She blushed badly, but that was the only way to make herself feel better.
"Actually, I think it's fine." Karenin whispered, a kiss stamped on Anna's black hair.
They were both content, and in fact, Karenin believed that, although the marriage was so different and unpredictable, it was satisfying.
When they got home and had dinner, Anna, uncharacteristically, didn't say much, she just looked up at her husband from time to time.
"What's wrong?" Karenin asked.
Anna said: "You seem to be shining now, I can't help but look at you." She sighed again, "I'm so worried that you will be stolen, like a 'dragon's gold'."
Although Karenin often heard this kind of strange praise and possessiveness from his little wife, he still couldn't get used to it completely.
So he once again calmly pointed out the inappropriateness of the metaphor with a straight face, and her wife giggled.
"Forgive me, you have no chance to appeal, I still have a lot of strange metaphors in my stomach." Anna finished eating a mouthful of mushrooms, then raised her eyes to look at Karenin, as if he was better dishes.
Karenin chose to ignore this gaze this time. He must eat enough food instead of letting his mood hover in that out-of-control state.
The next day, Anna decided to do something to thank Karenin.
He helped her sort out this messy social relationship, so of course she had to do something in return for him.
"Maybe some soufflé would be better." Anna said to herself. Although she can't be said to be good at cooking, she is still good at making this kind of dessert.
Her previous manager had strict control over her diet, but people are so weird sometimes. When you are limited in one place, sometimes you can't help but make up for it in other ways.
Women and desserts always seem to be inseparable.
Anna borrowed the kitchen from the cook Sasha. The fat cook was very kind. She lent the kitchen to the hostess, which was only in good order. She had already prepared it, and the hostess might cook it out a disaster. She even secretly communicated with the porter Kabidonitch, and prepared several large buckets of water as a reserve.
Of course, Anna didn't know these things.
All of Karenin's servants, even the cook, are the ones who can prepare all possible outcomes in advance without disturbing others. Secondly, Anna herself was already immersed in the thank-you gift for Karenin.
The round eggs had just come out of the chicken coop, and they were full of heat. The oranges in the straw basket are very plump and exude a nice orange fragrance.
The waiting process makes people a little anxious, but after seeing the things come out, there is a sense of satisfaction.
Ana couldn't wait to share this with someone, so she called Sasha in, who wanted to join the cook for afternoon tea.
"It smells so good, what are you doing, ma'am?" Sasha was a little surprised to find that the kitchen was still clean, and it seemed that something delicious was brewing.
"Souffle, just eggs and oranges."
Sasha glanced at what was on the stove and sighed again.
"Would you like to have a cup of afternoon tea with me, Sasha?" Anna said with a smile.
"That's not good." Sasha hesitated, and Anna took her hand.
"Don't refuse. I feel pitiful for leaving me alone for afternoon tea." She said it deliberately.
Sasha laughed, "If you say that, I don't think I have any reason to refuse this invitation."
The kitchen is connected to the backyard, and there is no view at the moment. There are no gardening facilities in Karenin's yard.
In this natural courtyard, the sunlight becomes a little frivolous, and it can shine as it wants.
The wooden table was painted white and there were a few hollow chairs. Sasha took out a small pink checkered tablecloth like a magic trick and spread it on it.
Anna asked Anushka to bring over a table mat she had made in advance, in the form of lace. They chose a rose-coloured bone china tea set, with milk served in clear glass jugs. Souffle has the aroma of orange and butter, sweet and refreshing.
"Look at how well this is done!" Sasha admired, her fat fingers stroking Anna's printed coasters and looking at the lovely souffles.
"You'd better eat and see first, maybe it's just that it sells better." Anna said.
"How could it be, ma'am, the eggs I have cracked in my hand can be made into a manor, and the taste is unmistakable!"
Both Annushka and Anna laughed.
Sasha took a sip, then raised his eyebrows: "Look, I'm right."
"That's right, is it going to be too much?" Sasha asked.
"Actually, I wanted to make it for Alexei." Anna said shyly. Then she saw that the cook was a little surprised, and after a while, there was a tangled look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked.
Sasha looked at his mistress, and then said cautiously: "Actually, madam, maybe you don't quite understand, sir, he doesn't like sweets."
