This is an anti-theft stamp
Cote d'Argent is a section of coast in southwestern France. It is known as the "Silver Coast". When the sun shines on the beach, everything is shining, like the back of the world shining silver. Seaport trade developed. The folk customs are relatively simple.
The goods may not always be as good as in Petersburg, but there is always something quirky. In Cote Dalgunt, the value of a thing is often not its own, but the story it is endowed with.
For example, this is in Anna's hand. A small silver hair comb decorated with red coral. The shape is simple and obtuse, and it is not easy to scratch fingers. There are eight red corals in total, which are very plump. The silver vessel does not look brand new, it is a bit dusty, but not ugly.
The comb was sold by a small, bearded, shrewd-eyed man. He told an epic story, roughly a noble lady fell in love with a poor boy, and this comb was a token of love between the two.
"What a poignant story."
A small group of people gathered beside Anna and the others, and one of the well-dressed ladies was moved to tears.
"We bought it," said Karenin.
After they left, Anna held the packaged comb in her hand, then raised her head and asked Karenin, "Do you believe that story?"
"There are not so many stories about noble ladies and poor boys, Anna. The probability is basically zero." Karenin said calmly.
"Then why did you buy it?"
"You like it, don't you?" Karenin didn't look at Anna, but said this sentence lightly, and the latter only felt sweet in his heart.
"Oh yes, even if it's a fake story, I do like the gift."
"The added value of a story exceeds the value of the thing itself. An honest businessman will never be able to compare with a slippery businessman." Karenin almost sighed.
Anna giggled and said, "You might as well say it's because women's money is always easier to earn."
"I agree with that." Karenin nodded slightly.
"I want to go to the beach," Anna added, "I like the sea."
"Then let's go." Karenin did not object.
Located between Biarritz and the mouth of the Adour River, the sea here is exceptionally clear.
"I want to go for a walk barefoot," Anna said.
Karenin disagreed: "It's inappropriate, and it's still cold and you'll get sick."
Anna looked at Karenin.
After a while, the latter sighed: "If you insist, but I still think..."
Before Karenin could finish speaking, Anna took off her shoes and stepped on the limp fool, her expression changed.
"You're right," she muttered, putting her shoes on again.
"a little cold."
"I'm glad you can look at this matter more rationally." Karenin said almost with a smile, and Anna complained to him a few words.
"You can do this next time when the weather is warmer." Finally, Karenin said so, and Anna felt better again.
There is no need to treat every moment of the present as if it is the last day, because their future is still very long.
Karenin noticed that Anna was always looking around with her head down. He asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Shell." Anna said, then squatted down and dug her fingers on the sand. After a while, a small conch appeared on Anna's hand.
Karenin also squatted down, and Anna took his hand and put the conch into his palm with a smile.
"Although it is a bit ordinary, it is not as precious as the coral hair comb you gave me just now, but now, it has become unique in the world."
The little conch was buried in the sand not long ago, and its body was still covered with a layer of salty sea breeze. It was cool, and the hardness of the shell slid across the skin, making its existence very clear.
Its color, as his wife said, is a little square, but now, it is a unique little conch.
"I have never received such a gift." Karenin said, his tone a little gentle.
Naturally, he has received many precious gifts, which were well packaged and sent to his house with various unavoidable purposes, but there has never been any gift, such a simple one lying in his palm, and the person who gave the gift did not for any purpose.
Anna felt that Karenin's reaction was more like the kind of aristocratic lady who is ignorant of the world, because she fell in love with a poor boy with just a harmonica. She suddenly felt a little funny, although she knew that Karenin would never be that ignorant noble lady.
"In fact, although I don't think money is the only criterion for measuring the value of a gift, if I were richer, I would give you something better in return."
"Is the money I gave not enough for your daily expenses?" Karenin asked, frowning slightly.
"That's not what it means. I mean, if I have the ability to make money myself." Anna finished speaking and observed Karenin's reaction.
"You make money?" Karenin asked, but he didn't immediately accuse her of how unseemly this idea was.
Anna was relieved and smiled a little: "Maybe I can make money myself in the future."
