Chapter 310: Chapter 310
In the evening, due to the arrival of Charlotte's family and friends, Rosings Manor's dinner party also invited several people.
It remained the opulent extravagance that Lady Catherine loved most, which was precisely what best displayed status...
Interestingly, from the moment they took their seats, this Mr. Collins' mouth never stopped, his cadence rising and falling, the endless stream of flattering words making even An Ning feel somewhat impressed.
No wonder he could so perfectly hit her mother's sweet spot!
Glancing at Lady Catherine, whose expression remained haughty yet whose brows and eyes faintly showed comfort and whose mood was clearly quite good, An Ning's sapphire blue pupils unconsciously gained a few traces of amusement!
Excellent, may this gentleman continue his efforts!
An Ning thought somewhat amusedly to herself, but the moment she turned her head, she directly met an exceptionally bright pair of emerald green eyes.
"Miss de Bourgh, pardon my boldness, but you don't seem to find this behavior inappropriate?"
"With your intelligence, you should know what I'm referring to!"
"Yes, as Miss Elizabeth says, I truly don't see anything wrong with it."
Casually playing with the petals in the potted plant, An Ning showed no intention of denial, saying casually:
"Miss Elizabeth also saw, at the very least just now, my mother was in good spirits, wasn't she?"
"As for that Mr. Collins, since in reality he hasn't harmed anyone's interests, then under that premise, his means of making a living, I personally believe shouldn't be arbitrarily criticized by others..."
At the very least, while still having no significant assets, he successfully obtained a respectable job, didn't he?
Although his behavior wasn't considered entirely proper in this era.
The young lady's eyes still held a faint hint of amusement, like morning dew, carrying a refreshing purity from within! Or like the most dazzling pearl on a crown...
Elizabeth couldn't help but pause momentarily.
Rationally, she knew what this Miss de Bourgh before her said was very correct and reasonable, but thinking of that so-called cousin's fawning expression earlier, Elizabeth still couldn't help but frown.
After a moment, she said somewhat defiantly:
"Alright, perhaps you're not wrong! But I will never express any approval of such methods..."
"Of course, that is your freedom."
While they were speaking, a maid suddenly approached from nearby, saying that the two young masters were seeking an audience in the garden!
Oh ho, the cheap cousin has arrived too, An Ning instinctively looked toward Elizabeth nearby.
Tsk, real-life Pride and Prejudice!
Not to mention, watching these two interact really has quite some tension! It's rather amusing too.
Absolutely not admitting that these years of leisurely countryside life had been too dull, after the customary greetings, An Ning very tactfully pulled Georgiana back to the main seating area.
Meeting this cousin's sapphire blue eyes that seemed to see through everything, even Darcy, who considered himself quite forthright, instinctively stiffened momentarily.
And Georgiana nearby, seeming to have discerned something from her cousin's gaze, her curious little eyes also began occasionally pretending to glance over intentionally or unintentionally. Even Colonel Fitzwilliam nearby cast teasing looks.
What's it like having an overly clever and perceptive little cousin?
Thinking of his previous experience of being utterly defeated on the chessboard until he questioned his existence, Mr. Darcy's expression grew even stiffer.
It must be said, for a gentleman originally quite confident in his own intellect, that was truly too embarrassing.
Perhaps lost in some unpleasant memories, it wasn't until Elizabeth beside him called twice that Darcy vaguely snapped out of it.
Due to An Ning and the other's actions, Miss Bennet, who originally had some romantic thoughts, instantly sobered up. Her expression toward the person before her gradually turned unfriendly...
"Let me guess, what has made our beautiful, elegant, and generous Lady Catherine so unhappy?"
In the evening, having changed out of her complicated dress with the help of maids, An Ning, wearing a light purple satin gauze dress, naturally leaned against her mother, "curiously" asking about the other's displeased expression.
Regarding her daughter's clearly deliberate questioning, Lady Catherine snorted quite coldly and proudly:
"Dear Anne, please don't think that just because your mother is getting older, I don't understand you young people's clumsy tricks!"
"Hmph, young people always get carried away by momentary passion, but Anne, my precious daughter, allow Mother to spoil the fun by saying this - that Miss Bennet is not a good marriage prospect, at least not for your cousin, the current Darcy family heir."
"Clearly, whether in family background or temperament, this young lady is insufficient to support the position of mistress of Pemberley Estate!"
In the future, she would be even less capable of helping the Darcy family advance further.
As she spoke, this noble lady's brows were filled with certainty.
"But as for you, Mother, you didn't say anything earlier, nor did you speak disparagingly of Miss Bennet, did you?"
An Ning blinked playfully.
Lady Catherine again snorted through her nostrils:
"Oh, my dear, you must understand, Darcy, your cousin, is twenty-eight this year, not eighteen. By age, he's long past the hot-headed youth stage. Oh, God knows, young men of this age are most impatient with advice from us elders!"
As she spoke, Lady Catherine slightly frowned, wearing an expression that said "I understand all too well."
Seeing that although the other was unwilling, she clearly didn't intend to interfere, An Ning chuckled again, her exquisite little face full of delight:
"Now I declare, Mother, you must be the most beautiful, lovely, and also the most open-minded and generous lady in the world!"
Stroking her precious daughter's beautiful, satin-like long hair, Lady Catherine unconsciously showed some complexity.
Actually, as a count's daughter raised in utmost privilege since childhood, this lady was clearly not as tolerant and magnanimous as one might imagine.
If her Anne were still as frail as before, to better care for her daughter and ensure Anne's honor and wealth in her later years, Lady Catherine would never easily let go of Darcy as an excellent candidate.
But now the situation was quite different - a healthy, intelligent girl with a large dowry had much wider options.
Besides, her Anne also had an angelic, sufficiently beautiful face.
Lady Catherine thought with no small amount of criticism.
Nephew Darcy, while not bad, with sufficiently upright character, was after all somewhat older in age and not gentle or considerate enough in disposition.
Most importantly, Anne had no feelings for him beyond familial affection.
Of course, in Lady Catherine's perception, being able to fancy what she considered a rather unremarkable country girl somewhat made her feel this nephew of hers might have poor judgment.
Because of this, Darcy's standing as a cheap nephew was considerably lowered in Lady Catherine's estimation...
But since he was eliminated as a potential son-in-law, then as Anne's cousin and one of the maternal relatives who would support her daughter in the future, this relationship naturally needed to be well maintained.
Ultimately, this was why this lady before her, despite many dissatisfactions and not viewing this so-called marriage favorably, hadn't spoken out directly earlier...
Regarding her mother's thoughts, An Ning was completely unsurprised.
Being able to manage Rosings Manor and the county's vast lands impeccably for over a decade after her husband's death, maintaining substantial income, clearly showed that her original self's mother, while perhaps somewhat haughty, was not foolish.
Weighing advantages and disadvantages was the upbringing ingrained in noble ladies of this era.
On the way back, An Ning quite contentedly admired the exceptionally beautiful sunset over the manor.
Others' affairs were fine to watch as drama, but personally stepping on stage to perform, especially playing the clown role, was truly unnecessary.
In the evening, lying in the soft large bed.
It must be said, days where one needn't worry about anything and could sleep until naturally waking were truly beautiful...