His expression was not very good. Rabo, Nielsen, Young and others looked at each other in confusion and wisely did not say anything. They escorted Sean's carriage back to his temporary residence at the University of Poitou.
The Countess of Koval held a birthday ball for her eldest grandson when he turned eighteen. It was a grand ball with many guests, and Sean also received an invitation.
Sean's arrival was both surprising and natural. Because people in Poitou's upper class knew that he couldn't dance, and it seemed that he was unwilling to learn. However, he received an invitation from the Countess of Covato two days later.
A very formal written reply will be given within a day.
This is a round step dance that is widely popular from the court to the folk. It is usually a large-scale dance involving at least ten pairs of men and women, and requires the accompaniment of a band of 20 people. Today's dance gathered nearly a hundred men and women.
In the beautiful and slightly lively music, men and women in gorgeous evening gowns danced gracefully, showing their elegance and lively graceful figures.
Audrey was sitting with a group of women, while Sean and other men were sitting across from each other, with a spacious dance floor between them. The women were all jeweled and glamorous, while the men were well-dressed and elegant.
Even the servants are all well-dressed, polite and considerate, and provide attentive service, showing the upbringing and magnanimity of a wealthy family. This is something that the new nouveau riche can't achieve for a while.
Such a grand ball is not common even in Poitou, not only because of its grandness and luxury, but also because the guests who participate in it are all top-notch people. Therefore, it is favored by the upper class.
Popular among men and women, an invitation usually makes the invitee feel proud.
The dance had been going on for a while, and when the song ended, the graceful dancing of ten pairs of men and women won applause from the guests watching.
Audrey is undoubtedly the most dazzling one among the many female guests, but she has not finished yet. Perhaps she is considering Sean's embarrassment.
Viscount Brandon also came today. His wife has been ill recently, so he brought his daughter and danced with his daughter. He watched his daughter very closely and forbade any man from getting close to her.
"Sean, I dare to tell you that the men who come here tonight, except for old guys like me, are all looking for beauty. These guys are well-dressed, but their fancy clothes can't cover up the filth in their hearts."
Viscount Brandon said to Sean.
This old troll.
"Viscount, you included me in this," Sean said dissatisfied.
"You?" Brandon took a sip of wine, "Other people's eyes are flying all over the place, but your eyes only stay on one woman."
"Is it so obvious?" Sean asked in surprise.
"I didn't believe the rumors at first, but now I do." Brandon glanced at Sean, "Young Viscount, I was also young. But, as someone who has experienced it, I tell you seriously that marriage is a contract.
, is also a solemn commitment. Do not make major decisions easily based on impulse. Considering that you are the only one in the Connery family, this is even more important."
"What's your suggestion?" Sean asked curiously.
"I don't know!" Brandon said.
Sean's head was filled with questions.
"It depends on where you put your future wife." Perhaps feeling Sean's dissatisfaction, Brandon continued, "First of all, the family background of your fiancée will not disgrace your family. Of course, being well-matched is a basic requirement.
But people usually look higher than the other mountains and cling to wealthy families because they can bring prosperity to the family.
Help. Secondly, wives usually have received a strict education and are well-educated, which is a necessary condition for husbands and children to cultivate the future of the family. A stupid wife is simply a family nightmare. Thirdly, let me tell you a secret, any woman with a big butt,
A healthy heir will definitely be born. As for love, what is that?"
"Haha. Viscount, thank you for telling me this secret. Can I understand that my wife is just a prop or a ladder? The main function is to carry on the family line, and the other is a way for me to rise. And love is for entertainment.
, so you can keep the canary." Sean said.
"Well, Sean, it seems that you have become a qualified noble. At least you behave normally here..." Brandon pointed to his head, "But obviously, your eyes tell me that you are not prepared to do this.
.But if you marry a woman and have several mistresses at the same time, but you think it's because of love, just pretend I didn't say anything."
"I really don't understand why so many people give me similar advice? Of course I know they may have good intentions," Sean said.
