Chapter 9 Chapter 9 The ugly duckling breaks into a group of swans?
After a rain, the Spencer Duke's convoy arrived in Hank County.
Isabel felt the moisture in the air as soon as she got out of the car.
The maid Emily looked at the scenery in front of her and couldn't help but say, "It's beautiful."
The Principality of Ceylon enjoys a mild climate year-round, fostering lush forests and grasslands. While each county boasts its own unique beauty, if one had to rank them, Hank County would undoubtedly take first place.
Hankshire is famous for the prestigious Chalvis Estate, which is located in the heart of the Principality. Since Hankshire is located in the heart of the Principality, Chalvis Estate occupies the heart of Hankshire, hence the name "Heart of Ceylon".
The Heart of Ceylon has a history of over 300 years and was built by the first Duke, Margaret Spencer, who was not only a rare female regent in history, but also the only baroness to pass down her own surname rather than her husband's.
Margaret was born into the Spencer family. Her husband, the Duke of Sutherland, was killed in battle, leaving the title vacant. At the time, the Principality of Ceylon was embroiled in war, and the royal family was preoccupied with its own affairs, unable to attend to the power struggles within the Duchy. It was during this time that Margaret staged a coup, seized control of the territory, inherited her husband's title, "Sutherland," and became a powerful Baroness.
During the Protectorate War, Margaret made many outstanding achievements with her outstanding military skills. She also rescued the young Crown Prince William II and supported him to ascend the throne.
With military power and political acumen, Margaret used William to control the princes, becoming the Elector and acting as regent. Her twenty years in power are known in history as the "Iron Rose Era."
In her later years, Margaret asked the king for a decree to revoke her title of Sutherland and change it to her surname of Spencer, which was a shocking move at the time.
The title is an honor that is inherited from generation to generation, but you want to use your own surname instead. How arrogant are you?
In response to this, Margaret made a widely circulated response, which was truly arrogant.
Those were her last words, recorded in the Spencer family history.
She said, "For thousands of years, the Spencer family has produced only me, Margaret. 'Spencer' doesn't represent either my father's or my mother's family, but only Margaret herself. It was Margaret who bestowed the honor upon the Spencer name, not the Spencer's will. From now on, those who bear my surname must use my name—Margaret."
For hundreds of years thereafter, there was no longer a Duke of Sutherland at Chalvis Manor, only a Duke of Spencer. All the Spencers would pray to Margaret's statue on their knighthood.
At the heart of the Heart of Ceylon estate lies a natural lake, with a statue of the Baroness standing in its center. The statue depicts the general, clad in armor, holding a sword to the sky, with two lions crouching at her feet. The motto at the bottom reads: "In my name, I will bring you glory."
At this moment, Andrew was introducing the history of the manor to Isabel in an arrogant and boastful tone.
Amidst the incessant clamor, Isabel gazed intently at the center of the lake—a statue ten meters long and five meters wide, appearing immense and majestic from afar. The Baroness's face was grim and resolute, as she gazed upon the entire Chalvis Manor, as she had for centuries.
"Miss Norman."
Andrew's voice brought Isabel back to her thoughts.
"You can't explore the entire Chalvis Manor in one day. It's time for you to go meet the Duke and the old lady." Andrew suddenly smiled secretly and pointed to the path ahead. "Please, just keep going along this road."
Isabel remained silent. Emily, the maid beside her, who was known for her straightforward nature, frowned and asked, "Aren't you coming with us?"
Andrew smiled wryly and shook the documents in his hand. "Sorry, I have something important to attend to. Thanks to Miss Norman, you have disrupted my plans with Mr. Jarvis, so you have to go on your own."
After saying this, he jumped onto the carriage and winked at Jarvis.
The carriages passed by Isabel in unison.
The green grass that had just rained was pressed into mud by the ruts and was about to splash mud. Fortunately, Isabel was quick-witted and pulled Emily away.
