The First Female Duke

Chapter 23

"Where have you been?"

Bridges frowned, "Why haven't I?"

Edith folded her arms around her chest, "Fine, tell me how you took care of me." She looked like she was listening sideways.

As a result Bridges couldn't speak.

Was he supposed to say that he was actually secretly following her movements at school? How humiliating that would be! Even if he was beaten to death, he wouldn't say that out loud.

So Master Clark pursed his lips and stared at Edith with dark eyes.

Edith took his silence as acquiescence, and spreading her hands out to her sides, she said:

"See if I'm right!"

She turned her head and was about to leave, only for Bridges to reach out and pull her back.

Edith frowned, "What do you want? Do you still want to do it?" She looked wary.

Bridges' face was dark as hell, did he seem like such an unreasonable person?

If Edith had heard this heartfelt remark of his, it would have been bound to come back with a resounding, "Not what it looks like, you are."

Bridges gritted his teeth and softened his manner for the first time in his life:

"You help me muddle through this time, and I'll definitely take good care of you in ...... school in the future."

Edith raised an eyebrow, "Trying to get me to help you for no reason, where is such a good thing?"

Did she seem like such a nice person to talk to?

Young Master Clark was not a good-tempered person, he had just lowered his stature with great difficulty, but was rejected without hesitation, and now his face was completely gloomy.

"Then what do you want?" He said through clenched teeth.

Edith, seeing Bridges' attitude, was more than likely not going to agree, and she was already a soft touch.

The two argued directly beside the carriage.

Or the coachman could not see, up to remind, said Mrs. accounted for as far as possible before dark to rush back to Luxembourg, the two people only then cease to be.

They sat in the carriage, stuck diagonally across from each other, neither looking at the other.

By the time they reached Luxembourg, the car had stopped, and the carriage spoke respectfully outside:

"Young Master, Miss, it has arrived."

The two of them didn't move, and had the look of being prepared to sit in the carriage until the end of time. Seeing that the two young masters were not moving, the coachman hung his hands down and waited by the side - and then such a strange scene was formed.

Edith realized that the man was glaring at her, and she stared back hard without showing any weakness.

Bridges gave a start, he had sensed that if he just sat down, Edith could really stay here with him stubbornly for a day - were all girls so grumpy nowadays?

They couldn't stop here for too long - Mother would surely ask when she found out, and at the thought, Master Clark gritted his teeth and finally bowed his head to the forces of evil for the first time.

He closed his eyes extremely quickly and opened them again, as if he had made up his mind to say:

"I have a fire magic original stone here, although the quality is not as good as the one embedded in your wand, but it is already a very rare and fine product, if you are willing to help me muddle through, I will ...... give this original stone ...... to you! "

Young Master Clark spoke each word with great difficulty, but it sounded like music to Edith's ears.

Her eyes were crystal clear, her blue pupils no longer able to hide her joy:

"Deal!" Just heard Ms. Willey say loudly.

Young Master Clark's face completely darkened into a pot with this deal.

Edith's current mood could not even be described as wonderful, and the reason she was happy was certainly not because of that fire magic raw stone - the Villey family did not lack that. What she was happiest about was the fact that the stone had been plucked out of that Clark fellow's hands.

When she thought about how vicious he'd looked when they first met earlier, Edith finally felt like she'd breathed a sigh of relief.

The two of them got out of the carriage after the "peace negotiation", and Edith was looking happy - this could be seen from the two light pear swirls on the side of her mouth.

"Brother, let's go inside, Aunt Jolene should be waiting!"

Bridges jaws dropped at the speed of Edith's theatrical turn of phrase, and the voice, brother, as he tensed his handsome face and spoke in a hushed voice:

"Don't call me brother!!!"

Edith grinned, "Oh? What's my name then, Bridges?"

"--No!"

"Okay then, I'll still call you Clark."

"Wait a ...... minute," Edith turned back, just to see a flicker of struggle in Young Master Clark's eyes, and finally pursed her lips, "It's still ...... Bridges. "

Edith: "Puhahahahaha!"