"It's simple, because you always show an atypical aristocratic demeanor, which makes everyone feel the need to correct you to make you look like one of their own." Brandon said jokingly, "But you don't want to
Worry, I think that's jealousy. If you act like them, they won't feel like they've done anything wrong. The more successful you are, the more you look bad to them."
"Viscount, please excuse me." Sean crossed the center of the dance floor, walked to the female guests' seats, and came to Audrey.
At this time, Audrey was surrounded by a group of young men, some of whom were sons of nobles, some of bankers, and the most famous artist in Poitou.
They all asked Audrey to dance.
But Audrey's slightly cold temperament blocked their enthusiastic expectations, and the competition between the same sex made them tense.
"Madam, may I invite you to dance with me?"
Sean roughly pushed away the man in front of him. The man turned around and glared hard. When he saw it was Sean, the man immediately disappeared from his eyes. Sean was not someone he could afford.
In full view of everyone, Sean invited Audrey to join the dance floor. Not to mention others, even Audrey was surprised.
Sean showed his strength, and everyone could only look at him jokingly, but no one dared to challenge him. Some male guests, such as Viscount Brandon, took the lead in applauding without taking it seriously.
The Countess of Koval paid close attention to the "little things" that happened in front of her, thoughtfully. She had seen too many of these jealous things, whether in Genoa or in the Holy City. A dance would not be complete without these.
A secret fight would be too strange, but the young Viscount in front of him didn't seem to have met an opponent worthy of his attention.
When Sean held the gauze-gloved hand, Audrey's eyes seemed full of inquiry. She was surprised by Sean's boldness, but worried that Sean would make a fool of himself tonight.
However, Sean's performance surprised her. Although Sean's dancing was obviously a bit clumsy and he had just learned it, he did not cause chaos in the audience because of his mistakes.
This kind of large-scale collective dance can easily cause a chain reaction due to the mistakes of one of the couples, which is usually a terrible disaster. Therefore, skilled dance steps are a must-have for an educated upper-class person.
"Don't worry, my learning ability is still relatively strong." Sean smiled and said to Audrey, who was even more nervous than him.
"Haha." Audrey held back her laughter, "But I felt your hands were sweating a lot just now."
"The first time is usually quite nervous." Sean said.
That night at Audrey's mansion in the city, Audrey took the initiative to have a showdown with Sean, thinking that Sean had a better choice and try to minimize their meetings.
But Sean still didn't give up, and the two had a quarrel for the first time, which ended with Sean temporarily giving in.
"Then who did you secretly learn from?" Audrey asked.
"I paid a lot of money to learn from a teacher, right? I studied hard for three days, how can I call it stealing?" Sean said.
"Then you hid it quite well. Why don't you hide it today?"
Audrey is relatively tall among southerners, but she is still half a head shorter than Sean. She speaks with a raised face, a playful expression, and a girlish charm.
"Because I want to give you a surprise." Sean responded with a smile.
The music reached a climax, the speed increased significantly, and Sean's dance was slightly panicked. Considering the time he spent practicing, it was pretty good to be able to reach this level.
Because he was not very good at mastering the rhythm, Sean also took the opportunity to take advantage of the situation, which made Audrey's face turn red.
When the song ended, Sean and Audrey stopped dancing, and Sean sent Audrey back to her original position.
There was another round of applause in the splendid hall, but most of it was directed at Sean.
As Viscount Brandon said just now, Sean's dancing, although it is difficult to praise it with elegance, made him look like "one of his own".
Before the next dance, the Countess' eldest grandson, Albert Koval, appeared. He was ceremoniously introduced to the guests, which also announced that he had reached adulthood and could participate in social and public activities as the heir of the Koval family.
"Viscount Connery, please condescend to come to me." the countess said loudly.
"I am at your command at any time, noble lady." Sean stepped forward and saluted.
The countess sat on the sofa and nodded in return.
"My grandson, Albert, is going to study at the University of Poitou. The Viscount is the president of the University of Poitou, so I ask you to teach Albert strictly." The Countess said politely.
"This is my honor." Sean said, "The University of Poitou also hopes to attract more young people like your eldest grandson."