"I've never heard of any aristocratic woman making money, if you mean selling jewelry and clothes. It's not said publicly, but there are a few in the circle who do. "
"That's not making money. The money you gave me has always been sufficient. In fact, it's a bit too much. But I don't think any lady would complain that her husband gave her too much money." Anna said with a smile , His eyebrows stretched.
"I know most wives don't talk about money with their husbands unless they have nothing to spend, but I'd like to talk to you. I like it when you give me money, and I think I can find a job and make some money myself. Sometimes Making money is not for money itself, but a sense of satisfaction. It can be said that you can realize your own value through making money, do you understand, Alexey."
"I have never heard such remarks. However, I think this is not unacceptable." Karenin said calmly after thinking for a while, "but I hope I am an informed person."
"Of course I'll tell you." Anna said instinctively, she hardly thought if she was going to do something and her husband didn't know about it.
"I always need your advice and ideas," she complimented.
Even Karenin could not calmly accept his wife's compliments, he was indeed happy in his heart.
They spent almost five days in France before they had to go back.
Anna told Maria about it, and everyone thought it was a good idea.
Nothing happened to the train back and it arrived on time. Karenin's secretary was also with them, but to be honest Anna didn't like him very much.
His eyes were like snakes, and Anna thought they were eyes that symbolized greed. But she didn't say it right away, because Vorobyev was Karenin's secretary, and he wasn't one of those idiots.
She didn't want to annoy Karenin because of her sensitivity.
It was nearly seven o'clock when they arrived home, and the carriage sent by Kearney was already waiting at the train station.
As soon as I got out of the train, gusts of cold wind blew over, and my face was a little sore.
Anna was wearing a mink hat and a coat. She felt that her eyelashes were a little stiff, and the breath she exhaled from her mouth would turn white.
"It's so cold," she said.
"Are you all right?" Karenin asked. He couldn't go back with Anna, there were some urgent matters in the yamen that had to be dealt with.
"It's okay," Anna blinked, "I'm fine."
Karenin sent his secretary Vorobiev home with Anna to bring him one of his papers.
"Don't worry, sir." Vorobev smiled. He has the most popular beard nowadays. He is tall and strong. His brown eyes are very attractive, but his speech and behavior are too frivolous. some.
The coachman Peter let Anna and the others get into the carriage, and after a "yo ha", the horse's hooves began to rattle.
Vorobyev tried to chat with Anna, trying to amuse her with popular Petersburg jokes, but Anna was not amused like the other women.
"There's going to be a good play in a few days, ma'am." He named an actress, but Anna didn't know it, and she didn't feel like talking to that person.
Because she always felt that Mr. Vorobev's eyes were like snakes, and sometimes he would stare at her very unfriendlyly.
Her intuition was not wrong, Vorobev did have other thoughts about the newly promoted Mrs. Karenin.
He was fascinated by her appearance, and although she was not as plump as was the fashion nowadays, her dark curly hair was as white as cream, her complexion was as white as her, and her demeanor was more phlegmatic. This kind of difficult woman is always more interesting.
Vorobiev thought to himself. He has always been the kind of person who pays great attention to appearance. He always talks about the fashion of Petersburg, but he is not the kind of stupid person. He likes to conquer, which is also due to his smarter brain than ordinary people.
He will formulate a relatively long-term hunting plan, because Mrs. Karenin deserves to be among the top three in his heart.
After making up his mind, Vorobev put away his gallantry, and after observing for a while, Anna wondered if she was really too sensitive.
The goods may not always be as good as in Petersburg, but there is always something eccentric. In Cote Dalgunt, the value of a thing is often not its own, but the story it is endowed with.
For example, this is in Anna's hand. A small silver hair comb decorated with red coral. The shape is simple and obtuse, and it is not easy to scratch the fingers. There are eight red corals in total, which are very plump. The silver vessel does not present a brand-new appearance, it is a bit dusty, but not ugly.
The comb was sold by a small, bearded, shrewd-eyed man. He told an epic story, roughly a noble lady fell in love with a poor boy, and this comb was a token of love between the two.
"What a poignant story."
A small group of people gathered beside Anna and the others, and one of them, a well-dressed lady, was moved to tears.
"We bought it," said Karenin.