Anna was a little surprised, then frustrated: "I don't know, I thought it would be a good idea."
Sasha comforted: "Madam, it is indeed a good idea, these things are really delicious."
Anna shook her head and sighed: "It's useless no matter how delicious it is, he doesn't like sweets."
Sasha didn't know how to comfort her hostess. Fortunately, the other party's depressed mood didn't last long, and she chatted about other topics, and finally expressed that she wanted to give all these souffles to her.
"I heard you have a pair of grandchildren, I think they would like sweets."
Of course, Sasha's two grandchildren like these sweet things, but she can't help but feel a little regretful, after all, the lady's cooking is really delicious.
After finishing the afternoon tea, Anna was not discouraged, on the contrary, she regained her understanding. So she asked Sasha a lot about Karenin's preferences for dishes.
She learned that Karenin had no particular preference for food, except that sweets were not his favorite. From this point of view, expressing your gratitude with food is not a good idea.
Anna crossed this one out, planning to think again. In short, thanks are still necessary.
Karenin came back late that day. He said he would not come back for dinner. It was already ten o'clock when he got home, and Anna fell asleep at nine o'clock because it took some time to make the soufflé during the day.
Karenin entered the hall, and Kearney gave him a coat. He was about to go to the second floor, but the cook came out, as if waiting for him.
"What's wrong?" Karenin asked.
"Oh, sir, although this matter may not be important, I think I'd better talk to you." The cook brushed her hair. Generally speaking, as a servant, you just need to remember to keep your master's business out of the way. , but she couldn't help but want to say something for her mistress.
"You tell me."
Sasha told Karenin about Anna's making desserts during the day, and she was relieved to see her husband listening carefully, and she said with a smile: "I know you don't like sweets, but you She really married a good wife."
It was almost the first time for Karenin to hear such words from others. The feeling was very novel, mixed with pride, emotion, and even a faint sense of pride.
But he didn't intend to show it. People like Karenin just nodded slightly reservedly to express their knowledge and approval.
Karenin went up the second floor by the spiral escalator, and he pushed away his wife's bedroom, or rather, their bedroom.
It is impossible to avoid the servants what happened in this house. This abnormal thing must have been secretly discussed at the servants' afternoon tea.
Mostly his wife didn't know about this, although it was confusing, but Karenin thought that maybe not everything in this world should be sorted out clearly.
As long as it was about his own wife, a rigid and dogmatic person like Karenin would silently keep that similar theory in his heart, and it would become a strange principle.
His wife was already asleep, wrapping herself completely in the quilt, against his side. Her pink cheeks and sleeping expression said one thing, she was happy.
This kind of happiness that can be seen without words directly infected Karenin.
He did something his previous self would never have done.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he kissed his little wife, as if indirectly, kissing the trace of happiness.
It was dawn and Anna woke up.
She was a little disappointed that Karenin was not with her, and then noticed a letter on the pillow that belonged to Karenin.
Anna opened it and took a look, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"The option of blueberries can be included in the category of favorite sweets."
That night, Anna finished her thank you, and Karenin, he ate his own blueberry pie.
This is the second time Anna has taken the train in this era.
For the first time, everything went too fast, a little rushed, but now, even though the schedule is still very tight, she feels as if there is no water molecule in the air on her face when she passes through her nasal cavity.
This subtle sense of touch all comes from her husband.
Like now, in this small box, Anna looked at her husband.
He sat more casually than sitting at the desk, but he still looked decent compared to ordinary people, maintaining the appearance of a government official at all times.
"Do you have any questions? Anna." Karenin looked away from the official documents and looked at Anna with blue eyes.
"No." Anna smiled.
Karenin moved his eyes to his official documents again, and until five minutes later, he still felt that someone's eyes were glued to him.
"Are you sure you have no doubts?"
"No." Anna spoke again after finishing speaking, "Maybe there is one."
"You can ask." Karenin pressed his finger on that page and raised his head slightly. He speaks in a calm voice, with no ups and downs in his tone, but he doesn't look stiff, maybe because his blue eyes under a pair of long eyelashes are watching others intently, and this gaze does not mean to look at others.
