When Wickham stood in front of Viscount Bernard's house with the gift, he felt a little emotional. Two years ago, when Wickham came to visit, he was a poor boy with no name, and even the gifts were forged by himself. Who would have thought that two years later, that poor boy would be able to turn over and stand in front of Viscount Bernard's house again with a gift worth no less than five hundred pounds?

Just as Wickham raised his hand and was about to knock on the door, the black oak door opened as if by feeling, and a pretty face appeared in front of Wickham.

"George Wickham?" Margaret Bernard looked at the captain officer in front of her with some surprise, a look of surprise and joy on her face.

The person who Wickham didn't want to open the door turned out to be Miss Margaret Bernard, the daughter of Viscount Bernard, the beautiful girl with whom he had an affair back then.

"It's me, Miss Bernard. Please forgive me for taking the liberty of visiting today. Don't know Viscount Bernard is at home? Facing the girl in front of him, Wickham had some complicated feelings, Margaret Berner was not unaware of his love for him, and he even had the idea of marrying this young lady.

After all, Wickham was just a poor ** silk back then, but Margaret Berner was an authentic white rich beauty, and Marrying her Wickham could have at least twenty years less struggle. Human nature is a little inert, there is an easy shortcut to the sky, and Wickham will naturally not be so high as to give up. It was only at the thought of Georgiana Darcy's resolute eyes, coupled with the mismatch between the two families, that Wickham extinguished the idea.

Margaret Bernard was originally going to go out shopping today, but she didn't expect to meet the person she thought about day and night at the door of her house, and after a long absence, Margaret's heart immediately rose a trace of sweetness.

It's just that when she thought of Wickham's farewell without saying goodbye, Margaret's turquoise eyes suddenly lost focus, and she said with a cold attitude: "Mr. Wickham, you have nothing to be rude. My father is indeed at home, but he may make a trip to the Admiralty later. ”

Then the two fell silent, without a word of superfluity, and Margaret was stuck at the door, not at all letting Wickham in.

Wickham looked very embarrassed, standing at the door of someone's house, not knowing for a moment whether to go in or get out of the way. After about ten seconds, a lazy voice came out of the door: "Dear Margaret, aren't you going out for coffee with friends, why don't you leave now, what are you doing standing at the door?" ”

Margaret Bernard reluctantly turned to the side and said to the person behind her: "Mother, it's Mr. Wickham, he's back from the Far East. ”

As soon as Margaret finished speaking, Wickham heard an exclamation from inside, and then the graceful Mrs. Bernard hurried to the door with her skirt in hand.

Two years had passed, but Mrs. Bernard still knew the same, as if time had never left a mark on this woman, who was dressed in a bright green dress of the same color as Margaret, and the two stood together like sisters. Wickham seemed to understand why General Bernard had fallen out with the old fox of Lord Margarney.

Mrs. Bernard welcomed Wickham into the room with great enthusiasm, and said happily: "Mr. Wickham, come in, you have not seen you for two years, and you are still that handsome and charming lad." I think you'll be swoezed by the ladies of this year's London social season. With that, Mrs. Bernard smiled toothlessly at Wickham with a charming smile.

Wickham took off his top hat and handed it to the servant next to him to hang it up, and responded, "I haven't seen you for two years, and Mrs. Bernard is still so charming." It was really Viscount Bernard's luck to be able to marry Mrs. Bernard. Wickham's words are not against his heart at all, although Mrs. Bernard is nearly forty years old, but the fair-skinned face and Miaoman's figure are still like a twenty-year-old young woman, and the so-called childlike hot mothers on the Internet in later generations are really far worse than Mrs. Bernard.

Women have never been resistant to compliments on people, especially their own looks, and Mrs. Bernard was no exception, and smiled happily: "Mr. Wickham, you are such a lovely lad. Hey, Mr. Wickham, what's going on with your face? Mrs. Bernard noticed the scar on Wickham's face, so she suppressed her smile and asked Wickham with some concern.

During the battle with the French Navy's "Warbler", Wickham was accidentally scratched by the scattered sawdust from artillery fire, although it was only a small injury that was not worth mentioning, but it still left a faint scar on that handsome face, which can still be seen clearly if you pay attention.

After getting closer to Wickham just now, the thoughtful Mrs. Bernard soon noticed this faint scar on Wickham's cheek.

Wickham waved his hand indifferently and said, "Ma'am, it's just a small wound left in the naval battle. ”

Hearing that Wickham had been wounded in battle, Miss Margaret Bernard took a few steps forward with a nervous look on her face, and said in a worried tone, "Are you injured?" Wouldn't you be a little more careful in battle, don't you know how worried I am? ”

Margaret Bernard stepped forward to take a closer look at the scar on Wickham's face, only to find that the faint scar on the man's right cheek did not diminish his handsomeness in the slightest, but added a touch of a man's wildness and uninhibitedness.

