Chapter 313: Chapter 313
Just as this Colonel Ross was stewing in his frustration and unwillingness, An Ning had already smoothly glided into the dance floor with the gentleman who introduced himself as Holmes.
Yes, Holmes, to be precise, Mycroft Holmes.
Heaven knows how shocked An Ning felt upon hearing that familiar name. If not for years of acting experience, she might have failed to suppress the astonishment that nearly showed on her face in that instant.
Yet even so, reality proved that this gentleman before her wasn't completely unaware.
In the center of the dance floor, the melodious piano music continued...
After some rather formal social pleasantries, the gentleman soon spoke:
"Regarding my surname, or rather my name, Miss de Bourgh, you seemed rather surprised?" He then added with an exaggerated sigh:
"Could it be that some anecdote about me has reached your ears in some unintentional moment! Oh, if that's truly the case, please don't spare my pitiful self-esteem..."
Due to the height difference, An Ning had to look up slightly.
Was the skill of disguise actually one of the Holmes family's hereditary traits?
Both brothers were quite adept at it!
While secretly grumbling in her mind.
An Ning soon raised her eyebrows, her sapphire blue eyes equally devoid of any guilt. Instead, she naturally lifted her head, meeting his gaze directly without the slightest avoidance.
In the slightly noisy ballroom, the young lady's voice beside him was lighthearted and exceptionally pleasing:
"Actually, compared to that, Mr. Holmes, I'm more surprised that you took the initiative to invite me!"
"After all, sir, in my view, you really don't seem like someone who enjoys socializing or derives pleasure from it!"
Not giving him a chance to speak, An Ning ended by secretly winking teasingly:
"Sir, regarding this point, please don't rush to deny it. After all, just moments ago, your slightly awkward dance steps proved this very well, didn't they?"
So what exactly prompted you to suddenly take interest and step into this "joyless" activity?
Oh, a nice move of obscuring the main point and turning passive into active. Mycroft calmly assessed.
He swore by Sherlock's poor little brain that this young lady was definitely trying to conceal something earlier.
Gazing into these exceptionally deep sapphire blue eyes, especially now, brimming with laughter, more dazzling than any gem he had ever seen.
Because they were standing extremely close, even the previously somewhat stifling air now carried an exceptionally pleasant subtle fragrance...
Hmm, one more thing to add, Holmes affirmed in his heart, this was also a young lady extremely skilled at utilizing her advantages.
Inopportunely, Mycroft suddenly remembered the little stories the housekeeper used to tell Sherlock when he was young.
Legends said that deep in the ocean lived an ancient and intelligent species. They often possessed the world's most beautiful voices and most captivating faces. Within their domain, no matter how resolute or intelligent a gentleman might be, he would inevitably fall under their spell.
Mycroft used to scoff at it, but now he had to admit.
Those easily seduced were definitely not those brainless poor goldfish...
Shifting his gaze from her slightly flushed cheeks due to activity, Mycroft had to follow her lead and divert from the previous inopportune topic:
"Miss de Bourgh, if I may be so bold as to ask, you seem to have a particular fondness for that ancient country across the sea?"
She instinctively reviewed today's attire and accessories - no special embroidery patterns, the style and cut, even the jewelry showed no traces of inspiration.
Considering the ancient saying the other had seemingly casually uttered when inviting her earlier.
It seemed this wasn't accidental, but rather this person had known from the very beginning...
Eliminating all clothing and accessories one by one, An Ning soon thought of something.
Unlike Chinese incense burning that had been popular for millennia, modern perfumes were created primarily to mask strong body odors, hence their scents tended to be more intense and direct.
Most were rich, vibrant floral scents of various kinds.
But what she used today was primarily sandalwood-based, with a noticeably lighter and more lingering aftertaste.
But if that was all...
In a flash of insight, An Ning suddenly remembered something. Having found a suitable excuse, she had always maintained the habit of burning incense in her room, and had always disliked the pungent smell of contemporary ink, always preparing her own.
Then those previously sent letters, could they have unintentionally picked up some scent...
Even if the incense types differed, some base notes wouldn't change. Considering the shop, even the scene at the entrance earlier.
Oh, God! Her poor, precarious disguise!
An Ning instinctively let out a sigh:
She should have been more careful. If only she had known this world contained Holmes creatures...
Sure enough, the next moment, she heard this Mr. Holmes before her say with near certainty and a slight smile:
"Miss Anne, you might not know, but my younger brother has had a pen pal for many years. Coincidentally, whether in temperament, habits, or intellect, they are remarkably similar to you..."
"Oh, what an excessive coincidence!"
So Mr. Scott, it was you all along, the legendary Sherlock Holmes.
An Ning couldn't help but let out a soft "hehe."
Unconsciously, this dance had reached its end, yet the man before her showed no intention of letting go, and An Ning, immersed in her thoughts, hadn't noticed.
By the time she realized, the second dance was nearly halfway through.
Leaving Colonel Ross not far away grinding his teeth in frustration.
Oh, God, two dances! Miss de Bourgh actually danced two consecutive dances with this man, one more than him!
Especially as dusk approached, the current ball was clearly winding down. Without a doubt, he had missed his last chance to even the score or turn things around...
Damn it, was he no longer the gentleman Miss de Bourgh favored most at the ball?
Similarly, more than just Colonel Ross noticed this scene.
As the event was just beginning to wind down, her mother Lady Catherine, who had witnessed the earlier scene, eagerly pulled her daughter aside.
In the carriage on the way back, this lady spoke with slight criticism:
"Oh, that Holmes boy. No title, assets aren't particularly abundant either. Only stands to inherit one estate and some not-too-prosperous land.
The advantage is that this family has been in politics for generations, their connections and status are fairly acceptable, and reaching this position in his early twenties, this eldest Holmes son could barely be considered somewhat promising..."
If her treasure truly took a liking to him, it wouldn't be entirely unacceptable.
In short, this person's status was barely within her acceptable range.
Barely somewhat promising... Thinking of that gentleman earlier, An Ning couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
"Although, Mother, your treasure daughter is still young! Isn't it too early to be talking about these things now!"