Lorraine and Viscount Alfonso sat back under the umbrella, representing a return to the starting point of negotiations.
And maybe even more than the starting point.
Because the cloisonné that was in the way was put away by the servants, the small round table was replaced with two cups of aromatic English black tea, even with thinly sliced cucumber sandwiches, strawberry cake, and English muffins.
Though they were actually supposed to appear as a four o'clock in the afternoon delicacy, this was Spain, and Viscount Alfonso was nothing more than a landed proprietor who made a decent living by operating an illegal business, and Lorraine felt she couldn't ask for more than that.
He politely ate a small sandwich and talked pleasantly with the Viscount about the weather and the rumor that Archduke Victoria might have foot odor.
Halfway through his tea, the Viscount asked, "What shall I call you, Mr. England?"
"Lorraine." Lorraine put down her teacup and crossed her fingers and tucked them in her lap, "Lorraine . Arnason. Drake."
"Drake?"
"The same Drake you remember, Tavistock is my home town."
Viscount Alfonso couldn't help but laugh: "Francis Drake was responsible for the downfall of the port of Bilbao. Francis Drake single-handedly caused the fall of the great port of Bilbao, and now his children and grandchildren are coming to Bellemayre for gold?"
Lorraine spread her hands helplessly, "Like an eastern proverb says, those who planted the trees in front of you will enjoy the coolness of those who come after you."
"Money thrown at ... what?"
"Roughly, it's money thrown in the water that will one day float back with the currents to where it started."
Viscount Alfonso was greatly impressed, "I did not realize that the mysterious Orientals would also be so well versed in the sea."
"They know everything, the only problem is that they know so much that they don't know what they really want."
It was undoubtedly wonderful to end the banter with the mysterious Orient, especially as Viscount Alfonso had learned an Oriental proverb.
He smiled, thanked Lorraine, wiped his mouth, and suddenly said, "Mr. Drake, you're threatening me."
"No, no, no, no, no, no, you're mistaken." Lorraine waved her hands repeatedly, "I didn't mean to threaten you in any way, and I didn't even bother to inquire about Miss Xavier's looks or residence. It's just that in order to climb into a better conversation with you, I found some friends and was lucky enough to listen to a beautiful and touching love story."
"Really?"
"I am from England, sir. Although your country and mine, and your ancestors and mine, do not get along very well, at least we live in the same world, and are imbued with modern civilization."
"A ... civilized gentleman?"
"Manners, courtesy, not prying into the details of a beautiful lady at random, much less taking someone's love and imposing on them, no?"
Both sides were silent for a long time, their eyes locked, not flickering.
After a long time, Viscount Alfonso smiled and lifted the teapot to refill Lorraine's cup with his own hands, "I have to say, you have managed to make me change my prejudice against the English."
"I am obliged to you, sir." Lorraine arched in her chair, "The Viscount doesn't take it well, does he, ma'am and cousin?"
The Viscount gave a bitter laugh, "I am still in love with my lady. It sounds strange to say such a thing, but the truth is that I care more about this marriage than she knows."
"What about Ms. Xavier? Youthful? Beauty?"
"She resembles Madame when she was young ... confident, beautiful, proud, reserved, loyal to the Lord, and intelligent." Viscount Alfonso wore a reminiscent expression, "Madame changed a lot after that serious illness, becoming suspicious and mean-spirited. I knew a child was the only way to ease our relationship, but God refused to give him to us ..."
"And then you met Miss Xavier? The younger version of the lady?"
The Viscount gave Lorraine a knowing smile, "No, in fact, we knew each other before Her Ladyship fell ill. If it wasn't for Carmen's insistence on obeying the doctrine to remain holy before marriage, I might have plucked this delicate flower at that romantic ball."
"A Spanish gentleman's romance is always more subtle and reserved than a Frenchman's." Lorraine quipped against her will, reciting the poem softly in an aria tone, "O love! In this secluded wild forest, intertwined with security and ecstasy, this is your version of Elysium, and you have become a true God!"
The poem was read at once to Viscount Alfonso's heart, and he was greatly surprised, "I did not think that Mr. Drake was actually a poet."
"Just struck by your story once again, with feeling." Lorraine raised her teacup in honor of the Viscount, "Viscount, I have a gift for you."
"Not Oriental porcelain?"
"No, even the most precious china is dead, and my gift, Miss Xavier."
"Carmen?"
"Diviners are rigid, but fortunately, the civilized world always teaches us ways to convince them, doesn't it?" Lorraine took a gentle sip of tea and stood up, "It has been a long delay for you. I look forward to the next time we meet, we can become friends, true friends."
Viscount Alfonso froze where he sat, forgetting to even get up to see him off.
Lorraine stepped out of the Viscount's manor like a complete gentleman and rounded a corner before Haina appeared silently behind him.
"Did it go well?"
"There's immediate china, future gold pounds, and I've even opened up damn love for him. With business at this level, what could he possibly have to lose?"
Haina nodded in a clear and quiet voice, "Good that it went well, what's the Viscount like?"
Lorraine had a disgusted look on her face, "I thought I was comfortable enough with the aristocrat's view of love, but I didn't realize until today that I'm still too young."
"Eh?"
"Saselica. Mr. Alfonso, he's not only a dirtbag, he's a total scumbag."
...
The next day, a purple tent was pitched on the lawn of the Alfonso estate.
Lorraine was dressed as a Roma, with a flowery coat and square hat, carrying a large box like a laborer, and had a particularly extra-long octogenarian beard plastered on her face.
His black hair made him stand out amongst a group of men, and his deep brown pupils were indistinguishable from the usual black eyes of the Roma, but he was just a little too tall for the crowd, but it didn't matter, after all, the main character was a woman, and the men were just a backdrop.
He carried the chest past Viscount Alfonso and accidentally knocked over the servant beside him.
Taking the opportunity of being reprimanded by the Viscount, he snuck something into the Viscount's pants pocket.
The Viscount froze for a moment, a ghostly expression on his face.
Lorraine smiled wryly at the Viscount and said with a mouthful, "A small gift, my friend."
When he finished speaking, he took a mahogany box out of the box, held it in both hands, and walked into the tent.
The Viscount hurriedly sought an excuse to walk to an unoccupied corner and reached into his pocket.
He fumbled out a handkerchief of suzuki embroidery, on which was a handsome Oriental man, sitting cross-legged under a tree, with a beautiful and attractive Oriental woman in his arms, looking solemn.
There was also a note in that handkerchief, which read in beautiful flowery script, "Liu Xiahui, the most prestigious gentleman of Oriental lore. Only reserved and noble men like you and him can assert their holy and pure love in the face of beauty and desire."
Squeezing his handkerchief, the Viscount's tiger's eyes watered.
"A soulmate!" He muttered, looking at the tent, "The mysterious East, the mysterious ... Mr. Drake."