Chapter 81 Green Vein Operation 14 Rumors
Heather pulled a sample from the bookshelf and handed it to Darcy. It was a crude mask, not as snug as modern masks, and certainly not as protective as an N95.
"I had my maid make this out of cotton, hand-sewn." She took another mask and put it on her face. "Like this, it covers the area below the nose. It can prevent dust and toxic gases from entering the mouth and nose directly, and it can also prevent workers from coughing and affecting the products in their hands. What do you think?"
Darcy repeatedly examined the small piece of cloth in his hand. There were two thin threads fixed on both sides of it. It looked strange at first glance, but if you think about it carefully, you will find its ingenuity.
"That's a brilliant idea." He looked up, his eyes sparkling. "There's a coal mine near Pemberley, and some workers use coarse cloth to cover their mouths and noses. But it's not only inconvenient to work, but also not very effective. Once you bend over, there's nothing to cover."
Darcy's eyes held a questioning look, something not even a pampered lady could grasp. Perhaps only someone who frequently worked in the mines or interacted with lower-class workers would notice. Mrs. Lawrence was the second unsolved mystery he had encountered, one he hadn't figured out at all.
Heather noticed his doubt. Actually, while Darcy was a bit aloof, he wasn't hard to figure out. At least, he was much better than Lancaster at first. His expression didn't change much, but his eyes were always intense. He was definitely a young man with a cold exterior but a warm heart.
"Don't get me wrong, this isn't something I came up with. I just combined what others said and what I read in books to try to recreate the mask's design. The shape isn't very technical; the only important thing to note is that a detachable bag is sewn between the two layers of fabric. This bag is filled with processed charcoal powder. Because it only uses industrial waste, the cost is very low."
Darcy didn't respond immediately, but he keenly saw the value in this. A small, oddly shaped mask wasn't just useful for workers; it could potentially be used in many other areas. Mrs. Lawrence seemed to have inexplicable faith in his abilities and character, readily sharing priceless gifts with him for a minimal payment.
The music box finished its mechanical rotation and the study returned to silence.
Darcy couldn't help but take two steps closer: "Perhaps there is anything else you want?"
Heather looked at him, mentally assessing his intentions. "The most important requirement is speed. As quickly as possible. Also, the price of the finished product must be as low as possible. Beyond that, there are no other requirements. We each contribute half, and the gains and losses are split equally. This is the most convenient way."
"It's really simple. All we need to do is acquire a small, nearly bankrupt textile mill and train the staff to get it up and running." This was precisely why Darcy found it so difficult to understand; she clearly had more options. "Why me? Perhaps your brother, Mr. Gardner, or Bingley, who is engaged to Miss Bennett, or even Mr. Bennett himself, could be the right choice. I know this business, even if it doesn't make money now, will be of even greater use in the future."
Mr. Darcy is too upright, Hazel looked up at the sky.
"Because you can do it faster, I don't mind this one business alone, but if this thing is slower to gain popularity, it will be even harder to promote it." She said honestly.
Darcy was very satisfied with this answer. He was more accepting of such a mutually beneficial option rather than unilateral benefits without any reason.
"Also, if by any chance I help you win some unexpected political reputation in the future, I hope we can still be allies then," Heiser added.
She has gradually realized that this path is not a simple business path. The deeper she goes, the more likely it is to touch the interests of more groups, and the more she needs political power to protect her.
She can't always rely on one person, nor can she always let him take the lead alone.
So that's how it is. Darcy finally understood that her expectations of him were even greater than he had imagined.
He said seriously: "I will always remember your help. We have always been allies."
Which is more reliable, an alliance based on interests or a future relationship of kinship? Heather doesn't know, because everything is constantly developing and changing.
Before leaving, Heather stopped Darcy who was about to go out.
Darcy turned slowly, thinking that perhaps Lady Laurence was going to ask about him and her niece. Had Miss Elizabeth already quickly told her family about his proposal, since she hadn't immediately agreed?
Heather asked hesitantly, "I saw a little piece of news in the newspaper today saying that the Chief Justice is pushing for the establishment of the Clean Bill. I'm just curious. Do you know who the Chief Justice is?"
Darcy felt that her expression was not one of pure curiosity, but more of a fear of hearing some news that she did not want to believe.
"I'm not entirely sure. I've heard from friends on the board before that his family is extremely powerful. He's the youngest Supreme Court Justice in decades, and despite holding immense power, he rarely appears in public. Apart from key figures in the political arena, almost no one knows him."
"The youngest?" Heather felt her heart beating fast. "Perhaps you know his name?"
Darcy thought for a moment and replied, "I think the youngest is only relative. Judging by the ages of historical Lord Chancellors, this youngest is probably close to fifty now. As for his name, I remember his signature in the verdict of the Regent's marriage case published early last year: Duke of Ashwood."
"Are you sure?" Heather didn't know what she was feeling.
"Yes, that incident has been going on for a long time. I have a very deep impression of it. It was the Duke of Ashwood."
Heather's heart slowly relaxed. She had been really afraid to hear Lancaster's name just now. But then she thought, even if Lancaster wasn't just an ordinary judge, he certainly wouldn't be such a top figure. Otherwise, Mr. Darcy would have told her long ago, instead of just guessing at his power and status.
"Thank you and have a nice weekend."
Darcy was puzzled as to why she was suddenly relieved.
"Have a nice weekend, bye."
A few minutes later, there was another knock on the study door.
Boom.
Heather was still standing behind the door with the newspaper in her hand. When she heard the knock on the door, she was stunned. Could it be that Anna had brought some new news?