After they left, Anna held the packaged comb in her hand, then raised her head and asked Karenin, "Do you believe that story?"
"There are not so many stories about noble ladies and poor boys, Anna. The probability is basically zero." Karenin said calmly.
"Then why did you buy it?"
"You like it, don't you?" Karenin didn't look at Anna, but said these words lightly, and the latter only felt sweet in his heart.
"Oh yes, even if it's a fake story, I do like the gift."
"The added value of a story exceeds the value of the thing itself. An honest businessman will never be able to compare with a slippery businessman." Karenin almost sighed.
Anna giggled and said, "You might as well say it's because women's money is always easier to earn."
"I agree with that." Karenin nodded slightly.
"I want to go to the beach," Anna added, "I like the sea."
"Then let's go." Karenin did not object.
Located between Biarritz and the mouth of the Adour River, the sea here is exceptionally clear.
"I want to go for a walk barefoot," Anna said.
Karenin disagreed: "It's inappropriate, and it's still cold and you'll get sick."
Anna looked at Karenin.
After a while, the latter sighed: "If you insist, but I still think..."
Before Karenin could finish speaking, Anna took off her shoes and stepped on the limp fool, her expression changed.
"You're right," she muttered, putting her shoes on again.
"a little cold."
"I'm glad you can look at this matter more rationally." Karenin said almost with a smile, and Anna complained to him a few words.
"You can do this next time when the weather is warmer." Finally, Karenin said so, and Anna felt better again.
There is no need to treat every moment of the present as if it is the last day, because their future is still very long.
Karenin noticed that Anna was always looking around with her head down. He asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Shell." Anna said, then squatted down and dug her fingers on the sand. After a while, a small conch appeared on Anna's hand.
Karenin also squatted down, and Anna took his hand and put the conch into his palm with a smile.
"Although it is a bit ordinary, it is not as precious as the coral hair comb you gave me just now, but now, it has become unique in the world."
The little conch was buried in the sand not long ago, and its body was still covered with a layer of salty sea breeze. It was cool, and the hardness of the shell slid across the skin, making its existence very clear.
Its color, as his wife said, is a little square, but now, it is a unique little conch.
"I have never received such a gift." Karenin said, his tone a little gentle.
Naturally, he has received many precious gifts, which were well packaged and sent to his house with various unavoidable purposes, but there has never been any gift, such a simple one lying in his palm, and the person who gave the gift did not for any purpose.
Anna felt that Karenin's reaction was more like the kind of aristocratic lady who is ignorant of the world, because she fell in love with a poor boy with just a harmonica. She suddenly felt a little funny, although she knew that Karenin would never be that ignorant noble lady.
"In fact, although I don't think money is the only criterion for measuring the value of a gift, if I were richer, I would give you something better in return."
"Is the money I gave not enough for your daily expenses?" Karenin asked, frowning slightly.
"That's not what it means. I mean, if I have the ability to make money myself." Anna finished speaking and observed Karenin's reaction.
"You make money?" Karenin asked, but he didn't immediately accuse her of how unseemly this idea was.
Anna was relieved and smiled a little: "Maybe I can make money myself in the future."
"I've never heard of any aristocratic woman making money, if you mean selling jewelry and clothes. It's not said publicly, but there are a few in the circle who do. "
"That's not making money. The money you gave me has always been sufficient. In fact, it's a bit too much. But I don't think any lady would complain that her husband gave her too much money." Anna said with a smile , His eyebrows stretched.
"I know most wives don't talk about money with their husbands unless they have nothing to spend, but I'd like to talk to you. I like it when you give me money, and I think I can find a job and make some money myself. Sometimes Making money is not for money itself, but a sense of satisfaction. It can be said that you can realize your own value through making money, do you understand, Alexey."
"I have never heard such remarks. However, I think this is not unacceptable." Karenin said calmly after thinking for a while, "but I hope I am an informed person."
"Of course I'll tell you." Anna said instinctively, she hardly thought if she was going to do something and her husband didn't know about it.
"I always need your advice and ideas," she complimented.
Even Karenin could not calmly accept his wife's compliments, he was indeed happy in his heart.
They spent almost five days in France before they had to go back.
Anna told Maria about it, and everyone thought it was a good idea.
