Dark souls

2.1

  In turn, there was never a crowd of admirers around Jane. She, unlike her brother, did not shine with beauty, but she was too independent and proud to be just an attachment to her husband. Stupid men considered her an arrogant ugly girl and a hardened old maid. And the smart ones, who could hardly be counted on the fingers of one hand, stayed with her like friends or brothers. However, it never occurred to either of them that it was possible to fall in love with her.

         And now, like a bolt from the blue - a proposal from Bertrand de Gault, a French baron, whose family could be considered as ancient as the Gladstone family. Jane, who was well aware of her situation, from the very first days began to make inquiries about this man. She was surprised and alarmed why a noble, rich and young seigneur wanted to marry a noble, but poor and ugly girl, and not her first youth. Yes, even without seeing her and really knowing nothing about her. Moreover, from England, when France is full of noble ladies who can make him happy. Rumors and gossip horrified her. Nothing good was said about the de Gault family. Everything that Jane learned was little like envy, since information was delivered to her from different walks of life. Once a camp passed through Gladstone. Assuming that the nomadic camp could also roam in France, as it roamed in England, plucking up courage, Jane disguised herself as a maid, and in the late evening went to the tents and fires in the field. At the mention of the name de Gault, the gypsy camp burst into a hubbub of various sizes. The cries and lamentations, of which Jane did not understand a word, ceased when the gray-haired wrinkled gypsy spoke. He asked Jane sternly why she needed to know about de Gau. Jane, entering the role of a servant, replied that her mistress was marrying Bertrand de Go. To her surprise, the old man crossed her and said: Jane, entering the role of a servant, replied that her mistress was marrying Bertrand de Go. To her surprise, the old man crossed her and said: Jane, entering the role of a servant, replied that her mistress was marrying Bertrand de Go. To her surprise, the old man crossed her and said:

When you Christians want God to help you, they bless you. God bless and all your saints your mistress, for there is no worse evil than becoming the wife of a demon.

         His words interested Jane. She began to question. And although the old man's words sounded like gypsy tales, Jane decided that there was a grain of truth in them. This was confirmed by other people whom she had a chance to question.

         Bertrand de Gau, the only son of the baron de Gau, who died not so long ago, was handsome as Apollo, but cruel. Two of his sisters lived with him in his castle - Katerina, an exact copy of him, and Bianca, whom no one had ever seen. Katerina was known as a witch, like her twin brother, because they could appear from nowhere and disappear into nowhere. With them in the castle lived their uncle, the brother of their father, the ugly hunchback Guillaume le Muy. There were rumors that a crazy little old man was hiding in the castle. But the old gypsy knew nothing about him.

         Aunt Jane, Eloise Cunningham, née Gladstone, behind the back of the girl, established a correspondence with a potential groom, and one day he sent Jane his portrait. When she unpacked it, she was struck by the rich finish of the frame and the brilliance of the decorations in the picture. It seemed that the artist painted what he saw, and not what he came up with. In the attached letter, it was very politely written that although they were not even engaged and therefore sending a portrait by the groom to the bride is against all the rules of etiquette, but “I can understand your hesitation. The terrible sin of my ancestor and the rumors of a curse associated with it may well turn your eyes away from me. However, I counted on your intelligence and insight, and that is why I am sending you my portrait. So that you can see that there is nothing in me from my unfortunate ancestor. That I am not a beast at all, as they say about me.

         Jane glanced at the portrait as she read the letter. The clear gaze of Bertrand de Gault could not dispel the doubts in her soul. The expression "counted on your mind and insight" would be appropriate to pronounce, addressing a man, not a woman, albeit a mature one. Still, this somewhat bribed Jane. The words of the old gypsy that the twenty-six-year-old baron had already been married four times and that all his wives somehow died very quickly made her heart clench with anxiety. Her soul did not want this marriage. Her whole being protested against him. However, the fear of losing Gladstone made her aunt agree to the marriage without really talking to the bride herself. And today her aunt put her before the fact: Jane Gladstone is the bride of Baron Bertrand de Go. Their church has already announced this. Now Jane has to leave to get married.

         Jane's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Her aunt Eloisa stood at the door with a letter in her hand.

Take heart, dear, said Eloise Cunningham in a flat voice. “I just received a letter from your brother.

         Jane got up. A terrible premonition pierced her.

What's there? she asked, turning pale.

         Aunt walked over to her. Her face was also pale. But calmly.

The letter was brought by a servant. Read. I will convey to you what he said to me verbally.

         Jane took the letter. With an unsteady hand and a florid style, George complained for a whole page about the vicissitudes of fate and the evil people in his life. Then, through omissions and hints, pathos and ostentatious sacrifice, Jane realized that her brother simply decided to live at the expense of rich women. Having read this far, Jane blushed indignantly. However, she forced herself to read on. The husband of another lady once returned ahead of time from an audience with the king. Either he was in a bad mood, or the gout broke out again, or the king gave him a dressing down, but this time the deceived husband did not pretend that he had not seen anything. First, he beat George hard with the scabbard of his sword. Having thus earned himself a scar on his face, the handsome man challenged him to a duel. “And now,” George wrote. - Tomorrow I will teach this upstart, who dared to raise his hand against a nobleman who did not appreciate the habits of the court. Where has it been seen: to beat the wife's lover! And ruin my pretty face! This I could not bear. And no further than tomorrow, Madame will be a widow.

  Seeing that Jane had finished, Eloise Cunningham went up to her and took her hands.

Take heart, dear.

So my brother is dead? Jane asked with pale lips.

Yes. The servant said that your brother ordered his confessor not to send this letter, so that he would add how he won the duel. But he could not: the duke's sword pierced his chest into a slit in armor.

Duke?

Yes. The Duke of Cavendish is the lady's husband.

God. One of the king's favorites." Jane covered her mouth with her hands.

Yes darling. Now you understand that your departure to France must take place as soon as possible?

But this is against all rules of etiquette! I will have to live until the wedding in the groom's house!

The engagement has been announced. Yes, and in France, I think they will understand. Here, I will take care of everything.

         Jane lowered her head.

To you, Lord, I entrust my soul,” she whispered, raising her eyes. - Don't leave me in the days of hard trials. And give me the strength to bear them.

         Eloise Cunningham silently crossed herself.