第十四章

三年後，莎拉．伍德的第一本小說問世了，莎拉將自己的經歷用一半自傳的方式寫成一本《無悔的愛》，深受當時倫敦各階層的女士的喜愛。當時女士們談話的內容多半有關於女主角＂凱特琳娜＂與男主角＂安希爾＂的戀情，很多人認為這悲劇式的戀情太動人－莎拉原沒想過自己的小說會如此轟動，她本來就是默默無聞的新手，只是時間將她鍛鍊成可以輕易將文字轉化成心意的人，或許是這份心意感動人的吧！

在她將稿件寄出後，原就不抱任何期待，半年後的某天，有信件跟她連絡，請她到出版社去一趟。就這一趟，成就這本小說的出場－莎拉覺得自己真的很幸運，能夠出版一本小說表白心意。出版社還請她繼續寫小說，說她的小說優美動人，幾乎讓人愛不釋手。

不久，歌劇院也買走了小說的版權，一年之後，＂無悔的愛＂正式在倫敦歌劇院上演。由於情節太曲折動人，不僅小說原著賣得好，連改編的舞台劇也大為成功。這也是莎拉料想不到的，但莎拉是個低調的人，她不願被放大檢視，也不願個人隱私被放在大眾眼下成為茶餘飯後的笑談。

她不僅藉故不出席出版社為她開的慶祝會，連有些讀者要求舉辦的作者聯誼會她也不曾出席過，更別說以作者的身份，出席任何公眾場合，但她仍致力於小說創作，不曾中斷。

知道莎拉是＂無悔的愛＂的作者也僅是少數的幾個人，而這時，莎拉也已經二十九歲，在這期間，她也出版兩本小說，迴響也還算不錯。

這同時，莎拉仍時常想起安德魯，她會從報上留意他的消息，雖然這時候安德魯已經繼承了他父親的爵位，成為安德魯．格林伯爵，但是安德魯的畫畫也同樣成功－莎拉早知道安德魯會成功的，因為安德魯有極堅強的毅力，成功本就指日可待－不知安德魯是否已經結婚，這點倒完全沒有消息，莎拉其實不敢懷抱任何期望，但誰又知道呢？說不定安德魯已經將這段年少逸事給遺忘。

莎拉每天忙於寫作，除了小說，也寫散文，也沒有多餘心思將時間放在感情或尋找對象上，使得伍德夫婦相當著急，但也無可奈何。

只有偶而孤獨時想起安德魯的笑臉，以及他溫柔而直率的眼睛，似乎永遠充滿絕對的熱情－或許是因為熱愛畫畫的關係，安德魯並不給人難以親近的印象，因此在倫敦，大家都知道安德魯．格林伯爵是個會向人熱情打招呼的人。

莎拉有個要好的姊妹淘，邀請莎拉到她倫敦的家來小住幾日。這姊妹淘也是從小一起長大的好朋友，兩人無話不談。但這姊妹淘早早就出嫁了，但她們時常會以信件來往－莎拉被邀請到伊蓮娜．葛雷的家極為高興，因為她們已經很久不見，莎拉只有一次在出外時小會伊蓮娜一次，可能因為很久沒見，感覺生疏了些，使得莎拉不好意思再去拜訪。

這次拜訪是由伊蓮娜夫婦共同邀請的，伊蓮娜的夫婿是個議員的兒子，人很上進，待人又親切，莎拉很替伊蓮娜高興，伊蓮娜更是高興莎拉的來訪。

這天，伊蓮娜說她的丈夫願意留在家中看顧她那一歲大的小兒子，她很希望莎拉陪伴她去看一齣很出名的舞台劇＂無悔的愛＂，莎拉還沒有機會去看過自己的小說被編成的舞台劇，因為看了會想起這段想讓她深埋的傷心往事，但基於伊蓮娜的要求，不得不答應。