Nothing happened to the train back and it arrived on time. Karenin's secretary was also with them, but to be honest Anna didn't like him very much.
His eyes were like snakes, and Anna thought they were eyes that symbolized greed. But she didn't say it right away, because Vorobyev was Karenin's secretary, and he wasn't one of those idiots.
She didn't want to annoy Karenin because of her sensitivity.
It was nearly seven o'clock when they arrived home, and the carriage sent by Kearney was already waiting at the train station.
As soon as I got out of the train, gusts of cold wind blew over, and my face was a little sore.
Anna was wearing a mink hat and a coat. She felt that her eyelashes were a little stiff, and the breath she exhaled from her mouth would turn white.
"It's so cold," she said.
"Are you all right?" Karenin asked. He couldn't go back with Anna, there were some urgent matters in the yamen that had to be dealt with.
"It's okay," Anna blinked, "I'm fine."
Karenin sent his secretary Vorobiev home with Anna to bring him one of his papers.
"Don't worry, sir." Vorobev smiled. He has the most popular beard nowadays. He is tall and strong. His brown eyes are very attractive, but his speech and behavior are too frivolous. some.
The coachman Peter let Anna and the others get into the carriage, and after a "yo ha", the horse's hooves began to rattle.
Vorobyev tried to chat with Anna, trying to amuse her with popular Petersburg jokes, but Anna was not amused like the other women.
"There's going to be a good play in a few days, ma'am." He named an actress, but Anna didn't know it, and she didn't feel like talking to that person.
Because she always felt that Mr. Vorobev's eyes were like snakes, and sometimes he would stare at her very unfriendlyly.
Her intuition was not wrong, Vorobev did have other thoughts about the newly promoted Mrs. Karenin.
He was fascinated by her appearance, and although she was not as plump as was the fashion nowadays, her dark curly hair was as white as cream, her complexion was as white as her, and her demeanor was more phlegmatic. This kind of difficult woman is always more interesting.
Vorobiev thought to himself. He has always been the kind of person who pays great attention to appearance. He always talks about the fashion of Petersburg, but he is not the kind of stupid person. He likes to conquer, which is also due to his smarter brain than ordinary people.
He will formulate a relatively long-term hunting plan, because Mrs. Karenin deserves to be among the top three in his heart.
After making up his mind, Vorobev put away his gallantry, and after observing for a while, Anna wondered if she was really too sensitive.
"We're not fools." Andre muttered, but didn't continue the topic.
"You should be leaving now."
"You're a bit heartless, you know? Andre." Anna said with feigned surprise, "After you reconciled with your good friend, you're going to let me go?"
"We're running out of time." Andre bit his lip, looking like he was about to cry.
"Oh, don't worry, honey, I was just joking." Anna hurriedly reassured each other, and then the two children blinked at her.
"I know," said Andre, with a sly smile.
"I won't forgive you, you're a bad boy," Anna said with a smile, and Andrei blinked, then kissed her on the cheek.
"thank you."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Karenin." Charlie kissed Anna on the other cheek.
"You are very cute." Charlie commented, looking a little regretful, "You really shouldn't have gotten married so early, you just have to wait another five years."
Andre said expressionlessly: "Although my uncle is a bit rigid, don't hit him with ideas. Otherwise, I will fight you, even if we are best friends, it won't change."
"Look, he's actually a naive ghost." Charlie winked at Anna, "He loves your husband."
Anna couldn't stop laughing because of Charlie's words, and Andre rolled his eyes: "That's my uncle. Although he is old-fashioned, serious, unfunny, stern, too impersonal and a workaholic, but, he is My uncle."
When Karenin came back in the evening, Anna told him about it.
"You have a loyal admirer."
"I believe Andrei's intention is definitely not like this." Karenin did not accept the joke, obviously he was very aware of his nephew's character.
Ana changed the subject: "I was thinking maybe we could help them."
"How to do it?"
"When Andre is free, he can come to our house, and Charlie can come to our house for a while, if you don't mind?"
"That's doable. Anna, you can arrange it then." Karenin was hanging up his tie.
"You drank some wine." Anna wrinkled her nose and sniffed.