"I noticed you weren't wearing glasses."
"I'm not nearsighted."
"I," Anna licked her lips, and then smiled a little shyly, "I was just thinking about what you would look like if you wore glasses."
"I don't think that will make any difference." Karenin lowered his eyes, indicating that the conversation was temporarily over.
Anna felt a little regretful.
She looked out the window, resting her chin on her right hand.
They had set off from Petersburg for two hours, and the rolling hills, exciting at first, were now dull.
The sky is a kind of light blue, against which some white birch trees stand upright like sentinels. Although they are not eye-catching now, they will be a little bit greener in spring, very beautiful.
She folded her hands unconsciously, turned her face sideways, and smiled while knocking on these plain scenes.
Accustomed to the busyness of modern society, life was a bit overwhelming at the beginning, but now, everything is fine.
Unbeknownst to Anna, although she had decided not to bother her husband, Karenin himself was clearly unable to concentrate.
His head was slightly turned to Anna's direction, and the high bridge of his nose was cut into a delicate and elegant arc by the sunlight. The eyelashes are neither thick nor curled. They are half closed, revealing the same light blue color as the sky.
He looked at his fiancée for a long time, knowing that she seemed to be asleep.
Karenin got up and threw a flannel blanket over Anna.
When he sat down, he made sure that Anna would not wake up for a while, and then moved his eyes again, focusing his thoughts on the official documents.
Anna didn't know how long she had slept, she woke up with a slight shaking.
"I fell asleep?" She wanted to rub her eyes, but was stopped.
Karenin took out his veil and handed it to her.
"Dr. Grachev told me to do this to reduce my chances of being caught by the disease."
Anna took the veil and wiped her eyes, and smiled: "He is right, you have a good doctor, he is great!"
Karenin did not say anything to this compliment. He checked the time on his pocket watch, then put down the paper and said: "We must go to lunch."
"That's a good suggestion. I'm just hungry." Anna agreed with the suggestion, and Karenin nodded and smiled a little.
The dining box on the train is in the middle of the train, and the aisle is not big enough to accommodate two adults walking side by side, so Karenin walks in front, and some parents will hold the hands of the children to prevent these little monsters from running around .
Anna is no longer a child. Karenin was naturally not the kind of person who would take someone's hand casually, but he did say something when he got up.
"Follow me."
Like honey, Ana thought, and followed him.
Because Karenin was not short and his shoulders were broad, when he walked to the front, Anna could not see all the scene in front of him clearly.
Some past experiences made her a little nervous about the unknown, but now, with a trustworthy person walking in front, she found that the unknown is not so scary.
They came to the middle of the train, and there were not many people eating yet.
Anna knew that Karenin did not propose to eat at this time by accident, perhaps he was used to it and figured out the most suitable time for eating.
"What would you like to eat?" Karenin asked.
In fact, there are not too many types of supplies in this kind of place, but Karenin's behavior makes people ignore this.
Anna ordered what she liked, and paid attention to what Karenin ordered, and secretly wrote it down in her heart.
After the lunch was served, Anna took a bite, but it was not delicious. She looked at Karenin and also frowned slightly. No one can be blamed for this, the ingredients are innocent, and so is the chef.
Anna thought that Karenin would throw away this unsatisfactory lunch like those rich people, but Karenin didn't.
He allowed his brows to relax and unfurl, still slowly and calmly cutting the food on his plate. Then he looked up at Anna and asked, "Is it not to your liking."
A huge emotion swept over Anna.
This kind of touch stems from Karenin's not arrogant and extravagant approach. As a wife, Anna felt a sense of pride. It's like someone said "If the person I love is a criminal, I don't know what to do, but if the person I love is a person of high moral character, I will be proud of him."
"No." Anna said with a smile, also enjoying her own food.
She lied, the lunch itself didn't taste good, but the joy made up for it. When they returned to the box later, Anna told Karenin the truth.
"What else do you want to eat now?"
Karenin did not ask anything else first, but focused more on practical issues.
"I'm full now," said Anna cheerfully.
Karenin nodded, and then said, "If you don't like it, you don't have to force yourself, Anna."
