Chapter 97 Daily Life of a Noblewoman 11 The So-Called Love
The weather was kind, and it was a bright sunny day with a clear blue sky. Even the most mean-spirited and eccentric person would find it difficult to sulk in such good weather.
Jane's wedding was planned with great care and consideration. This beautiful marriage was blessed by both families, and everyone tried their best to give the newlyweds the most perfect memories.
The tree-lined avenue outside Netherfield Manor was decorated like a celebration at a noble residence. Several dark brown two-horse carriages lined up, their horses' heads adorned with silver bells and silk flowers. As their wheels rolled over the gravel strewn with white rose petals, the tinkling of the bells mixed with the clatter of horses' hooves, jarring the tranquility of the area. This was a welcome for an important guest who lived nearby.
But at this moment today, no one in the whole of Longbourn would be lazy in bed. Everyone was waiting early to see the scale of the wedding with their own eyes.
"I heard the archway at the church entrance is decorated with expensive fresh white roses, which cost 10 pence each in London."
"Yes, Mrs. Bennet said it was a bouquet of flowers her sister had brought back from London yesterday in a carriage. I was wondering why there were so many carriages yesterday, and why a separate carriage was used just to carry the flowers."
Mrs. Brooke was too weak to argue and said weakly, "Young people just don't know how to live. This flower will wither after today. It might as well be replaced with jewelry for the bride."
She herself did not have the confidence to say this. Mrs. Lawrence obviously did not need one or two pieces of jewelry, so she would definitely give her some extra gifts.
The ceremony must first be presided over by the priest in the church, and then there will be a grand dinner in the evening.
Heather stood at the church door with the others, waiting for the bride to enter.
Today, Mr. Bingley was wearing a silver-gray tailcoat, the silver buttons of which shone coldly in the sun. He stood under the archway, holding a white rose tied with a blue ribbon in his hand, and smiling in a very inexpensive way.
Mrs. Hurst had a complicated expression on her face. After greeting Heather, she returned to the man's family's side. Seeing her brother so happy made her feel both relieved and a little uncomfortable.
"Charles is still too young. It's difficult for him to maintain the dignity of a gentleman in such a grand occasion." She said sourly.
Caroline answered randomly. She had recently written several letters to London but had not received a reply from Theodore. She didn't know which paradise this playboy was indulging in now. She really wanted to talk to Heather alone, but she couldn't find the opportunity.
Almost all the guests had arrived, and the bride finally appeared.
Jane came slowly over in an open carriage accompanied by her sister Elizabeth. Her custom-made white silk dress made her pretty face look even more radiant. However, even the most luxurious clothes and jewelry could only serve as a foil today, because the girl's happy smile was the best decoration.
"Oh, my God, they are such a perfect match. No words can describe how happy I am right now, Heather. All my hard work over the years has paid off now. Jane is so amazing!"
Mrs. Bennet held her sister's hand tightly, always on guard against herself from laughing out loud with joy. In the end, it was Heather who took responsibility for everything.
Heather teased, "Sister, were you this happy when I married the Earl?"
Mrs. Bennet retorted, "I was happy at first, but after you left I cried several times. When I thought about you marrying so far away, I was afraid I would never see you again. It's better that Jane married. She and Mr. Bingley even invited me to live in their new estate for a while."
Mrs. Bennet was happily pulled inside. Heather stood there looking at her back, feeling sad that the two sisters would never see each other again in their lives.
This wedding was supposed to be at the end of a book.
At the end of the story, the lovers happily get married, writing a perfect ending.
But for everyone present, this is just an important node in life, and everything is still developing continuously.
Returning to the banquet hall in Netherfield again, everything has changed dramatically. Heather is no longer a bystander, but an important member of it.
She still chose to sit next to the railing on the second floor, admiring everything from a "God's perspective" from a distance, but there were always people coming and going to talk to her.
Jane and Bingley, the golden boy and girl, danced the opening dance on the dance floor, receiving everyone's envy and blessings.
Heather also saw Darcy and Elizabeth standing very close to each other. This time they seemed to be getting along very well, and both of them were interested in dancing together for the next dance.
Caroline was the first to come to Hazel. She looked anxious and out of place in such a lively and harmonious party.
Heather thought she had guessed something.
However, Caroline never mentioned her brother Bingley or Mr. Darcy's marriage, but instead complained bitterly about Theodore.
"You have no idea how awful that Theodore is. I asked him to help me find a diamond bracelet with four colors and even paid a deposit, but he dragged his feet for so long and now he has no news at all. Even the last letter I sent was returned unopened."
"A diamond bracelet in four colors?" Heather was stunned. This was just looking for trouble. She didn't know whether he wanted the bracelet or wanted to talk to the other person.
Caroline sighed, "I don't mean for him to find me. I just want to know about him."
Only then did Heather remember an envelope Lancaster had given her. She asked Lena to find it while she told Caroline the story of their last meeting.
"Anyway, he boarded a ship and left. I heard he was going to America."
"Did he mention me?" Caroline asked blankly.
"No, time was very tight, and I don't think he had time to say anything else." Heather patted Caroline's hand. "But before he left, he asked someone to pass on an envelope to me. I think it was for you. It was addressed to Jenny. If I remember correctly, it should be your fake name. But I'm really curious, did you never tell him your real name?"