This guy is so twisted!

Mrs. Clark was still as enthusiastic as ever to see Edith, she kissed Edith on the cheek and pulled her to sit beside her, to her son, Mrs. Clark just smiled slightly before turning her attention back to Edith.

Bridges was expressionless - he was used to it.

-- Having spent one of his precious fire magic protoliths to gag someone, Young Master Clark had no more worries.

Mrs. Clark seemed to have a million things to ask, such as:

"How's the food at school?"

"How's the dormitory?"

"Do you get along with your classmates?" "Are the instructors strict ......"

Edith smiled at all of them and answered them all.

When these popular questions above had been asked, Mrs. Clark clapped her hands gently, and again, as if she had thought of something, finally asked:

"By the way, did Bridges take good care of you at school?"

Edith thought to herself, here comes the main event.

Only now did Master Clark sit up straight, his black eyes firing a hundred thousand radiant visual warnings at her.

Mrs. Clark was also waiting for her answer.

Two seconds later, Edith flashed a sweet smile and said softly:

"Of course!"

Master Clark relaxed his body at once.

"Bridges took good care of me at school, took me to dinner, gave me proper advice when I was picking out my tutors ...... In short took special care of me!"

Bridges' eyes swept to someone's bright smile, sounds quite capable of bluffing, is this ...... a sarcastic remark.

Mrs. Clark was decidedly pleased to hear Edith call out to Bridges.

"Bridges has always been so well behaved and considerate, the two of you should get along well at school, oh yes, even if you have trouble with your studies you can go and ask your brother Bridges, although he is a Knight, he doesn't know a great deal about the magical spells bit."

Edith used the rest of the light to secretly measure this young master's face, and saw that he did not blush, but actually accepted Aunt Jolene's compliments openly.

--This person's face is really thick-skinned ah!

Young Master Clark was completely unaware of Edith's thoughts; as far as he was concerned, his role with his mother had always been that of an obedient and understanding son, so was there anything wrong with praising him like that now?

--Par for the course, it made sense.

For the Luxembourg to which the two men had returned was already a little dark, and it was fully dark by the time of this talk. As dinner was about to be served, Duke Clarke returned.

He was wearing a well-tailored handmade three-piece dress with a high brimmed hat, and the obsidian ring he wore on his left thumb gave off a mysterious and ancient aura. Duke Clarke carried with him a very distinct sense of oppression that belonged to a higher power - Edith had seen it in her own mother, though usually she was well restrained when it came to her.

Seeing the little girl sitting nicely on the couch, Duke Clark smiled slightly and walked over to touch Edith's little head.

"Back, how are you adjusting in Sofia?"

Edith raised her small white face and said softly, "Quite well."

Duke Clarke's gaze swept to his taut-faced son and back again as he spoke warmly:

"Go to Bridges when you're in trouble."

"Got it, Uncle Sheffield."

Bridges' lips pursed into a straight line, well, now that his father had spoken, he was not going to be able to get rid of the brat for good.

After dinner, Duke Clarke went to his study to deal with official business, while Mrs. Clarke pulled Edith into a chat, and as if she thought of something, she suddenly said:

"My dear, would it be good to take you out to-morrow afternoon?"

"Out?" Edith raised her face, "Is it something?"

Mrs. Clark smiled slightly, "Just a leisurely tea party with people Aunt Jolene knows."

Edith understood in a second, a tea party such as this was simply a gathering of several noblewomen for afternoon tea - this form of gathering was an integral part of the social system of the nobility.

Moreover, listening to Aunt Jolene, it seemed that she was going to bring her into the noble circle of Canas City?

After all, Aunt Jolene was the Duchess of Clarke, and those who could be invited to the tea party at the same time as her would never be of low status.

Mrs. Clark touched her hair and softly said, "Don't be afraid, you'll follow me when the time comes."

Edith smiled weakly and didn't say anything.

