The Ups and Downs of Mormont Manor

This night was extremely difficult for the viscount's family. The women took off their colorful silk clothes and put on black gauze skirts and black veils. They gathered in front of the warm fireplace and wept sadly. The viscountess cried loudly all night and cursed her daughter-in-law: "You useless woman! You didn't even leave a son for William. I really regret letting William marry you!" Helena sneered: "Why didn't you say I was useless when you used my dowry? You only married me for money. Speaking of money, I haven't treated you badly these years. Everything you eat and use is from my dowry. If it weren't for me, your manor would have been deeply in debt long ago. How could you live a luxurious life!" "What do you mean by saying such words!" "What do I mean? I am already a widow now. I have neither children nor the title of viscountess. What am I still doing here? Of course, I will take my dowry and go home." "You! You have no right to do this!" "Right? Of course I have this right, and it is a right given to me by law." Helena stood up with a smile and said to everyone, "It's getting late, everyone. Have a good rest earlier. In the following days, we still have to prepare for the funeral." After Helena left the room, the viscountess cried and cursed loudly: "What a slutty and lowly woman! She can't take away our property! She can't!" "Mom, calm down." Miss Catherine, the third daughter, sat beside the viscountess and comforted her, gently fanning the viscountess who was breathing rapidly with a folding fan. Catherine is a rare beauty. She likes to wear a golden wig to set off her fair skin and light green pupils. Although she is only 16 years old, she has already grown into a graceful young woman. The viscountess said while crying, "What can we do? What do you all say? We will go bankrupt and have no heir. Your father's title will be inherited by an outsider. One day when your father dies, we will still be driven out of here!" Viscount Bruce said, "It's not so pessimistic. According to the old practice, let him marry Margaret or Catherine, and let our daughter become the mistress of Mormont Manor. As far as I know, he is very good at managing and should be considered wealthy." "No! Dad, I don't want to marry him! That ugly hunchback!" Miss Margaret, the second daughter, was the first to jump up and vehemently objected: "I want to choose my own husband!" Compared to Miss Catherine, the third daughter, Miss Margaret is even more beautiful, but her personality is not as stable as Catherine's. She is very arrogant and always bossy. Viscount Bruce said, "You want to choose your own husband? If a rich and powerful noble is willing to marry you, I will marry you off immediately. But unfortunately, since your wealthy sister-in-law is about to leave, I'm afraid I can't even afford a dowry of a thousand pounds. Do you think there will still be nobles willing to marry you under such circumstances?" "Oh! God! God!" Margaret screamed loudly. "I will immediately write a letter to inform him to come." The viscount said, "You all, prepare everything and welcome him." ... It snowed last night, the first snow since the beginning of winter. Late at night, lying in bed, surrounded by the cold air, I couldn't fall asleep for a long time. My feet were always cold and I couldn't feel warm. This reminded me of the days of hiding in my memory... In the early morning, I was awakened by the urgent ringing and started my day's work again. According to the order of butler Aaron, I came to the stable and informed the coachmen: "The viscount will go out later. Prepare the carriage immediately." Mormont Manor has a very solid stable. Here, more than ten excellent horses whose ancestors came from the eastern prairie are raised for the masters to take walks or go hunting. At the same time, a group of purebred beagles are carefully raised here. Before I even entered the stable, these little guys barked non-stop. Several coachmen greeted me and said that it might rain later and they had to check the carriage carefully. Unlike the servants serving in the castle, there are more than ten servants in the manor, such as coachmen, gardeners, forest guards, night watchmen, etc. They are not qualified to enter the castle and only live in a row of small wooden houses near the woods. External servants are servants lower than lower-level servants. Sometimes I can order them to do some things. "The viscount's valet will prepare a cloak and an umbrella. You don't have to worry." I said. "Owen, I heard that you went home a while ago." Old coachman John asked me. "Yes, on the day young master William had an accident. It's really terrible." I said. "How are your family?" "Thanks to God, they are very healthy." "I will drive to the city to purchase things in a few days. Do you want me to bring anything for you?" Uncle John asked me. "Oh, no need. I gave all my wages to my mother. I don't have the spare money to buy anything." I said with a smile. "Young man, you have to be smart and keep some money for yourself." John said: "My niece Betty came to the manor to be a cook today. She is a stupid girl. If you have a chance, remind her." When I heard the name Betty, I was stunned for a moment. I had forgotten her for so long... At noon, I saw the little girl who was in a flurry