Caroline opened the envelope in a daze, and a sparkling diamond bracelet fell out of the envelope. It was made of diamonds of different colors. The workmanship and bonding technology were very rough. It seemed that the craftsmanship of the maker was not very qualified.
Caroline stared at the bracelet for a long time and couldn't come back to her senses. She really wanted to ask Hazel if she thought that man really never knew her real name. She always thought that he was very powerful and scheming, and maybe he had already found out her true identity.
"Why don't we see what the letter says?" Heather asked curiously. It seemed that Theodore was not completely without feelings for Caroline.
Caroline opened the letter. It did not mention the writer's whereabouts, plans, or future. It only had a simple sentence.
"The assigned task has been completed. Goodbye, Miss Jenny."
After Caroline left, Charlotte immediately took over, talking about the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. It was too noisy and always wanted to run outside. Its owner had run out of patience with it and gave it to Charlotte.
Next came Mrs. Hurst, and then Mrs. Bennett also wanted to come and talk to her sister, but was intercepted by Mrs. Lucas.
Heather was able to take a brief breath and was looking for a servant passing by to give her a glass of water to quench her thirst when she saw Lancaster leaning not far away and looking at her quietly.
Heather looked at him and waved to him slightly.
Lancaster came over obediently and, from a polite distance, complained vaguely, "You're becoming more and more popular. It's almost impossible to talk to you in an occasion like this."
Heather wanted to laugh at his words, but also felt a little sorry. He had been running around for several days and hadn't even heard a few nice words from her.
Especially after arriving at Longbourn, the ladies kept surrounding her, and Lancaster had neither the ability nor the position to snatch her away. He was also carrying a serious crime of concealing the truth, and he lacked the confidence to do anything extraordinary.
Heather secretly tugged at his clothes, motioning him to come closer: "I know a good place where we can talk quietly without being disturbed."
Lancaster looked down at her, feeling that such a place must be a test for him, and he felt inexplicably restless.
He looked into her playful eyes that were slightly provocative, took out his pocket watch, adjusted the hands, and motioned for her to lead the way.
Heather took him to the small balcony behind the curtains that he had discovered at the first party.
When one person went in before, they thought the space was enough. However, after Lancaster came in and closed the curtains, they both realized that the space here was a bit tight for two people.
Heather took a step back, trying to create some space.
Lancaster stretched out his arm to pull her back by the waist, and warned her seriously: "Be careful not to fall."
How could someone fall down from such a high railing?
Heather wanted to complain, but the man opposite her looked at her sternly, and his eyes kissed her before his lips.
He didn't really kiss her, but he was very close. The strands of hair on his forehead touched her face, and his breath brushed across her skin, making her feel very itchy.
"What are you thinking about now?" Lancaster slowly groped her hand in the night.
Heather said something rather depressing: "I wonder if your nephew has fallen in love with Caroline."
Lancaster thought of the letter he had delivered and what Heather had said about how she met Theodore.
"Probably not much. At least not right now, nothing is more important than what he wants to do." He leaned his hands on the balcony railing, holding Heather tightly in his arms from a slight distance. "If he really likes that lady, perhaps he will pinch his nose, swallow his dissatisfaction, and follow the path I arranged for him, trying his best to become a judge worthy of her. He won't be willing to let go. No man is willing to let the woman he loves out of his sight."
Lancaster was clearly talking about someone else, but Heather felt that he was hinting at her in every word.
The clouds were very thick tonight and the stars almost disappeared without a trace. The darkness ignited the emotions and they began to grow and spread unrestrainedly.
"So? That's why you've been following me?" Heather carefully pulled her arm out and tentatively put it around his neck, gently pressing him down so he lowered his head even more. "What are you thinking about now?"
Lancaster raised his lips in pleasure, consciously taking this little initiative as a signal, a signal that his favorability had increased to the point where the haze was swept away and enough to start anew.
"I'm thinking about how to propose to you so that you can agree."
The color of her lips was too tempting, and the way she looked thinking hard was so adorable, so after he finished speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her directly.
This time, Heather didn't dare close her eyes. She wanted to open her mouth and tell him that someone might come in from the balcony next door at any time, and it would be too late to hide. But he seized the opportunity and inhaled deeper and harder.
Heather let out a low cry, clearly feeling his tall nose poking her skin. He held her so tightly that it seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he could not satisfy her.
Finally stopping, Heather thought slowly with her confused brain, as if she had been proposed to in this ambiguous way.
Lancaster temporarily let go of the man who was almost out of breath, and said in a hoarse voice, "I can't hide it from you anymore, so I must tell you my true feelings. Heather, I can't let you go. I apply to end all informal contracts. I always want to use that legal marriage certificate to keep you by my side forever, so that I can see you every day."
"No matter where you come from, no matter who you are, I want to offer everything in exchange for you staying by my side, healthy and happy, until your affection for me returns to zero, and I hope there will never be an end date."
Heather was originally in a daze while being hugged. After hearing the ambiguous proposal, she raised her head in panic and couldn't find the focus of her vision for a while.
"What?" Her voice was a little uneasy, but more puzzled. She guessed that perhaps Lancaster had discovered some clues from Mrs. Bennet's memories during his stay at Longbourn, or perhaps he was just talking about it casually.
Lancaster gently carried her on his back with infinite indulgence and comfort.
He didn't explain, but repeated in her ear: "Please give me a chance to listen to your whole story, please give me a chance to be with you.
Because I have fallen madly in love with you."
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