兩人來到劇院，因為票已經事先買好，兩人找到座位後便坐了下來。伊蓮娜在舞台劇上演前，很高興對莎拉說這劇是目前倫敦最紅的一齣戲，莎拉聽了只略微笑了笑，伊蓮娜甚至說她收藏了一本作者的原著小說，莎拉不禁開口問：「小說很好看嗎？伊蓮娜」伊蓮娜對原著彷彿很熟悉似的，一直點頭說：「這作者寫的真的很好，你應該去買一本來看的莎拉」莎拉連忙說：「你的小說借我看吧！我不需要買了」「好吧」伊蓮娜說：「說不定你看了戲，會想買一本來收藏呢！」莎拉笑了笑：「應該沒有動人到這個地步吧！」

此時舞台劇開演了，兩人和其他人一樣安靜地看著舞台劇上演員演繹著＂無悔的愛＂。

莎拉靜靜聽著演員們講出出自她手中的台詞，每一的段落她都清楚的知道接下來將上演什麼，舞台劇除了部分修改，其他的很忠於原著。在戲劇的感染下，莎拉看得眼眶都溼了，舞台上的演員，活靈活現的演出她和安德魯定情的那一幕，當莎拉看到男女主角互相伸手深情地握住對方的手時，莎拉忍不住讓淚水盡情奔放在臉頰上，這時的莎拉，想安德魯想到心痛－安德魯，親愛的安德魯現在好嗎？這刻骨銘心的想念如今被舞台上演員活生生的誘導出來，淚水就一發不可收拾了。

整齣戲莎拉在模糊的視線中看過，一邊的伊蓮娜彷彿也被舞台劇的情緒給染了，哭得淚不可抑。一個多小時的舞台劇看完，兩人這才擦了眼淚，一同離席到劇院外。

「真是動人，不是嗎？」伊蓮娜邊擦淚水邊開口「你該去買本小說來看的，幸好男女主角最後有在一起，要不然我得給作者抗議去」莎拉破涕為笑「你都不知道作者是男是女呢！」「這麼經典的感情描寫作者應該是女士吧！」伊蓮娜煞有其事地說：「我還沒看過哪位男士能講感情描寫得如此出色動人呢！」「這是你的偏見了伊蓮娜，我相信一定有男士能夠描寫動人的愛情故事，如果他真的懂感情是怎麼回事的話」

「沒錯！」旁邊忽然竄出一句男人的聲音，好熟悉的聲音，該不會是……莎拉轉頭一看，一身衣裝俊挺的安德魯就站在離她們幾步遠的地方，他用著一種看見好友的愉悅笑容看著莎拉。莎拉驚喜的大叫：「安德魯！」安德魯很開心地走向前來伸出手：「好久不見了，莎拉」莎拉忍不住將手伸出取與安德魯一握：「真的好久不見了」

久別重逢的兩人完全遺忘旁人的存在，兩人眼中那種與摯愛重逢的神采連伊蓮娜都覺得不尋常。當莎拉回神過來才將安德魯介紹給伊蓮娜，伊蓮娜大方地對安德魯笑了笑說：「莎拉從沒告訴我她認識伯爵大人呢！」原來伊蓮娜認識安德魯，這樣莎拉便不用再描述什麼。三人聊了一會關於舞台劇的事，原來方才安德魯與她們看了同一場次的戲，莎拉覺得很不好意思，不知道安德魯從中看出了什麼端倪。

伊蓮娜一會兒脫口說：「我得回去看著孩子了」並請安德魯在與莎拉談完話後送莎拉回家，伊蓮娜看得出莎拉很想和安德魯多聊，便藉口先離開了。

安德魯等伊蓮娜搭馬車離開後，才心有所感地說：「方才的戲演得很動人，不是嗎？」「是的」莎拉臉色紅潤起來：「我都被感動得哭了」「是嗎？」安德魯若有思的：「我覺得作者寫得很動人，聽說＂她＂的小說賣得很好」安德魯用了＂她＂字，莎拉則說：「我還沒買小說來看，不知道是不是真得很好看」安德魯意有所指地說：「作者很用心在寫感情，尤其是男女主角雙手緊握那一幕，讓我很激動，是什麼讓作者認為男女主角應該在一起呢？人生那麼多磨難，很多人很難逃過命運的安排」莎拉點頭：「是的，命運的確給人無盡的磨難及安排，但真正相愛的人應該排除萬難在一起，這才是真正的愛，也才動人，不是嗎？」「你真的很理解作者的想法」「不，我理解的是命運的殘酷，命運給人考驗，但人不會無路可走，只是需要一點時間等待，光明就在眼前」