"But you're not wasting it, Alexei." Anna pointed this out in a soft tone, "That's a very good quality."
"The deliciousness of the ingredients is indeed important, but for me, the practicality of the food itself has satisfied me. For me, continuing to eat this lunch will not change anything, but for you, on the basis of dislike If you continue to eat them, it becomes mood-affecting."
Karenin's serious words made Anna roll her eyes with a smile.
"Why are you laughing?" Karenin frowned a little puzzled.
"Because you said sweet words." Anna said with bright eyes.
"No matter what, it doesn't change my feeling that what happened just now was not bad but good."
"If you think so, fine." Karenin nodded again, and then took out his official document. Anna sighed inwardly again.
In the afternoon, Anna stopped staring at Karenin, she took out a book and read it slowly. At about three o'clock, the waiter from the dining car knocked on the door of their box.
When the delicate and delicious tea was placed on the clean table, Karenin pushed the piece of cake towards Anna.
Make up for the regret of lunch.
"You don't want it?" Anna asked, dimples appeared on her cheeks.
"Need not."
Karenin said succinctly. He picked up his own cup of black coffee, and Anna looked away after just one glance.
"I have to eat a piece of cake to suppress my shock."
The bitterness of the black coffee contrasts sharply with the sweetness of the cake.
"Is it delicious?" asked Karenin.
"It's delicious." Anna nodded honestly, "I'm not lying this time."
Karenin nodded in understanding.
Accompanied by the unique aroma of black coffee and the sweetness of cream, Anna decided to be more honest.
"Don't you want to touch me?"
Karenin's sipping movement seemed to be frozen in mid-air, and then he put down the coffee cup, stood up and crossed the space above the table, crossed the space on Anna's side, and when his fingers lightly touched the other's cheek, asked :"Can I?"
"Can."
Anna's eyelashes moved quickly, but her words were very firm.
It was a bittersweet kiss, but Anna took it to heart and gave it a great place.
It would be disingenuous to say that Anna hadn't imagined what her second night of the wedding would be like.
But she wouldn't believe it if someone told her that a couple spent the night in peace on their wedding night in a bed that was too big to look good.
Now, she believed it.
The side belonging to Karenin was tidied up.
The owner of the bed did not leave the bedroom, but worked at his desk on a soft chair, a diligent Russian official.
Karenin noticed the movement of the bed, turned around, and saw his little wife looking at her seriously with gray eyes.
Her hair is a little messy and looks even more curly. After a good night's sleep, the skin on his face became white and tender, and his beautiful lips were slightly opened as if in awe.
Karenin allowed himself to avert his eyes from his wife's rosy lips.
"Good day, Anna."
Usually, Karenin's first daily greeting was always dedicated to his housekeeper Kearney, but now, after his marriage, he began to feel this subtle difference.
"Good day, Alexey."
Anna wasn't sure if this was a part of her fantasies, a messy wife and a decent husband, but anyway, that didn't matter when Karenin approached him.
"Grachev will be here at nine o'clock, and we will leave for France at two o'clock in the afternoon," said Karenin.
Karenin said last night that Grachev was Karenin's family doctor. Things are almost ready.
"Okay." Anna responded, and then asked, "What time do you always get up?"
"Six o'clock."
Anna glanced at the wall clock, it was already 7:40, she usually got up at 7, she thought that the biological clock she developed was early enough, but it seemed that it was still not as good as a certain Russian official.
She lifted the quilt and was about to go to the bathroom to freshen herself up. She got up a little later than usual today, and hoped that she still had some time to do a simple stretching exercise.
When Anna came out, Karenin had left and Annushka was tidying up the room.
"Where's Alexey?"
"Sir went to the study and said breakfast would be delayed for twenty minutes."
Anna smiled and went to the closet to choose her clothes.
In an aristocratic family, the job of a personal maid included dressing her mistress, but Annushka didn't need to do this for Anna, because the latter was used to relying on herself for everything.
Annushka was almost apprehensive at first when she was told she didn't need to serve Anna, but she later found out that wasn't the case.
Since Anna recovered, her personality has become more cheerful.
