In Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," it was written at the beginning that it was a universally acknowledged truth that every rich bachelor always wanted to marry a wife.
This sentence seemed to be applicable in reverse: every girl of the right age always wanted to marry a rich gentleman. This was probably also a universally acknowledged truth.
Therefore, before coming to Longbourn, Caroline asked Anne to help her keep an eye on Bentley so that he wouldn't be snatched away by some country girl. Not only was it not an exaggeration, but it was also a prophecy.
Because Mr. Bentley was such a "rich bachelor." Of course, there was also Mr. Darcy.
These two "rich bachelors" were also ended by the two Bennett girls in Longbourn.
Almost from the day Bentley appeared in the Netherfield Garden, he was already the topic of conversation among the single girls in Longbourn.
And here, there was nothing more suitable for single men and women to socialize than a ball.
Lin Yutang once said that the ideal life for a harmonious world was to live in the English countryside.
There was no doubt that Longbourn and Hunsford were both such quiet and beautiful English villages. Anne had lived here for eighteen years, but every time she looked up and saw endless lawns, lush forests, and beautiful and exquisite country manors … she couldn't help but be fascinated.
And in contrast to all this peace and tranquility, was the lively country ball.
Anne had never attended a ball before. This was the first time — the first time in both her lives.
She wondered if everyone in Longbourn was here. The center of the dance floor was crowded with enthusiastic young men and women. Even if they didn't participate and just watched from the side, the passionate and cheerful beat of the music almost ignited everyone's nerves.
Although it was more than two centuries ago, the ambiguous eyes stained by Scottish red wine and the secret gazes and flirtations from the opposite sex were the same no matter how many centuries had passed. The thin air was filled with the smell of hormones.
Anne was very puzzled. How could her dear cousin Darcy maintain his cold and unsmiling aristocratic expression in such a jubilant atmosphere?
Finally, she couldn't help but say, "Darcy, you should put away your arrogance in front of cute girls."
Darcy looked down at her and seemed to be thinking for a moment. Finally, he asked, "Do I make you feel arrogant?"
Anne didn't hear anything wrong with his words. She just said with a smile, "Of course I don't mind, but those girls who don't know you will misunderstand."
Darcy withdrew his gaze from her and said expressionlessly, "Since it's someone who doesn't understand me, why should I bother?"
Annie wanted to sigh when she heard this. Mr. Darcy, you know that you won't be able to get a wife.
She looked past Darcy and couldn't help but fall on another man.
Anne felt that Darcy should really thank Mr. Holmes. With him as a comparison, Darcy's arrogance wasn't so obvious.
In fact, Anne was a bit surprised. She originally thought that Shylock wasn't interested in attending such a social ball, but unexpectedly, he came. Although he was just nailed to the ground like a slender wooden stake, motionless and silent.
The quaint and exquisite candlesticks above his head were full of candles, and the surrounding walls flickered with dazzling candlelight at regular intervals. The entire ballroom was as bright as day.
Anne knew that Shylock was originally very white, but she wasn't sure if it was because of the surrounding light, but looking at him like this, his skin was even fairer, and even a little pale. Paired with his sharp and stiff facial features and cold and abstinent expression, he looked like a perfect cold robot.
Oh, and those soft black curly hair, obediently hanging on his forehead, which made his pursed lips look a little childish. It also neutralized the aloof and arrogant aura.
Anne's gaze lingered on him for a little too long. As if someone had pressed a remote control, the "robot" began to slowly move its neck.
However, Anne didn't immediately react until she suddenly met a pair of beautiful gray-green eyes.
Anne was slightly stunned. It seemed a little too deliberate to look away at this moment. She curled her lips and was about to smile politely, but Mr. Holmes proudly looked away first. He turned back and looked at the center of the dance floor again.
Anne: "…"
Why do I feel that this Prince Charming is especially cute when he's ignored?
He's really hopeless.
Ever since the two of them had an "open and honest" conversation, Sherlock had left a sentence of "look for her if you need anything" (Er, why does that sound wrong?), Annie had been "open and honest", and Sherlock had left a sentence of "look for her if you need anything" (Er, why does that sound wrong?) But these days, he didn't appear in front of her much except during meal time.
As a mortal, Anne was very self-aware. She didn't try to analyze what Shylock's "strongest brain" was thinking.
Except for occasionally missing the face of her Prince Charming, Anne had been very calm these days based on the optimistic principle that no news was good news.
If there was anything unusual, it would be that Anne didn't understand why after she and Mr. Holmes had a "pleasant" conversation, the scene when they were together occasionally became like this.
For example, at breakfast.
Mr. Holmes sat at the table and said listlessly, "Bread, thank you."
After saying that, he stretched out his right hand with his palm facing up, waiting expressionlessly and naturally.
And the bread was right next to his hand.
At that moment, everyone at the table stopped and looked at the slender hand with a confused expression.
On Shylock's left was Watson, and on his right was Anne. Although Dr. Watson, who was used to being enslaved, wanted to ease the awkwardness, he had to stretch his arm around the plate in front of Shylock to barely reach the bread on the other side.
Anne coughed and didn't say anything. She picked up a piece of bread and gently placed it in the detective's palm.
She actually suspected that he might not be awake at all. Especially considering that he seemed to have the same insomnia problem as her.
"Thank you." Shylock's gaze didn't move as he took a bite of the bread.
Anne didn't take it to heart until she went downstairs for lunch that day and saw Mr. Darcy sitting next to Shylock …
Another example.
On a quiet and beautiful afternoon, Mr. Holmes rarely appeared in the living room. He sat on the sofa with his long legs crossed, reading without distraction.
When Anne came out of the room, she found that all the hosts and guests of the Netherfield Garden were there. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious, but it was also very magical.
After all, how many people could see the 21st-century Blessedcurls and the 19th-century Mr. Darcy in the same frame in their lifetime?
They were all young and beautiful gentlemen, and Mr. Holmes was reading. Watson and Darcy sat around a small round table in front of the window and whispered to each other. Caroline, wearing a gorgeous red dress, stood elegantly beside them. The cute Mr. Bentley was sitting on the sofa opposite Shylock. Uh, he was playing with the tassels of a bolster.
It was like a perfect oil painting of a classical aristocrat from the Middle Ages.
Anne didn't have the heart to go in and disturb them.
She stood at the stairs and silently admired for a while until Darcy noticed her. Then she walked over with a smile.
When she passed by Shylock, Anne saw the book in his hand. It was still the "Annals of the Eastern Empire."
Anne: "…"
"Tea, thank you."
The sudden melodious voice successfully made Annie stop in her tracks, and also successfully attracted the attention of everyone in the reception room.
Anne, who was already used to it, was about to move.
However, Darcy suddenly spoke up. "Trish." He raised his voice slightly and called out a name.
Trish was a maid in the Netherfield Garden.
But probably because Mr. Bentley was too easy-going, the maid was slacking off somewhere at the moment.
Shylock looked away from the page and glanced at Darcy. Then he turned to Anne, who was standing in front of him.
Although Anne didn't notice the way Shylock looked at Darcy, the arrogant detective's eyes expressed his meaning clearly, although he didn't repeat a word.
"Shylock," Dr. Watson's voice was full of helplessness, "Miss Deboer is not your maid. Besides, the teacup is right beside you. "
"I'm reading." Shylock's eyes had returned to the page.
Watson and the onlookers: "…"
"It's okay," Anne said good-naturedly. She had already walked over and skillfully poured tea for Shylock.
"Thank you."
When she left, Anne received another thank you from Mr. Holmes.
But why was the person thanking me, but the person thanking me looked at Darcy? …
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