「那我們呢？」

安德魯炙熱的眼神又出現了，莎拉的心跳在此時更是驚心動魄「我們是在現實中不能實現的童話故事」莎拉隨即抽離她的手。安德魯的神色馬上黯淡下來：「我們是現實中無法存在的童話，是的，莎拉，但我們是有感情的人類，心靈會受傷，對於命運的安排我們只能怪它殘酷，是嗎？你還不能理解我對你的愛嗎？為了你，我無法接受別的女孩，你是我唯一的愛」莎拉正色地說：「我很感激你對我的付出，真的很希望能回報你這些愛的萬分之一，但我辦不到，唯一的承諾是我對你的感覺一直沒變，除此之外，我也毫無能力改變什麼，對不起，請送我回伊蓮娜家，格林先生」

最後那句格林先生徹底擊垮了安德魯，他沉著臉陪著莎拉走向等在另一頭的豪華馬車，安德魯深深覺得雖然只有幾步路，走來卻覺得特別遙遠，彷彿再走幾步，就要掉進萬丈深淵－將莎拉送上馬車，安德魯自己也隨即登上車子，空氣中凝著結黯淡的氣氛。

一股難以形容的憂傷感覺在馬車內散開來。一路上兩人都未發一語，但莎拉的心在哭泣，她知道這回傷了安德魯的心，下一回，他們可能再也沒有見面的機會。

待續~(107.10..3)

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Love in London

CHAPTER XIV

Three years later, Sarah． Wood's first novel was published, in which Sarah wrote her experiences in a half-autobiographical book,＜ Love Without Regrets＞, which was loved by ladies of all walks of life in London at the time. At that time, most of the conversation between the ladies was about the love affair between the heroine "Caterina" and the male protagonist "Anhill", and many people thought that this tragic love affair was too touching - Sarah never thought that her novel would be so sensational, she was originally an unknown novice, but time trained her to be a person who can easily transform words into hearts, maybe this heart is touching!

After she sent the manuscript, she didn't have any expectations, but one day half a year later, a letter contacted her, asking her to go to the publishing house. This trip made the appearance of this novel - Sarah feels really lucky to be able to publish a novel to confess her heart. The publisher also asked her to continue writing novels, saying that her novels are so beautiful and moving that they almost make people love them.

Soon after, the opera house also bought the rights to the novel, and a year later, "Love Without Regrets" was officially staged at the London Opera House. Because the plot is too twisty and moving, not only did the original novel sell well, but even the adapted stage play was a great success. This is also something Sarah didn't expect, but Sarah is a low-key person, she doesn't want to be magnified and scrutinized, and she doesn't want her personal privacy to be put in front of the public to become an after-dinner joke.

Not only did she not attend the celebration held for her by the publishing house, but she also did not attend the authors' fraternity party that some readers requested, let alone attend any public occasions as an author, but she still devoted herself to the writing of novels without interruption.

There are only a few people who know that Sarah is the author of "love without regrets", and at this time, Sarah is already twenty-nine years old, and during this period, she has also published two novels, and the response is not bad.

At the same time, Sarah still thinks of Andrew from time to time, she will pay attention to his news from the newspaper, although at this time Andrew has inherited his father's title and became Andrew．Green, Earl of Green, but Andrew's painting is also successful - Sarah knew that Andrew would succeed, because Andrew has great perseverance, success is just around the corner - I don't know if Andrew is married, this is not news at all, Sarah actually does not dare to have any expectations, but who knows? Maybe Andrew has forgotten this youthful incident.