In the car, Andrew sneered, the gloating in his eyes undisguised.
"Just wait, the good times are just beginning."
Jarvis gave him a meaningful look. "She doesn't look like someone you'd be happy to mess with, Bill."
Andrew raised his chin. "Really? But I didn't do anything. I was just too eager to get things done and accidentally put the future Duchess a little further away."
Jarvis realized something, "How cunning, Andrew."
Andrew said arrogantly, "She must know that even if she is a duchess, if she offends the chief steward of Charvez, she will suffer some invisible pain."
The carriage went farther and farther away, and the two girls left behind gradually became small black dots in the field of vision.
Andrew and Jarvis smiled at each other, as if they could foresee Miss Norman's embarrassing end.
By the lake, Emily was anxious and angry. "They just left like that? The estate is so big. Who knows how long it will take us to get there if we follow this road? It's getting dark. What if they get lost?"
It's no wonder Emily was anxious. They had been traveling for several days and were already exhausted. Now they had to walk to an unknown place. Even the Virgin Mary would be resentful.
Isabel's cultivation was comparable to Maria's. She lowered her head in thought for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.
"He can't afford the consequences of us disappearing. Just move on."
Emily is simple-minded, but she is obedient.
Seeing Isabel walking forward, she followed obediently.
The rain had stopped, and the air was filled with the scent of green grass. To be fair, if you ignored the muddy path, the scenery of Chalvis was indeed worthy of its reputation. At this moment, Isabel could only half appreciate it.
The other half was thinking that Andrew's revenge would not be as simple as just teasing her to walk a little further.
Isabel looked at the end of the path, then at the thick mud under her feet, and gradually she had some guesses in her mind.
-
A hunting event was held outside the main castle of Chalves.
The guests invited by the Duke's Mansion were either rich or noble. The ladies walking among them were dressed in gorgeous clothes, and the jewels they wore sparkled.
The male guests and some lively ladies rode deep into the forest to hunt, while the older women surrounded an old lady, chatting and chatting.
The old lady wore a dark green velvet Watteau dress, her silver hair meticulously tied into a layered bun, paired with a matching wide-brimmed hat. In the sunlight, the rose diamonds embedded in the thin wings of the emerald dragonfly brooch could be vaguely seen.
Dealing with the compliments of several guests in succession, the old lady - the grandmother of the current Duke of Spencer; an elderly lady known for her nitpicking; Lady Violet, gradually showed impatience on her face.
"Eleanor," Violet called.
The loyal housekeeper immediately walked towards her: "Yes, ma'am."
“Andrew hasn’t come back yet?”
Eleanor looked at the maid behind her. The maid understood and stepped forward and said, "Butler Andrew's carriage returned to the manor half an hour ago."
Violet frowned and immediately ordered Eleanor: "Go tell him not to bring Miss Norman to the banquet area."
Eleanor hesitated: "I think you should meet your future granddaughter-in-law."
"But not today." Violet covered her face with a feather fan, rolled her eyes in disgust, and glanced around. "Oh! Eleanor, look at these women who are eager to wear all the clothes in the house! I don't want them to see at first glance that the future mistress of the Duke of Spencer's Mansion is a country bumpkin!"
“…”
Eleanor was silent for a moment, and tactfully did not remind the old lady that the green dragonfly gem brooch on her chest was also found at the bottom of the box after she had searched all morning, and she found it specifically to show off.
"Being from a baronial family, Miss Norman is probably not as rude as you expected."
"Baron? Oh! Eleanor! Stop reminding me that Heinrich is about to marry a baron's daughter!" Violet raised an eyebrow, her tone cadenced with the unique cadence of an aristocrat. "Norman? Oh, what an ancient surname! If it weren't for the Queen's arrangement, I'd have to go back a thousand years to a time when they already had names and surnames before I could reluctantly agree to be related by marriage to a 'Norman' relative!"