Because the distance was so close, Margaret Bernard could even feel the hot breath of Wickham, and her face turned red when she took a moment, and quickly took a few steps back to distance herself from Wickham.

Mrs. Bernard smiled at her daughter's interaction with Wickham, and interjected: "Dear Mary, you sit with Mr. Wickham for a while, and I'll go upstairs and call your dad down." "She's from the past, how can she not understand her daughter's thoughts about Wickham? She doesn't have much of an opinion on this, and is even happy to see it happen.

Wickham made a surprisingly good impression on Mrs. Bernard, not only because Wickham saved her, but also because of Wickham's extraordinary talent (a copy of a collection of poems), his handsome appearance, and a heart that is not willing to be mediocre and always motivated.

It can be said that in addition to his family background, Wickham is almost the most perfect son-in-law in Mrs. Bernard's mind. Mrs. Bernard didn't care too much about the question of family background, because in her opinion, a gentleman with a strong background was not as reliable as a motivated and hard-working commoner child, after all, no matter how prominent the father was, there would always be a day when he would grow old, and no matter how much wealth he had, he would squander it.

In Mrs. Bernard's eyes, Wickham is like a potential stock, which is very valuable for investment, so she moved the idea of matching her daughter with Wickham. In this way, not only did he fulfill his daughter's wish, but he could also attract a young talent for the Berner family, and he was happy?

"Mom!" Margaret Bernard stomped her foot smilingly, "My friends and I have already made an appointment, how can I not go?" ”

Mrs. Bernard tapped Margaret Bernard's forehead and said angrily, "What can you do all day together?" It's not about going to the jewelry store and hat shop! You'd better stay at home and talk to Mr. Wickham, you haven't seen each other for a year. ”

With that, Mrs. Bernard ignored her daughter's protests behind her, staggered up the stairs, and glanced meaningfully at Wickham before turning the corner.

After Mrs. Bernard left, the atmosphere between the two became delicate, especially Margaret Bernard, who was visibly nervous with her hands gripping the corner of her skirt tightly.

In order to break this embarrassment, Wickham had to speak first: "It's a good day, it's rare in London that it's such a sunny day, and it's a very good pastime to go out for a walk with friends." ”

The sun is abundant in London in September, and the warmth shines through the thin sand curtains. For a moment, Wickham felt like he hadn't been so relaxed and at ease in two years.

In the two years of rushing and rushing, Wickham has reaped a huge fortune, gained decent positions, and given the bigwigs of high society a first impression of themselves, but they have also lost and missed something. Life is like this, the journey is full of beautiful scenery, and only by stopping and being quiet can you discover the charm of it.

Margaret Bernard looked up at the man across from her, and she was a little confused. Wickham's body was covered with warm sunlight, and his blond hair, which looked a little messy because he had just taken off his hat, was full of a languid atmosphere, and his brows were tightly knit as if he was thinking about something. If Margaret Bernard used to like Wickham because of her handsome appearance and whimsical poetry, now she has an irrepressible desire to get close to this man.

Margaret Bernard lowered her head, and did not answer Wickham's words, but whispered: "The day after tomorrow, the Countess of Crown is going to hold a salon, can you come with me?" After saying that, he lowered his head with a red face and stared crampedly at the lace on the skirt, looking a little expectant and a little apprehensive.

Wickham frowned, the meaning of unmarried men and unmarried women attending a social occasion together was self-evident. If he did, where would Georgiana Darcy be placed?

As if sensing Wickham's dissatisfaction, Margaret Bernard twitched inexplicably, and the corners of her eyes were slightly red: "If Mr. Wickham you don't have time, then forget it." ”

It is undeniable that men are the least resistant to poor women, especially when they still admire you. Wickham was not exempt from vulgarity, and Miss Margaret Bernard's thoughts, while annoying him, also satisfied his manly vanity. Other girls don't care about their reputation, why are you a big man still mother-in-law? Wickham temporarily put down the figure of Georgiana in his heart and promised: "Okay, I will come to pick you up the day after tomorrow." ”

Margaret Bernard didn't expect Wickham to suddenly change her attention, first fluctuating for a moment, and then with a happy smile on her face: "George, you're so nice. Subconsciously, Margaret removed the honorifics from the title of Wickham and made it more intimate.

Wickham was also fascinated by Margaret Bernard's smile, and was a little stunned for a while.

Emotions are so simple, maybe it's a smile back, maybe it's a strand of hair behind the ear, or maybe it's a pouting action, which makes a person deeply fascinated.

Margaret's smile just now was like a rainbow after the rain and the sky was clear, and it was amazing that people couldn't take their eyes off it. Wickham was sure that he had never seen such a bright smile in his two lives.

Margaret Bernard was a little shy by Wickham's gaze, and was about to speak, when a hearty laugh came from the stairs: "Young man, we meet again, and the sailing life has been going well in the past two years, right?" ”