Sarah was busy writing every day, writing not only novels but also essays, and she didn't have the extra time to focus on feelings or finding a partner, which made the Woods quite anxious, but also helpless.

Only occasionally when I am lonely I think of Andrew's smiling face, and his gentle and straightforward eyes, it seems that he is always full of absolute enthusiasm - perhaps because of his love of painting, Andrew does not give people the impression of being unapproachable, so in London, everyone knows that Andrew ．Green is a man who will greet people warmly.

Sarah has a good friend Elena． Gray, who invites Sarah to her London home for a few days. She is also  who grew up together, and the two talk about everything. But she was married early, but they often exchanged letters—Sarah was very happy to be invited to Elena Gray's house, for they had not seen each other for a long time, and Sarah had only met Elena once when she was away, probably because she had not seen her for a long time, and felt a little unfamiliar, which made Sarah embarrassed to visit again.

This visit was jointly invited by Elena and her husband, who was the son of a councillor, who was very motivated and kind, Sarah was very happy for Elena, and Elena was even more happy for Sarah's visit.

On this day, Elena said that her husband was willing to stay at home to take care of her one-year-old son, and she very much hoped that Sarah would accompany her to see a very famous stage play "Love Without Regrets", Sarah had not yet had the opportunity to see the stage play where her novel was written, because after watching it, she would remember this sad past that she wanted to bury deeply, but based on Yelena's request, she had to agree.

The two came to the theater, and because the tickets had been bought in advance, the two found their seats and sat down. Before the stage play, Elena was very happy to tell Sarah that this play is currently the most popular play in London, Sarah only smiled slightly when she heard it, and Elena even said that she had a collection of the author's original novel, Sarah couldn't help asking, "Is the novel good? Elena" Elena seemed to be very familiar with the original book, and kept nodding and saying, "This author is really well written, you should go and buy a copy of Sarah" Sarah quickly said, "Lend me your novel to read! I don't need to buy it" "Okay" Elena said: " Maybe you'll want to buy a collection after watching the play!" Sarah smiled, "It shouldn't be so impressive!"

At this time, the stage play started, and the two quietly watched the actors in the stage play perform "love without regrets" like everyone else.

Sarah listened quietly to the actors' lines from her hands, and she knew exactly what was going to happen next in each paragraph, and the stage play was faithful to the original except for some modifications. Under the infection of the drama, Sarah's eyes were wet, and the actors on the stage vividly performed the scene where she and Andrew fell in love, when Sarah saw the hero and heroine reaching out to each other and holding each other's hands affectionately, Sarah couldn't help but let the tears run on her cheeks, at this time, Sarah, thinking of Andrew's heartache - Andrew, dear Andrew, how is he now? This unforgettable miss is now induced by the actors on the stage, and the tears are out of control.

Sarah watched the whole play in a blurred vision, and Yelena on the side seemed to be dyed by the emotions of the stage play, crying uncontrollably. After watching the stage play for more than an hour, the two wiped their tears and left the theater together.

"It's really moving, isn't it?" Elena said as she wiped her tears, "You should go buy a novel to read, fortunately the hero and heroine are together in the end, otherwise I would have to protest to the author" Sarah burst into tears and laughed, "You don't even know if the author is a man or a woman!" "The author of such a classic emotional description should be a lady!" Elena said matter-of-factly, "I haven't seen a man who can describe feelings so well and movingly!" It's your prejudice to Yelena, I'm sure there must be a man who can write a touching love story, if he really understands what feelings are all about."

"That's right!" A man's voice suddenly came out next to him, so familiar, could it be ...... Sarah turned her head to see Andrew, who was dressed in a handsome outfit, standing a few paces away from them, looking at Sarah with a smile of joy that he had seen his friend. Sarah exclaimed in surprise, "Andrew!" Andrew happily walked forward and stretched out his hand: "Long time no see, Sarah" Sarah couldn't help but reach out and shake Andrew: "It's been a long time."