Fear, her last name was Willey, naturally she would not shy away from any such form of socialization.

Bridges had a bad preview in his mind when he heard his mother say something about a tea party, and he rose in silence and crept up the stairs, only to have Mrs. Clarke call out just as he reached the stairway:

"Are you going along, son?"

Bridges turned stiffly to see his mother looking at him with a smile, and his brow, hidden under his bangs, furrowed involuntarily.

"I'm not going." He said with a grimace.

Mrs. Clark looked surprised, "Why? I remember you enjoying going to parties like this with me when you were a kid?"

"Yes, but now I'm older."

"You're obviously thirteen."

Even the self-proclaimed mature Young Master Clark couldn't retort that thirteen wasn't actually too young, so he simply shut his mouth.

"What has changed you so much?" Mrs. Clark's voice sounded distressed and sad, "Could it be that I'm getting older and you no longer want to follow your mother out of the house?"

Bridges: "......"

Suddenly he came to the realization of the truth, don't try to reason with female creatures - at any age.

Because it just doesn't make sense!

Bridges' brain was pounding and he waved his hand in surrender as he saw his mother's "I'll cry if I do" attitude.

"I'll go, I'll go alright!"

Mrs. Clark's smile instantly unfolded as she exulted, "Oh, I knew you'd still be my good son!"

-- so he's not a good son if he doesn't go!

Of course, regardless of Master Clark's internal reluctance, it was a fact, at least on the surface, that Mrs. Clark was taking Bridges and Edith to tomorrow's afternoon tea party.

When Edith told her two personal maids about it, both maids showed a high degree of importance to the matter.

Mary began to select for her the gown she would wear to tomorrow's party from her wall-to-wall wardrobe-apparently a more reasonable valet now than she had been in her first moments of trepidation.

And Lexi began picking out jewelry for her to wear tomorrow in her jewelry box.

Edith was wearing a white linen nightgown at the moment, with a small white arm exposed under the wide ruffled cuffs, and her soft brown curly hair hanging down to her waist, and with her legs wobbling slightly, she sat on the edge of the bed and watched Mary and Lexi go about their business, and didn't go up to make any trouble, but said:

"It's just a simple afternoon tea, and doesn't have to be too grand."

Lexi held the jewelry she had picked out in front of her, and said with some disapproval, "Although it is, this is Miss's first appearance in Canas City's noble circles!"

Edith laughed, thinking about it, their Villey family had lived in the fiefdom of Nobia City for generations, and because of the distance, they seldom socialized with the noble circles of Canas City. But Villey was also one of the Eight Marquises no matter what, and her first appearance should definitely not be belittled without being high-profile.

So Edith obeyed Li Xi's intention and seriously looked at the jewelry she had selected for her.

Although her mother had asked Aunt Jolene to take care of her and let her stay in Luxembourg, she had prepared everything for her, including jewelry for everyday use and for formal parties.

Edith scanned the room and finally pointed to a small crown full of diamonds. A playful and cute style was perfect for a ten year old girl.

Seeing that, Lexi took that small crown out separately and put it in a jewelry box.

By the time everything was cleaned up and Edith was ready for bed, Mrs. Clark surprised her by coming over.

Mrs. Clark saw Edith sitting up in bed, the velvet comforter resting on the small of her back, her hair slightly disheveled and resting on the sides of her cheeks, and her face, which bore a seven-fold resemblance to Pollyanna's, was calling out at her in confusion, "Aunt Jolene?"

Mrs. Clark's heart softened abruptly, and she smiled at Edith, sitting down on the edge of her bed and stroking her hair tenderly:

"Did you disturb the baby by coming over so late?"

Edith shook her head and smiled sweetly, "No, I'm still awake."

Mrs. Clark didn't beat around the bush with her, directly handing over a box with a delicate floral engraving, "It's for you, open it!"

Edith gave Mrs. Clark a surprised look and slowly opened the box, then her eyes widened slightly.

Inside the box lay a pink crystal necklace that sparkled in the light.