When I opened the door, the first thing that hit me was the most familiar fragrance, cold and deserted, and then slowly brought with it a hint of the warm scent of spring.
"Why are you here?" The words came out of his mouth before he even looked up.
The door closed behind him and Lancaster leaned against it, extending an arm toward her.
"miss you."
Heather didn't understand why, but she still leaned over obediently and was gently held in his arms with one hand.
They were clearly hugging each other, but not that close. Their bodies were not pressed tightly together. Instead, they were supporting themselves independently, as if they just needed to share the same air in this way.
"What's wrong? You seem very tired?" It was rare for him to show weakness in this way. Unlike the stimulation of forcefully pressing her head on his shoulder, this strange feeling of tiredness inexplicably aroused a desire to protect her.
"Well, a little." Lancaster's voice was hoarse, and it sounded like he had been up all night for several days.
Heather had noticed him the moment she entered the room. His eyes were abnormally red, and his mood seemed slightly different from his usual calm and composed demeanor. His neck was probably uncomfortable, too; his entire body was stiff and tense.
Heather panicked, forcing a smile. "What's up? Did you try to be brave and secretly help me push for the factory cleanup bill, and got yourself into trouble?" She hadn't intended to ask directly, determined not to ask unless he asked, never to be at a disadvantage. But once they met, she couldn't control her emotions again. She felt like the situation was going further and further from her expectations.
"Shouldn't I be taking such big steps and overthinking so much?"
She is just an ordinary person with a little bit of knowledge ahead of her time. When she was in school, she spent every day in the library but still couldn't get a place in graduate school. She has never won any outstanding awards or achievements. As a result, now, she actually tries to wander among the rich and fight for the interests of the workers who have not gathered any class power.
Now that the matter has escalated to the official level, she can't help but feel timid.
Obviously, at the beginning, she just wanted to enjoy her life and be a rich woman who eats, drinks and has fun.
Realizing that she was really a little anxious, Lancaster stood up, took her wrist and walked towards the sofa, closing the curtains.
The study was plunged into darkness. After all, it was broad daylight and there was still enough natural light. After closing the curtains, only the insignificant candlelight in front of the desk remained.
Lancaster sat down, pulled her to sit close to his thighs, leaned his back against the armrest and stared at her face in the dark without blinking.
"Well, I'm pretty impressive, right?" he said, his voice recovering considerably. "A few satirical cartoons and a few articles alone will never change the will of the factory owners' union. In their eyes, workers are no different from machines. This isn't determined by individual moral character, but by history. Without a strong counterattack, it might take another thirty years to slowly break the current situation."
Heiser certainly knew that the growth of trade unions representing workers' interests would not begin until at least fifty years later. Before that, workers could at most organize to destroy machines to express their dissatisfaction, but would not be able to protect their rights at all.
"I don't want to change the current situation. I just want to plant a few trees." Her voice gradually weakened. The reality she faced had made her realize that this was not just a matter of a few trees. This was a game, a struggle of gain and loss.
Lancaster didn't argue, gently stroking her long, smooth hair with his free hand. She wasn't shrewd, nor was she strong, but she was always like this, always so special that it intrigued and captivated people. She seemed to be willing to do nothing, but in reality, she would find ways to achieve whatever she wanted.
"It doesn't matter. You've thought it through thoroughly and walked a steady path. In my opinion, this thing won't fail. Even if there are twists and turns along the way, success is not far away."
Lancaster couldn't help wanting to touch her skin, so he forced himself to withdraw his hand and just hold one of her hands lightly.
"And although you are hesitant, you are still going ahead with your plan, right? I just saw Mr. Darcy in the carriage."
"Right," she explained. "It can't just be the bill, it can't just be you, and it can't just be plants. We need something else. Only a two-pronged approach can achieve the effect I want."
They reached a subtle consensus at this moment. They were indeed like-minded people. They all wanted to make careful plans for their goals as steadily as possible, but at the same time they were both stubborn and eager for a crazy defection.
They neither need each other's comfort nor will they easily change their decisions. They just want to be close to each other, breathe each other's air, feel each other's warmth, and listen to each other's heartbeat.
Lancaster chuckled softly. "Actually, I came here just to remind you, ma'am, that your debt has been overdue for so long. I was really worried that you had forgotten about the kiss you hadn't paid me yet."
Darkness is the best protective color. It can cover up alienation, shyness, and discomfort, and it stimulates people's brain nerves in a counter-intuitive way like stimulants.
Heather didn't hesitate for a second and moved closer eagerly.
"Ouch, my nose." She was in so much pain that tears were about to come out. It turns out that people should not be too impulsive.
The next second, Lancaster tilted his head, still maintaining a lazy posture half lying on the sofa, tilting his head back to reveal his slender neck and jawline, and kissed her deeply.
He gently held the back of her head, but in contrast, the kiss was irresistible. This kiss was deeper and heavier than the last time, they rolled and rubbed each other's lips and tongues, almost forgetting everything in reality in the clear sound of water.
There were no other thoughts. He didn't care about the other person's immature kissing skills and the hurt tongue tip, he didn't care about the turbulent and complicated situation outside, he didn't care about all the insignificant experiences in the past, and he didn't care about what was about to happen in the future.
Heather's heart settled back to where it was.
Maybe she was too nervous. This is what ordinary people who have never seen the world are like. They become restless at the slightest disturbance. In fact, they will find out later that they took themselves too seriously. When they turn around, they find that no one cares and nothing happened.
It wasn't until a week later that she realized she wasn't too nervous, but too careless and not nervous enough.
The matter had a more serious impact than she had imagined.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
