Unbeknownst to her, she was just about to leave the parlor when she heard a rush of footsteps behind her, and the Duke of Richmond's personal valet, Eugene, chased after her, "Your Excellency, Your Highness, please go back." ”

Isabel had no choice but to turn back into the parlor, only to see the Duke slowly pacing in front of her with a wine glass in one hand, "Isabel, it is true that it cost a lot of money to build Goodwood Manor. Therefore, I need you to take a few men to Sussex to have a detailed look at the new estate. ”

"Yes, Henry. Also, do you need to look at the ledgers that have been built on the manor over the years? Isabel knew the Duke would let her go on a trip to Sussex herself.

"Before dinner, ask Beard to bring the ledger." After Henry finished speaking, he tilted his neck and took a sip of wine, "Isabel, this time take a painter to the new estate in Sussex. The painter is required to paint every part of the manor as accurately as possible, and not to over-embellish the manor. ”

In the era without technology, only painters could take pictures. However, in order to please nobles, ministers or knights, painters often over-embellished the people or scenes they painted. Anne of Cleves was over-embellished by Hans Holbein the Younger, who excelled in portraiture, so that Henry VIII was misled by those who praised Anne in the portrait and was forced to marry the daughter of a German nobleman.

"No problem, Henry, I'll go to the new estate as soon as I arrive in Windsor."

At this time, Henry recalled the words he had thought about on the road and smiled excitedly, "Isabel, you know what? When I come back this time, I would like to tell you a very exciting and interesting thing. ”

His left hand rested on the hilt weight ball of the cross-handed half-handed sword at his waist, and when he walked to the side and turned around, Isabel laughed, "Henry, you want to say that on the way back you met a thief who was going to rob you?" Or was it a fight with members of the committee who had political disagreements? ”

"No, no, no, you didn't guess right at all this time, I'll give you another chance."

What more exciting and fun can there be in this era, but dueling, hunting, jousting, plundering, fighting, courting noblewomen, or being a pirate rampaging the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic, and the Atlantic. Isabel looked up at the confident Duke of Richmond, still reluctant to associate a bloody duel that could cost her life at any time with the young duke.

Si shook his head, and touched the round weight ball at the end of the hilt with the index finger of his left hand a few times, "I think, you're talking about this, right?" ”

Henry's eyes paid attention to the other party's fingers, and then glanced at what the other party was pointing at, and laughed, "Isabel, I know, you deliberately guessed wrong just now. Actually, you already know that I want to talk about duels. ”

The duke did take part in the duel, and it was amazing that he survived intact. Luckily, God forbid this red-haired guy didn't die, otherwise Isabel really didn't know what to do in the future. looked at each other coldly and said lukewarmly: "Henry, have you ever thought that if you are killed by the other party in a duel, the Duchess will not become a Duchess who has lost her husband?" ”

"Actually, I didn't think about it that much, I just thought about how to beat the other side."

"Well, who is the other party? A noble member of the council, or a knight or squire under the Earl of Bishop Durham? ”

"Neither, just an elderly gentleman from the town of Derts, Yorkshire."

The question of where, when, and when this duel between the Duke and the gentleman took place, what weapons were used, who acted as referees and witnesses, and so on, became less important with the Duke of Richmond's safe return. At this moment, Isabel didn't want to ask any questions about the details, but just looked at the Duke calmly, "Henry, you should pray to God a few more times, the other party is an elderly gentleman." ”

Henry nodded, recalling the word "old age", "yes, fortunately the other party is just an old gentleman. If it were a young knight, I'm afraid I wouldn't have won easily. ”

"Well, Mary is still waiting for you. I have also seen you alone as your retainer, and I should have left. ”

"Isabel, you... Are you having dinner with me and Mary? ”

"Henry, today is a secret time for you and Mary, and everyone including me is superfluous."

"Well, I'll take your opinion." Henry's expression darkened slightly.

Seeing him like this, Isabel smiled lightly, "Henry, you can try to think of Mary as a childhood friend. I am sure that there will be a lot more to talk about among you.

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When we returned to Asker Manor it was lunchtime, Sir Augustine sat at the back end of the rectangular table, Madame Sir sat at the back of the table, and Isabel sat on either side of Baron Latimer's eldest son. The 12-year-old Baron's eldest son, John, has been living in Asker Manor for three years, and his physical fitness has become completely different from what he used to be.

John looked at Isabel across from him with a smile and made a request, "Godmother, today is Sunday Mass, can I take a day off?" ”

Isabel picked up her glass and took a sip of her wine, "Yes." However, is today's skills training complete? ”

"Godmother, I've been training all morning. This is a question that Jazz can testify to me. ”

Sir Augustine smiled and looked at his daughter, "Son, John did not lie, and I can testify for him." ”

Isabel pursed her lips and glanced at her godson, who was bent on going crazy outside the manor, "Okay, I'll put your skills to the test after lunch." ”

For the rest of the lunch, John, who was no longer weak, continued to devour the food on his plate. Not only eat a lot, but also eat fast. Sizz Lady Antonia, who was sitting at the tail end, looked at her daughter's godson distressedly, "John, you can eat slowly, don't forget that you are the eldest son of a nobleman." ”

John shoved a large piece of roasted pork chop into his mouth in a few bites, swallowed it and drank a large glass of ale. After putting down the wine glass, he wiped his lips with a silk tablecloth again, and turned his head to stare at Antonia, "Madam, I have not forgotten that I am Lord Latimer's eldest son. It's just that I'm afraid that I won't be able to defeat my godmother. ”

Isabel, who was sitting across from her, chewed slowly and shook her head amusedly. After drinking some red wine, he glanced at the baron's eldest son, "John, if you want to overcome me, you can go without eating anything in a day." ”

John blinked, "Godmother, are you telling the truth?" What if I want to fight you with a double-edged axe? ”