As she spoke, a countess not far away nodded to Violet.
Violet smiled modestly in response, then turned around and her lips drooped. "Look! So many eyes are staring at me! Go and tell them, if she's on her way, take her away immediately and dress her up."
"yes."
Eleanor said no more and turned away.
On the road, I bumped into a young lady walking towards me. She paused and nodded, saying, "Mrs. Louisa."
Louisa Howard, wife of the Duke's cousin Edmund Spencer; temporarily responsible for the management of the Chalvis Estate; a noble daughter who was born in a marquisate and enjoyed a high reputation.
"Eleanor? What did Granny send you to do in such a hurry?"
Louisa wore a long, red silk gown with a full skirt, and her bosom was as dazzling as her hair. Despite her dazzling attire, she was known for her gentle disposition, her generosity towards her servants, and her kindness and generosity made her very popular.
Elinor was not at all moved by her modesty and kept a straight face: "Lady Violet asked me to get the parasol."
Louisa stared at her for a moment, her eyes moving slightly.
Knowing that Eleanor always kept her mouth shut, she had no intention of asking anything. She just held up the fan to block out the non-existent sunlight, hinting to Eleanor not to tell a clumsy lie.
"Yes, it just rained, it's really hot. I hope my future sister-in-law, Miss Norman from Lowson County, can adapt to the unpredictable weather at Chalvey Manor." Louisa sighed. "Oh, by the way, judging by the time, she should be arriving today, right?"
Eleanor remained silent, neither responding nor blushing at her excuse. Her immovable appearance was like the clock that Violet placed in her room, indifferent to everything except the reminders it gave its owner.
Louisa snorted in her heart, but her smile remained unchanged on her face. "Okay, go and get busy. If I waste your time, grandma will be dissatisfied with me again."
Eleanor nodded and said goodbye.
On the other side, Violet at the banquet center had already noticed Louisa.
A majestic and impatient voice came, "Louisa, come here and let me see you. I hope you are wearing the red dress I suggested today."
Louisa put on a warm smile and walked gracefully: "As you can see."
Violet scanned him critically, and after a long moment, she reluctantly approved. "Very good! Maintaining a polished appearance is a fundamental requirement for any woman walking around the Chalveys Manor. This is especially true for the owner."
"Don't let me ever see any Mrs. Spencer wearing any jewels less than one hundred and fifty grains. It would make the foreign Marchioness of Hersland laugh at the poor pea-sized gems of our Ceylon nobles!"
Louisa lowered her head meekly: "Yes."
Seeing the ladies gathering, Violet stopped lecturing and waved her hand, saying, "Go and socialize, Louisa. Your social skills are much better than your dress sense, and that's the only thing that makes me happy."
Louisa nodded again and smiled, "I am not talented enough to meet my grandmother's expectations. But I hope the new Mrs. Spencer can have the opportunity to receive your teachings, so that Charvis can at least have a more decent housekeeper."
As soon as she finished speaking, Louisa raised her eyes quietly and saw that Violet's face was getting increasingly ugly.
The new "Mrs. Spencer"?! A girl from a small country county, it's good enough that she doesn't embarrass herself at a grand banquet, how could she be respectable?!
Violet rolled her eyes. "Hmph, God bless you. I hope Eleanor can stop her in time."
When Louisa heard her complaints, she remained calm and continued to chat and laugh with the ladies as usual, showing off her eloquence, but she began to laugh inside.
It’s too late, of course it’s too late.
She had received the news as early as when Andrew entered the manor.
Louisa looked around. At the upper-class social ball, with noble ladies coming and going, among the crowd of elegantly dressed people, a disheveled young lady was bound to appear, like an ugly duckling among a flock of swans. This would be her first stunning appearance as the future Duchess of Spencer.
Louisa covered her mouth with a fan and curled the corners of her lips slightly.
Audrey Norman? Looking forward to seeing you.
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