"Two glasses, strong smell?" Karenin asked, and sniffed his shirt at the same time, he was not sure if the smell of alcohol was strong. Among the drunkards, even if they don't drink, there is always a taste.
"Tolerable."
Anna doesn't like alcohol, and she doesn't want her husband to be an alcoholic.
"Do you want me to give you a massage?" she suggested.
Karenin looked up at her.
Anna thought that the other party was doubting her skills, so she quickly showed her hands, they were fair and beautiful.
"My massage skills are very good."
"Anna, why did you do this?" Karenin asked slowly.
"In the book, have you forgotten how much Skiva likes to drink?" Anna smiled, trying to change the subject.
Karenin nodded, but he didn't seem to really take it to heart. Anna breathed a sigh of relief when he turned around.
She asked Karenin to sit on the soft chair, and after washing his hands, she kneaded and kneaded the other party's neck, which was quite skillful.
"are you free tomorrow?"
"There is no arrangement, what's the matter?"
"I want to go shopping, would you like to accompany me?"
"Is there anything you want to buy?"
"No, I just want to go shopping."
Anna waited for Karenin to answer, and after a while the latter spoke, as if thinking.
"Sometimes I don't understand why women don't have a list when they go shopping, or go shopping without a purpose."
"It can't be blamed on you for not understanding. Sometimes we don't understand ourselves." Anna said with a smile, and she began to tell Karenin some of today's little jokes, all of which belonged to the three children.
"Lucia is very well-behaved, Andre is a bit proud but also very cute, and as for Charlie, you don't know how funny he is to talk..."
"You like children?" asked Karenin suddenly.
"I like it." Anna replied instinctively, and then suddenly realized something, her face flushed a little.
"That," she muttered, her hands stopped moving.
She was about to say something, but Karenin suddenly raised his right hand, took Anna's right hand that was on his neck, and gently brought it over. Then, he looked up at the person in front of him, and pulled Anna a little harder. He got down and let her sit on his lap.
"You can hug me." Karenin said.
Anna couldn't control her blushing, and now even her earlobes were red. She raised her arms and embraced Karenin's neck gently.
Karenin raised his right hand again and landed under Anna's earlobe, then followed the delicate arc of the jaw line to the pointed chin, and finally wiped her lips lightly with his thumb.
"Are you drunk?" Anna asked in a low voice, her voice trembling slightly.
"No."
Answering very calmly, Anna wanted to speak again, but couldn't.
She thought Karenin must be a little drunk.
"Breathe." Karenin said in a low voice, his voice was low, like the October wind, slightly cool, and wrapped in a hint of the golden aroma of the wheat field.
Anna breathed obediently. She had never kissed someone so deeply, and she knew that Karenin hadn't either. To be honest, if he had, Anna would be jealous, really.
Karenin's body moved, and then directly hugged Anna. One slipper fell on the plush carpet, and Karenin took off the other and threw it on the carpet.
Anna blushed deeply.
She was put on the bed, and kisses fell on her delicately, shyness made her close her eyes forcefully.
The man's fingers stopped at the shoulder, and finally a soft kiss fell on the end of the collarbone.
Anna opened her eyes, those blue eyes were staring at her, her whole body was close to her.
She has never been so close to another person, it's like, if you get closer, there will be no distance between each other.
"Why?"
"I've been drinking, you don't like it."
Karenin's fingers were gently brushing Anna's hair.
Anna suddenly felt a little sore in her eyes, but she just smiled and looked at each other. Then he got up and pushed Karenin, and now she was on top.
Anna traced Karenin's appearance with her fingertips, and finally her fingertips landed on the corner of the other's lips, Karenin caught him and kissed him.
She flinched, but her smile didn't disappear, and finally kissed the other party's lips, and then leaned on Karenin's chest.
The smell of vodka was a bit faint, but after a careful sniff, it was clear that it was more of Karenin, her husband.
The clothes are freshly washed, the fingertips have a faint aroma of tobacco, and the clean and tidy handkerchief has the soft smell of cotton fabric. In general, Karenin's taste is a bit bitter, with a little bit of man's salt, and the smell of soap on the ****'s skin, everything is natural.
"I will remember this taste, I will always remember it." Anna murmured.
