The Barchester Manor, just two miles east of Darlington Castle, was the main residence of Viscount Darlington's family, as well as his eldest son, Joseph, and his wife, Clarissa. Compared to the 4,000-hectare (40 million sq m) Darlington Castle, this 300-hectare (3 million sq m) manor-style house in Tudor style is much smaller.

In the days before the daylight hours were shorter, Clarissa and her husband, Joseph, and their eldest son, Samson, accompanied by a nanny and a maid, would often wander in the Italianate garden at the back of the manor with plenty of flowers and trees. Sometimes, when Joseph went to Darlington Castle, she would invite Caroline, the eldest daughter of the Viscount of Darlington, to walk or sit in the gardens with her.

But now, it was obviously 10 o'clock in the evening when I fell asleep last night, but the sky outside the window was still a blue sky, a sky high and cloudy. When she woke up and asked the maid to open the curtains, the sky outside the window was "still" pitch black with no fingers out of sight.

After repeating this once or twice, Clarissa decided that her life on the estate with her husband and children had entered the most difficult autumn and winter season of the year. In this case, she had to move all the things she used to do every morning or afternoon until after sunrise in the afternoon.

Today, though, is different. At 6 o'clock this morning, the weekly Sunday Mass will be held in Durham Church. Also at 6 o'clock this morning, her husband will escort Lord Darlington's honorarium-paid army into the only military fort at the southern county border of County Durham.

At 6 o'clock this morning, her husband, Joseph, will attend Sunday Mass at the military fortress called Barnard Castle to pray for her and their child Samson in the presence of God. Joseph would tell God about his needs, promising God that he would act according to the divine will of God, and that he would praise and thank his family for the blessings he had received.

After attending Sunday Mass, before leaving the church in a four-wheeled carriage with Caroline, Clarissa began to worry about her husband. The reason for her concern was that she had not seen the knightly messenger sent by Joseph until the end of the Sunday Mass.

After returning to the estate with Caroline, she looked at the hard road outside the manor that was paved with gravel and led directly to Darlington Castle. She wished to see the knight with the torch galloping up, coming directly to her, saluting respectfully, and handing her a letter from her husband in both hands.

Watching again and again, disappointed again and again, Clarissa Swift's heart became very anxious. At this moment a young maid came in from outside the drawing-room door, saluted her, and said, "Madam, Ms. Swift." ”

Standing in front of the window with a glass of wine in her hand, Clarissa looked back and saw a smiling Caroline Swift walking into the living room. Immediately, with the characteristic smile of a noble lady on her face, she came to the center of the living room to greet the transformed Lady Swift. As the eldest daughter born to Viscount Darlington's marriage, Caroline was privileged in what others called her.

Caroline, who came to the living room, was long gone with the gorgeous corset and huge skirt that had been put on for her by the personal maid. Instead, a pair of black skinny men's trousers was paired with a pair of high riding boots, and a white silk men's shirt was worn underneath and a black cordoned leather tunic was worn over it.

Clarissa's valet stood in the corner of the living room and saluted her, and Caroline came to Clarissa without squinting. After smiling and kissing his eldest brother's wife, he whispered, "Good day, Mrs. Swift." ”

Clarissa returned the salute and said, "Good day, Ms. Swift." ”

After the two sat down, a maid brought Caroline a glass of French wine. Caroline took the wine glass from the tray, glanced at Clarissa, who was sitting in the seat preoccupied, and called the other party's nickname: "Claire, still worried about your husband?" ”

Clarissa withdrew her distracted gaze, looked at her husband's sister and said, "What I don't understand, Carrie, is that I have prayed for Joseph in the presence of God. Why didn't I hear from him when I got back to the manor? ”

"Perhaps, he is showing his chivalric charm to a pretty country girl who lives near Barnard Castle." Caroline took a sip of wine and teased her brother.

"Carrie, now is not the best time to talk about this. If you want to talk, we can change the time. ”

"Okay. Future Lord Darlington, can you tell me what exactly are you worried about? ”

"Carrie, this is Joseph's first military mission of this importance, and I don't want him to make a mistake in the process."

Caroline put down her half-drunk wine glass, nodded and said, "Claire, military missions are always carried out flawlessly. However, a knight can never make a guarantee to his wife. ”

Clarissa sighed and said to her, "Carrie, I know what you say. If that were the case, I would have liked Joseph to be like a true knight, with his sword in his hand in his hand and charging at his enemies. ”

"Joseph will do it, Claire. Well, now we can ......" Caroline was halfway through her words when she heard what seemed to be the sound of horses' hooves outside the window.

"God willing, Joseph's messenger has finally arrived." Clarissa, who also heard the sound of horses' hooves, had a hint of relief on her face.

Then, when she came to the window, she was surprised to find that the man who had come to the manor was Viscount Darlington and two knights. Hurriedly turned around and said to Caroline with a little surprise: "Carly, the person who came is your father?!" ”

When Lamberton appeared in the living room, the two noble women present stood up in unison. The Viscount stepped forward and hugged the two women one by one, kissed their faces, and then sat calmly on the first seat of the living room, watching Clarissa who was seated.

Caroline had already sensed that something was wrong with her father's face and attitude, and after glancing at the silent Clarissa, she said to her father, "Dad, Claire and I want to know why you are so eager to see us as soon as you return to the manor?" ”

Lamberton frowned, his right hand clenched into a fist and slammed into the armrest of the seat. Then, the wife, who was staring at the eldest son, said slowly, "Clarissa, I have very sad news for you. Uh, the news is about Joseph. ”

Since Viscount Darlington's sudden return to the estate, Clarissa had a premonition that something bad was going to happen. She didn't expect that the first thing the viscount said was related to his eldest son, who was her husband. Clarissa struggled to control her emotions that were about to turn bad, and said slowly, "Father, I... I hear you. So, now can you tell me what exactly this news is? ”

Lamberton Swift thought about it again and again, but he still told the truth about the shocking thing. Word for word: "The army led by Joseph was attacked by thieves. Now, his fate is unknown, and it is very likely that he has been captured by thieves. ”