The two of them completely forgot the existence of others after a long absence, and the look of reunion with their beloved in their eyes was unusual even for Yelena. When Sarah came to her senses and introduced Andrew to Elena, Elena smiled generously at Andrew and said, "Sarah never told me she knew the Earl!" It turns out that Elena knows Andrew, so Sarah doesn't have to describe anything. The three of them chatted for a while about the stage play, and it turned out that Andrew had just watched the same play with them, and Sarah felt very embarrassed, not knowing what Andrew had seen from it.

Elena blurted out after a while, "I have to go back to watching the kids" and asked Andrew to send Sarah home after talking to Sarah, and Elena could see that Sarah wanted to talk to Andrew more, so she excused herself to leave first.

Andrew waited for Elena to leave in the carriage before he said with feeling, "Fang Cai's play is very moving, isn't it?" "Yes" Sarah's face flushed: "I was moved to tears" "Really?" Andrew thoughtfully: "I think the author writes very movingly, I heard that "her" novels sell very well" Andrew used the word "she", Sarah said: "I haven't bought the novel yet, I don't know if it's really good" Andrew said meaningfully" The author is very careful to write about feelings, especially the scene where the hero and heroine clasp their hands tightly, which makes me very excited, what makes the author think that the hero and heroine should be together? There are so many tribulations in life, and it is difficult for many people to escape the arrangement of fate" Sarah nodded: "Yes, fate does give people endless tribulations and arrangements, but people who really love each other should be together against all odds, this is true love, and it is moving, isn't it?" No, what I understand is the cruelty of fate, fate tests people, but people will not have no way out, they just need a little time to wait, the light is in front of them."

"What about us?"

Andrew's hot eyes reappeared, and Sarah's heartbeat was even more thrilling at this time, "We are a fairy tale that cannot be realized in reality" Sarah immediately withdrew her hand. Andrew's expression immediately dimmed: "We are fairy tales that cannot exist in reality, yes, Sarah, but we are human beings with feelings, our hearts will be hurt, and we can only blame it for the cruelty of fate, right? Can't you understand my love for you? For you, I can't accept other girls, you are my only love" Sarah said with a straight face: " I appreciate your dedication to me, and I really hope to repay you for this love of 10,000th of it, but I can't, the only promise is that my feelings for you have never changed, and I have no other power to change anything, I'm sorry, please send me back to Elena's house, Mr. Green."

The last sentence of Mr. Green completely crushed Andrew, and he calmly accompanied Sarah to the luxurious carriage waiting at the other end, and Andrew deeply felt that although it was only a few steps, it felt very far away, as if he would fall into the abyss after a few more steps-sent Sarah to the carriage, and Andrew himself immediately boarded the carriage, and the air was filled with a gloomy atmosphere.

An indescribable feeling of sadness spread through the carriage. Neither of them said a word along the way, but Sarah's heart was crying, and she knew that this time it broke Andrew's heart, and the next time, they might never see each other again.

To be continued ~ (107.10..3)

因為用中文創作,再翻譯為英文,所以英文上的正確用詞無法翻譯出來,夫人可以意指"你的淑女身分"(代表的是當代的一種地位稱呼),公爵大人,伯爵大人,男爵大人等,小說中都有出現,抱歉,因為請Google翻譯翻譯的,而本人沒有從事過英文寫作,只想嘗試用英文表達整部小說的內容,敬請原諒!!謝謝!!

Because it is created in Chinese and then translated into English, the correct words in English cannot be translated, Madame can mean "your lady" (representing a contemporary status title), Lord Duke, Lord Earl, Lord Baron, etc., all appear in the novel, sorry, because I asked Google Translate to translate, and I have not been engaged in English writing, I just want to try to express the content of the whole novel in English, please forgive me!! Thank you!!

本小說創作如有雷同,純屬巧合,而小說寫作的年代約略定在與作家珍．奧斯汀同一年代

It is a coincidence that the novel was written in the same era as the writer Jane Austen