"What is the taste?"
"My husband's smell." Anna said with a smile, kissing each other again.
The night is still long, and the future is also long, Anna thought, as long as it takes time, everything will come naturally...
She glanced at him again, because she realized that the serious gentleman had such a cunning side.
"I'll take care of everything."
Finally, the big bureaucrat so committed.
Madame Terrier could find no reason for her refusal, so the date was fixed. It stands to reason that Karenin should stay for dinner, but his official duties are really inseparable, and Mrs. Terrier is more willing to admire those who have political ambitions than men who please the woman's natal family .
Anna thought that according to Mrs. Terrier's unreasonable personality, maybe she would have to wait until the wedding day before she could be alone with Karenin, but unexpectedly, Mrs. Terrier thought that since they were about to get married, they could have a short time together. to find out.
Therefore, to clear the venue, except for the necessary servants, in the eyes of the nobles, the servants are no different from those decorations. If it is true, the decorations are usually more expensive.
The dense aroma of black tea floats, and the refreshments are exquisitely decorated on a silver plate. The two of them maintain etiquette and sit not close or far away, although for a modern person like Anna, the distance is really not close, not even good friends distance, but she knows that can't ask for enough.
"Two weeks later." Anna cleared her throat and smiled again, as if surrounded by some magic bubbles, her whole body was full of joy.
The weather was clearly still cold, and the sun couldn't penetrate the thick clouds in Russia to reach the room, but Karenin felt that he felt it.
Sunshine, his little fiancée, everything is fine.
"I hope you don't feel rushed."
"Not at all."
As he'd expected, his fiancée wasn't at all reserved when it came to him, but that, to be honest, was fine.
"I will go to Petersburg the day after tomorrow, and I will arrange everything, so you don't have to worry about anything. When you arrive in Petersburg next week, I will go to the train station to meet you."
Karenin was not talking about love, his tone was no different from his usual speech, and he always maintained a calm state of statement, but Anna was willing to imagine this as Karenin's style of love talk. To be honest, how many men can give everything with my promise so easily
"So, can you call me by my name now?" Anna said again without thinking, but Karenin was no longer surprised.
His somewhat deep blue eyes looked at Anna, and after a while, he whispered as she wished: "Anna."
"This is the third time I've asked you to call me by my name. You know, I don't always have the courage. It's only three things, Alexei." Anna said sweetly, her cheeks blushing.
"I will not easily agree to things that are not in accordance with etiquette or rules," Karenin said.
"I have to preserve our decency."
Anna ignores this unflattering fact and says bluntly: "I like it when you say 'we,' Alexey," she pauses before emphasizing cheerfully, "I like that you start so naturally It's nice to say 'we' and I feel more confident in our marriage."
"This is, it should be." Karenin said with a rare hesitation.
Anna shook her head, and she said sincerely: "There are some truths that everyone understands, but few can do it easily and naturally."
Karenin fell into a brief thought when he heard Anna's words, but Anna didn't let him meditate alone for a long time, and her standard bright eyes looked at her again.
"We're off to a great start!"
"A good start?" Karenin recalled the memory that he was shocked by the marriage proposal proposed by the other party at the ball two days ago, and some doubted whether it was really a good start, and her fiancée obviously saw this. She puffed her cheeks like a little squirrel, so puffy that the dimples were invisible.
"Believe me, not everyone can and will go through all of this."
What Anna originally wanted to say was love at first sight, but she swallowed the words. After all, she was a little bold, but it didn't mean she didn't have the restraint of a daughter.
Karenin did not guess this. After all, no matter how smart he was, he could not immediately understand the difference between the two eras for women.
If Anna hadn't said marriage to him for the first time but had fallen in love with him at first sight, maybe there would be no present. This is strange, like some laws of high society. People never resist marriage, but they all linger with their lovers, and they are happy to switch between the two roles during the day and night.
Marriage is a rational and beneficial choice, but liking and love cannot be said casually.
"Indeed." Karenin nodded in agreement. He thought, if he hadn't met her, he might never have experienced such a thing in his life.
Anna thought that Karenin was secretly expressing his approval of this matter and his liking for her, so she was a little shy instead.