"The Count also graduated from the University of Poitou, which happened decades ago. He heard that the University of Poitou has been flourishing recently under the management of the Viscount, and the results are obvious to all. The Count is very pleased. For this reason, the Count will
Loss of 50,000 gold louis to his alma mater."
Sean saluted again: "Thank you for the Earl's generosity. This fund will be used to establish scholarships in the name of the Koval family. I guarantee that every shilling will be used to reward outstanding students. I think those students who win the prizes will definitely
You will feel the kindness and generosity of the Koval family."
The countess was very satisfied with Sean's answer. Fifty thousand gold louis was a huge sum of money to ordinary people, but to the Koval family, it was just drizzle.
At this time, it was considered an intermission. In addition to the ball hall, the host thoughtfully prepared a lounge for the guests. There was a bar, a chess and card room, and a smoking room. There were more specially prepared for female guests.
extra room for them to touch up their makeup and change into another evening gown.
In addition, at this time, the servants collected the lace scattered on the floor, fake petals, sequins, feathers and other decorative baubles used by the female guests.
Sean and Viscount Brandon came to the garden side by side to get some air, exchanged cigars in a tacit understanding, and then puffed away.
"Sean, do you know why the Countess came all the way back from the Holy City?" Brandon asked suddenly.
"Of course he is her eldest grandson, who has grown up." Sean said. Brandon said a little annoyed:
"Sean, you're dishonest."
This is a serious accusation.
Although Brandon is a stubborn nobleman in all aspects and dislikes everyone, Sean is an exception.
Sean said helplessly: "Viscount, I did get some information, but I'm not sure. For example, there are rumors that Count Koval wants to get a position in the court, but he has too many competitors, so the Count wants to facilitate Genoa's 1/
20 tax legislation, making this tax a universal tax. In fact, we levied it once after all.”
"I am firmly opposed to this. Although I own a little more land, I will not pay an extra shilling." Brandon said flatly.
"Viscount, please don't worry, there is still a church standing in the way." Sean reminded.
"Yes, if they dare to tax the church, I will agree to tax the nobles." Viscount Brandon said.
"Viscount, if you think so, this tax is really unlikely to succeed. The third estate is ready to move, and they will definitely agree to anything that can attack the privileges of the church and the nobility. You know, the land is mainly in the hands of the church and the nobility.
." Sean said, "And land is the easiest asset to inventory."
"That's a problem." Brandon was very unhappy. "These upstarts want to get on top of me."
Count Koval is extremely influential in Genoa. It is estimated that at least half of the barons dare not disobey Count Koval's will. They are either related to the count by marriage, or have received favors from the count, and some are simply not.
Depending on the Count's expression, once these people agree, and the Count's promise to the Third Estate, it is possible to pass the bill at the vote of the Third Estate.
The music in the ball hall sounded again, Brandon and Sean left the garden, and a maid came over. She quietly gave Sean a note.
Sean glanced at the man in surprise, and took a look at the small piece of paper when no one was paying attention.
The handwriting is familiar and the content is horrifying.
The round dance continued, and the crowd was full of young people. Sean walked quietly next to the master.
Countess Koval smiled and said: "Viscount, why don't you dance anymore? Look how happy they are."
"Madam, I think they need someone to appreciate it, so that they will be more interested." Sean said.
"I heard that the Viscount has a good relationship with His Royal Highness Philip?" the countess asked.
"That must be a misunderstanding. As a member of the Royal Society, of course I know the president. In fact, I have only met His Royal Highness Philip a few times, and we are not friends." Sean replied.
"Viscount, you are very humble."
At this time, a servant bent down and came over with tea. Although the Countess was talking to Sean, her eyes were entirely focused on the dance floor.
After the servant finished serving the tea, he suddenly pulled out a dagger from under the white cloth on the silver tray on which the tea was served and stabbed the countess in the throat.
The people around the Countess were stunned. Sean was the closest, but he stretched out his right hand, grasped the man's arm in time like an iron pincer, and twisted his arm behind his back.
The servant fell to the ground in pain and was pinned down by Sean.
"There's an assassin!" someone screamed.
The assassin convulsed several times, foamed at the mouth, and committed suicide by taking poison.