cloth shop."

"Phoenix? Then I can't afford it!" the young man screamed immediately.

His friend was very helpless, and patted him on the shoulder: "My Mary once told me that the cloth from the second textile factory in Phoenix is ​​the wish each of them made in the New Year. The factory is as luxurious, but the price is much more suitable! Although it is still not something we can buy casually, isn’t it worth your extra money to prepare a wedding dress for your fiancée?”

"……That……"

"The Second Textile Factory?" Darcy asked suddenly.

"Yes, sir, I heard that your accent is also British, don't you know?" The man blinked narrowly.

Darcy shook his head expressionlessly, but said nothing.

The man felt bored and explained dryly: "It was originally a large textile factory named Davis. Five years ago, due to a fire, all the fabrics, raw materials and even looms were destroyed. An empty shell. Mr. Davies was once paralyzed by shock and grief, and his children never knew business, only knew how to cry, couldn't deliver goods, and didn't know how to appease those who were in trouble. The family of the worker who died in the fire. It ended up in the Grand Court and went bankrupt."

He curled his lips: "If Phoenix hadn't paid a huge sum of money to buy the factory to appease the workers, the Davis family might have gone to see God."

The two young men discussed this matter again, boasting how the venerable Mr. Richter kindly comforted the wrecked worker's family and provided them with new jobs...

Darcy heard this strange name, and because of his habitual thinking and keen premonition over the years, he couldn't help but fall in love with this name.

Richter?Judge?

A trace of elusive thoughts flashed faintly in Darcy's mind.

"Look! It's about to break down! Jack, we should go back to the ship and get our luggage!"

"Yes, yes... Ah! Sir, we don't know your name yet? It was a pleasure chatting with you. What are your plans next? Would you like to—" Come to the store with us?

Before he finished speaking, he saw that this man with extraordinary temperament just nodded at them, turned and left without saying a word.

"What an arrogant man." The two young men muttered and left the deck.

After getting off the boat, Jack, who was greeted by his fiancée's passionate kiss, looked at the crowd of people dazedly, but he never saw the figure of that person again.

At this time, Darcy had already put on a gentleman's suit.Carrying the suitcase, he stopped a carriage and drove straight to Earl Fitzwilliam's mansion.

Earl Fitzwilliam Court was empty.

The box was randomly thrown on the ground, Darcy stepped forward and knocked heavily on the iron gate of the fence, but no one answered for a long time.

An ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

At this time, winter was just gradually turning into spring, and the sky was getting dark very early, and the setting sun had already slanted. Darcy's shadow was stretched very long, and it fell obliquely among the thorn bushes.

He bent down to lift the suitcase, and walked around the Earl's Mansion, looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar house.At this moment, the gray-black wall is like a monster, with crows looming over his head.On the top floor, the glass windows of the room where the former guest Miss Anne de Bourgh lived have changed from painted to transparent glass.From Darcy's point of view, only the gray ceiling can be seen through it.

Darcy returned to the gate again, and when he was about to leave, there was the faint sound of horseshoes and wheels behind him.

A black carriage and two horses appeared at the end of the road.Two strong young men rode on horseback to guard one side of the carriage, and on the carriage engraved with Jiahui were the figures of four ladies.

"Stop! Stop—" the girl screamed from inside the carriage.With the hoarse barking of the horse and the call of the coachman, the carriage gradually stopped.

The corners of Darcy's lips curled up slightly, and he stretched out his arms.

The girl in a long black dress jumped out of the carriage, causing the two ladies to scream.The girl strode towards Darcy in the sunlight, her curly long hair pouring down from the fallen hat.

"Brother! Brother! Is it you!? It's you!"

Georgiana threw herself into Darcy's arms.

Before Darcy could speak, he felt that the collar of his chest was tightly grasped by the pale joints.Georgiana buried her face in Darcy's chest hard, and couldn't help but choked up.

Like seven years ago, Darcy was stunned for a moment, then put his palm on the back of her head, and patted her comfortingly three times.

"...Georgianna." For a moment, all the words were choked in his throat, and Darcy only spit out the name.

Darcy raised his head, and saw two young men on the horse waved his whip at him, the team moved again, and soon, a group of people came to the gate of Earl Fitzwilliam's mansion.

The Fitzwilliam brothers got off their horses and punched Darcy respectively, which was regarded as a greeting.The coachman opened the open carriage, and the two ladies were wearing black skirts and black silk hats, with the same pain and sorrow written on their faces.

Darcy's heart skipped a beat, and he endured grief and bowed to the ladies.

"Darcy, my dear nephew..." Lady Catherine didn't hold back all of a sudden, when she called out his name, tears rolled down from her eyes, and she was choked up and speechless.

Darcy immediately stepped forward and embraced her.

"When did you arrive? My dear?" asked Countess Fitzwilliam, and Darcy turned her head to see that her face was bloodless, but her eyes were flushed.Her tone was unexpectedly calm, but one couldn't help but suspect that such strength seemed to be broken in the next second.

"Not long ago, Auntie." Darcy hugged her and patted her on the back as gently as possible, "Earl... Am I a step too late?"

The voice was very soft, like a sigh between lips and teeth.

The countess' eyes became redder instantly, and she squeezed her eyes vigorously, but she couldn't shed another tear.Lady Catherine once broke out a sob, and embraced her.Lawrence and Lance looked away, and Darcy could clearly see that their cheeks were twitching unnaturally, fighting back tears and pain.

"Condolences."

The people sitting in the carriage also wiped away the tears from the corners of their eyes.After taking a deep breath, she held the driver's hand and jumped out of the car.

"Uncle has gone to God, and we have just returned from the mausoleum."

Darcy turned his head and looked at the girl who spoke—no, she can almost be called a woman now—this face was familiar yet strange, with familiar features and strange temperament, it was difficult for him to distinguish her from her. Think of the girl whose head reached his waist seven years ago.

Time and death have changed everyone into something else.

The countess and Lady Catherine looked haggard, as if they had aged ten years.Lawrence had become the second earl, his face was expressionless, but it was more terrifying than any expression.Lance also lost the innocence of his youth and appeared much more reliable.Before Darcy left, Georgiana was only a child of seven or eight years old, and now she is already slim.And Anne... her immaturity has completely faded away, her thin body has become plump and mature, and her face is a mixture of Lady Catherine's inherited charm and Sir Louis's fortitude.

The biggest change is that this house, which was once full of vitality and joy, lost its most honorable owner.

And Darcy himself has already become the most familiar and strangest person to himself.He could no longer distinguish whether it was Mr. Darcy, the owner of Pemberley Manor, or Fitzwilliam Darcy, who had repeatedly escaped in the hail of bullets and intrigues, who was standing here.

"I'm going to the cemetery tomorrow." After a long silence, Darcy said in a low voice.

The wives and cousins ​​just nodded slightly, as if they hadn't woken up from their grief.Georgiana snuggled up beside him, holding his arm tightly.

"I'll take you with me." Annie nodded at him and exchanged glances.

作者有话要说：感谢在2020-12-0404:03:50~2020-12-0602:40:29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: 15 bottles of saberlulu; 12 bottles of Xie Tangyan;

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