Annushka is just a maid. She is not well-educated, but she sticks to her duty. She doesn't look at what she shouldn't, and doesn't think about what she shouldn't guess. Up to now, she has adjusted herself , will not go to fuss.
Anna picked out a long dress made of velvet, which was very warm. When she left the bedroom door, the butler Kearney told her that she could go to dinner.
"Thank you, Kearney." Anna smiled at the stern butler, who nodded at her.
When Anna reached the dining room, Karenin was already waiting there, reading a newspaper.
The servant took away the newspaper, and Karenin looked up at Anna and motioned for her to sit down.
Anna looked at the long dining table and said, "Do you want me to sit here, or here?" She indicated the two seats with her eyes.
Karenin got up and pulled away the chair next to him.
Anna blinked: "I like this decision."
The breakfast was very rich, and there was no problem with each other's dining etiquette, but Anna felt a little unaccustomed to being too quiet.
She didn't like silence, but she wasn't sure Karenin would like it. After hesitating for a while, she still asked, "May I ask you a question, Alexey."
"Yes." Although a little strange, Karenin stopped what he was doing.
Anna was a little shy, but decided to tell the truth.
"Can we talk during the meal?"
Anna continued: "What happened yesterday, I think we need to communicate more. I want to know you better."
"You can ask me any questions, Anna, unless it's something I can't disclose about work." Karenin completely put down the silver tableware in his hand.
"Sometimes you don't need to be too careful with me, you know, you can, relax a little bit."
Anna laughed: "You are a little serious sometimes, you know?"
Karenin was a little surprised, then shook his head: "No one has ever told me about this issue. Moreover, my job determines that it is more conducive to making decisions like this."
"Many people dare not tell you, but I can." Anna laughed again after speaking, "Looking at it this way, being your wife really has a lot of benefits."
Karenin didn't know how to respond to these words, it seemed to be a compliment, but a little less formal.
"You see, now I know you a little better," Anna said as she began to cut her own bacon, so naturally that Karenin looked at her for a while afterwards.
The morning sun shone in from the floor-to-ceiling windows and fell on his wife's hair and shoulders, as if she was dancing.
He glanced at the clock.
It was eight thirty, and breakfast was twenty minutes later than usual. The habit of not talking when eating at home has also been broken. If you spread your right hand, you can touch another person, such a close distance. All because of marriage.
"What do you want me to tell you?" asked Karenin.
Anna raised her head and said, "Anything is fine, Alexey, I think this is a couple, you can tell me anything, as long as you want."
Anything is fine, but the scope is a bit too big.
If this was the answer Karenin got at work, he would usually frown and ask his subordinates to reformulate the answer. But Anna is not his subordinate, she is his wife, a very special existence that has never been encountered before. Lacking data to analyze, we can only move cautiously step by step, and sometimes, even caution is not needed.
This is a bit scary for Karenin. There are no rules and no case studies. However, he thinks he can do well.
To this end, Karenin carefully chose a topic.
"Would you still like to go to France with me in the afternoon?"
"Of course, why do you think I will change?" Anna said happily.
"After what happened last night, I'm concerned you're going to need some personal space."
"No." Anna expressed her thoughts frankly, "I want to follow you to France."
"I see."
Then, the restaurant was silent again, but this time Anna didn't feel a little embarrassed anymore.
Grachev came over on time. He was a man in his fifties, with brown-red hair not yet gray, with a well-rounded appearance and a very kind appearance.
He was indeed a kind doctor, and gave Anna an ointment to apply.
After the doctor left, they were alone in the bedroom.
Karenin asked: "Do you need me to call Annushka?" After the words fell, the ointment was handed to him.
"This is also a compulsory course in love, increase contact, get to know each other, and then..." She didn't go on, just lowered her head and smiled.
Afterwards, after talking to the housekeeper for the last time, when he turned around and was about to board the carriage, Karenin saw the person waiting for him beside the carriage. Although it was still cold and cold in November, it seemed as if spring had already passed. Swinging over with a swaying skirt, the seeds of hope have been left on this land, just waiting for the flowers to bloom in the coming year.
He's married, and it feels good to be married.
The owner of the bed did not leave the bedroom, but worked at his desk on a soft chair, a diligent Russian official.