sovbooks 45. Even God would feel regret.
45. Even God would feel regret.
Dugan adjusted his expression, putting on a look of apology. He was about to apologize again to salvage his composure so he could continue asking the noblewoman for her name and address.
"Ahem, ahem." A soft cough suddenly came from the doorway, followed by a steady and powerful male voice, still in fluent French, "I'll pay this gentleman's bill."
Upon hearing this, Dugan showed no gratitude whatsoever; instead, he frowned and felt secretly furious.
Who was so inconsiderate as to disturb me at this crucial moment, ruining the perfect opportunity to spend time with the beauty?
Dugan looked up sharply, wanting to see who was spoiling the mood, but when he saw the two people at the door, all his anger vanished instantly, replaced by shock and joy.
Two people were standing at the door. One of them was Dugan's current superior, Major General Wellesley.
The man standing next to Wellesley was dressed in an exquisite British business suit, with a gentle and refined demeanor. His features bore a resemblance to Dugan's, and he was none other than his older brother, Megan Connby.
Dugan's nose tingled with emotion. Without saying a word, he went straight up and hugged his brother.
The two brothers have not seen each other for at least five years since Megan went to work for the East India Company and was sent to Madras to handle trade affairs.
"Dear brother!" Dugan could no longer contain his excitement and rushed forward to hug Megan tightly.
Megan hugged her brother back tightly, patted his back, and looked at him with a playful expression.
"Just now, Mr. Wellesley was praising you. I never expected to see you in such a 'disheveled' state."
Wellesley stood aside, smiling without saying a word.
Upon seeing this, the proprietress quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Respected Governor, sir, I am so sorry, it was all a misunderstanding."
This French restaurant is located near the Governor's Palace, so naturally they know the Governor.
Dugan and Megan separated and turned to Wellesley, bowing. "Sir, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Meghan was sent by my brother. It was lunchtime, and he said this French restaurant was very good, so he brought me here to try it."
Wellesley chuckled. "But you, Colonel Dugan, as a regimental commander and the young master of the prestigious Connaught family, are actually in dire straits over the cost of a meal. It's going to be a laughing stock if word gets out."
Dugan scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, about to offer some explanation, when his gaze suddenly swept towards the corner where the noble lady had been sitting.
The place was now empty, except for a cup of unfinished tea and a faint fragrance lingering in the air.
He quickly looked around the entire restaurant, but could no longer see the girl with the loli-like face, mature body, dimples, and little tiger teeth.
"Why did she leave?" Dugan's tone was full of regret. He had been so focused on reuniting with his brother that he had forgotten about the noble lady who had come to his rescue. He hadn't even had a chance to ask her name, and that was how he missed her.
Megan couldn't help but laugh when she saw her brother's frustrated look; she knew her brother's character well.
So the three of them found a seat and sat down. Megan smiled and said, "You mean that lady who was dining alone earlier? I happen to know her."
Dugan abruptly turned to Megan, his eyes lighting up with hope. He asked urgently, "Brother, do you know her? Who is she? What's her name? Where does she live?"
Seeing her brother's eager expression, Megan calmly revealed the lady's identity.
This noblewoman's name is Catalina de Urgell, and her given name is Maria Catalina.
Born in Girona in 1786, he is 17 years old this year. He comes from the Count of Urgel family, the most core branch of the Barcelona family. His family was once one of the most prominent noble families in Catalonia and the hereditary rulers of the County of Urgel (the old territory, now northeastern Spain). Although they lost control of the core of Catalonia after 1412, they still retained the estates and noble titles in the Urgel region. He is one of the representatives of the "Barcelona lineage" among the old Catalan nobles.
"Catarina de Urgell..." Dugan murmured the name in his heart. He never expected that the savior he had encountered was actually the daughter of a count from Catalonia, Spain, with such a distinguished background.
However, Dugan quickly realized what he meant. "Brother, don't you know too much about this Miss Urhell?"
Megan looked at her brother and smiled, "I have to know, because it's my job."
Dugan became interested and asked, "Megan, you've successfully piqued my interest."
After saying that, Megan began to speak eloquently.
Catalina's father was Juan de Urgel, Count of Urgel in the Kingdom of Spain, a young descendant of a collateral branch of the Barcelona family. Catalina's mother was from the Roca family, an old noble family of Aragon in Spain, also a native Catalan noble family, and thus of Barcelona maternal lineage.
As the only daughter of the Count, Catalina is the only direct descendant of the Urgell family and the sole inheritor of the family bloodline and the identity of the "Barcelona lineage".
Because the family had no male heirs, her father, Juan de Urgell, had already made a will bequeathing his count title and all his estates and property to her. Of course, this was contingent on the approval of the Spanish royal family.
Given Catalina's special status, the Spanish royal family naturally hoped that she would marry a Spanish nobleman, which would strengthen the Spanish king's rule and weaken the power of local autonomous groups.
French Emperor Napoleon hoped that Catalina would marry a French nobleman, which would strengthen his infiltration and control over Spain.
The Catalan nobility, on the other hand, hoped that Catalina would marry a local Catalan nobleman, which would strengthen Catalan unity and allow Catalonia to gain greater autonomy within the Kingdom of Spain.
"And what about Downing Street's attitude?" Dugan began to understand why his brother knew so much about Catalina; it turned out there were so many conflicting interests involved.
Meghan said, "It's in Britain's interest for Catalina to marry anyone, as long as she doesn't marry a Frenchman."
Upon hearing this, Megan suddenly had a flash of inspiration and pointed at Dugan, saying, "My dear brother, are you interested?"
"Me?" Dugan asked in surprise, "Why me?"
Megan laughed, "You're the second son, so you have no title or inheritance to carry on. Everything in the Connaught family will be mine in the future. But if you marry Miss Catalina, you'll not only have the chance to obtain an earldom and lands, but England will also be better able to contain the French and Spanish. This is the possibility that best serves England's interests."
Wellesley, who was standing nearby, immediately became interested and chimed in, jokingly saying with a playful expression, "You can win the heart of a beauty and also wield noble power. You can have both fame and fortune, and a beautiful woman. It's a win-win situation."
Dugan remained silent for a long time after hearing this. The romantic feelings he had when he first met Katalina had completely vanished.
He was suddenly filled with endless emotion, and a deep sense of sympathy welled up in his heart.
The world is focused on her noble titles and vast fortune. Politicians and ambitious individuals from all sides are secretly scheming against her marriage, treating her life's most important event as a bargaining chip.
With this thought in mind, Dugen's heart was free of any frivolous or distracting thoughts, leaving only sincerity and pity.
He shook his head slightly and said with a serious expression, "Megan, stop making jokes like that."
Upon seeing this, Megan's smile vanished completely, and her expression became extremely serious: "My dear brother, do you think I'm joking with you?"
Wellesley sighed softly and said slowly, "Born into the ranks of the top aristocratic heiresses, their life path and destiny are predetermined by power and interests from the moment they are born, and they have no say in it."
Megan continued, "Miss Catalina knew all this, which is why she came to India from Spain, whether you call it a trip to clear her head or to escape an arranged marriage."
Megan paused for a moment, then said, "Dugan, I hope you don't miss this opportunity, or even God will regret it."