If it were in the eyes of the average person, this would probably just be a well-made necklace, perhaps valuable, but not special.

But Edith was obviously not an ordinary person, she had already recognized that the craftsmanship of this crystal necklace originated from the last century. Generally speaking, jewelry like this wouldn't be taken out and used if it wasn't an important occasion, as it obviously had a high collector's value.

"This is too expensive." Edith shook her head, "I can't have it."

"But you have to know that no matter how expensive it is, it's still just a piece of jewelry." Mrs. Clark said gently, "It will never reflect its value when placed in a cold jewelry box."

"You're so smart, you should be able to understand what I mean."

Edith mused, in her previous life there was a saying, "Elders give, don't resign", even now, with the relationship between Aunt Irene and her mother, she looked a little rusty in declining this gift.

Thinking about this point, Edith tilted her head towards Mrs. Clark and showed a sweet smile, she said:

"Thank you Aunt Jolene."

Mrs. Clark smiled slightly and thought, "Sure is a smart and well-behaved kid.

*

A light pink, wide-swinged gown, cinched at the waist, with special detailing at the waistband, and a satin bow of silk polyester draped over a fluffy skirt at the back.

At that moment Lexi was putting on Edith's gloves, while Mary came up holding the piece of jewelry Edith had picked out last night.

Edith glanced at the small crown and suddenly changed her mind, "Wear the bowler hat, and change the jewelry to ...... the necklace that Aunt Jolene gave me last night, this one will be enough."

Mary had served Edith since she was a child, and knew her character best, whenever a young lady spoke in such a tone, it meant that she had already made a decision, and at that point you just had to do as you were told.

So Mary didn't even ask the reason, so she directly went to bring that box over, then took out that necklace and gently put it on for Edith.

It was only when everything was fully dressed and she was sure there was no mistake that Edith went downstairs.

And by now, Young Master Clark was already sitting on the couch downstairs, waiting.

He froze at the sight of Edith, only to lift the corner of his mouth and speak lazily a few seconds later:

"You're so slow, you're the only one waiting."

He was uncharacteristically handsome in his exquisitely tailored gown, and in the presence of her elders, Edith only glared at him gently before addressing Mrs. Clark apologetically:

"I'm sorry, Aunt Jolene, for keeping you waiting."

Mrs. Clark glared back at her son before turning back to Edith and smiling, "You heard him, we're just getting it done too."

She pulled away from Edith's hand to look it up and down before finally saying happily:

"Our sweetheart looks so good today."

Being glared at twice in a row, Master Clark pursed his lips as he couldn't help but glance over to Edith and mentally spit at his mother's words.

Of course she looks good! That's what that girl does when she goes out and bluffs with that sweet, sweet look, and see how his mother is lulled into a state of bliss.

Packing up, Mrs. Clarke took Bridges and Edith to Moore Hall, the venue for today's party.

Duchess Dana was the initiator of this afternoon tea party, she was a graceful and noble looking noblewoman, at this moment she was holding a delicate fan in her hand, and glancing ahead, her own servant was leading a group of people this way.

Mrs. Dana took the fan to cover half of her face, and smiled coquettishly at another noblewoman beside her:

"Look, Jolene is here."

The Duchess of Clark, beautiful and flamboyant as always, was followed by a handsome boy in his late teens, her son, and to the surprise of the crowd, she was holding a little girl by the hand.

Lady Dinah waited quietly with a twinkle in her eye, and only when they walked in did she raise her voice slightly:

"Jolene, you're late today."

Mrs. Clarke quirked her lips, "Just a little late, is there no more black tea to serve at Moore Hall?"

The noblewomen laughed.

Dana placed her fan on the table and stood up, hooking her mouth to look at Edith and said:

"Jolene, when did you add a daughter?"

Mrs. Clark smiled slightly and let go of Edith.

Undeterred, Edith stepped forward slightly, lifting the hem of both skirts to bend her knees slightly, her voice clear:

"Good day, ma'am."

"I'm Edith. Willey."