in front of the oven. That was Betty. She was scolded by several older cooks and looked very dejected. I thought she was about to cry. I put down the tray in my hand and walked over to comfort her: "You are old John's niece, right? I am Owen. He asked me to take care of you. Don't be too nervous. At most, they will scold you if you do something wrong. They won't beat you or drive you home. Right?" Betty's face looked much better and she smiled at me. Maybe it's not easy to look up at me because I am very tall. Soon she lowered her eyes and twisted her apron with both hands. "All right, young man. Don't disturb the girls under me." A fat cook rudely pulled Betty out of my sight. Simon came over and winked at me and said, "Your charm is really not small. Look at that girl just now. I suspect that if you look at her again, she will be so shy that she will sink into the ground." I smiled awkwardly: "Don't talk nonsense. She is just very introverted." Simon said, "Hmph, if I had your good-looking face, I would have stopped being a lower-level male servant long ago. Maybe I would have become the lover of a noblewoman." I didn't pay attention to him and walked out of the kitchen with the tray. I didn't refute him because, once upon a time, I was so self-righteous. My mother passed on a good appearance to me. I have a tall and straight body, golden curly hair, a high nose bridge, deep eye sockets, blue eyes, and a sharply contoured face that is very handsome in everyone's eyes. I remember when I was just 14 years old, a dissolute woman in the village seduced me and tried to have a romantic encounter with me. She was even willing to give me money for it. I agreed at that time and kissed each other in the haystack and took off each other's clothes. However, when I saw her fat body, I ran away in a panic. There were many red spots on that woman's body, densely packed, which made me feel nauseous. Now I am 18 years old. Compared to when I was 14, I am more mature and more handsome. Women also like me more. They always talk about me quietly and then let out chuckles. Wherever I go, their gazes follow me like a shadow. All this gave me blind confidence and made me mistakenly think that all women will fall in love with me... The housekeeper Selina ordered me to take coffee and desserts to the small living room. Male servants who have received professional training must have elegant etiquette, especially when carrying things. When holding a tray, you must hold your head high and look straight ahead. A small tray can only be firmly held under with one hand, and the other hand is placed on the waist behind. The walking pace should be steady and unhurried. It is difficult for ordinary people to be both elegant and balanced without long-term training. So when butler Aaron found that I could do it almost immediately, he exclaimed in surprise that I was a born excellent male servant. I couldn't tell him that in my previous life, I did such training every day. I walked back and forth with a book on my head and stood against the wall all day long. Today, there are guests at Mormont Manor. Miss Judith, the eldest daughter, came from Wyclereton by carriage with her little daughter Delores. They arrived a bit late because young master William's funeral had already been held. Miss Judith cried so hard that she couldn't catch her breath and looked very sad. Of course, whether she is as sad as she appears, we don't know. Because she combed her beautiful hair, put on delicate makeup, and wore all kinds of expensive and gorgeous jewels. The only difference from usual is that she changed into a black dress. At this time, she was angrily saying to the viscountess, "That slut actually left just like that!" The viscountess waved her fan vigorously. Her corset was tied too tightly, which made it difficult for her to breathe. So she said in a hurried voice, "As soon as the funeral was over, she left in her family's carriage." "Oh, mom, you have suffered. You actually have to endure the anger of such a low-class woman. We shouldn't have let the daughter of that merchant enter our family for a little dowry." Judith said arrogantly. "It's not the time to think about that woman now." The viscountess said in a low voice. Judith showed a thoughtful expression and put down her folding fan: "So, will he come?" "I'm not sure. We had a very bad relationship back then..." The viscountess said worriedly. I could hear clearly the conversations of the masters, but I had to pretend to be an invisible person. My job was just to bring in the food, hand it over to the senior male servant, and then stand by the wall and wait for orders like a mural. Senior male servants are responsible for pouring tea and serving tea and pastries to the ladies and misses. They are attentive and attentive, with elegant movements. When walking, their footsteps are as light as a cat. Miss Margaret, the second daughter, is whispering with the male servant Jason. Miss Catherine, the third daughter, is much more solemn. Although she also smiles gently at the servants, she never bothers to say more than a word to us. I think she probably despises people like us from the bottom of her heart. Unfortunately, at that time, I was lost in the swamp of her beautiful smile and never noticed this contempt. I even thought she was in love with me...