The Shadow of Great Britain

491: Chapter 263: Astonishing Secret (4K2)_2 491: Chapter 263: Astonishing Secret (4K2)_2 Viscount Palmeston doffed his hat, replying with a smile, “Dorothea, am I not worried that I may provoke your ire?

At next week’s Ormac ball, may I have the honor of dancing a waltz with you?”

Lady Liv scoffed lightly as she admired her emerald ring, “My dance partner had already been settled upon.

However, if it’s the charming Henry, I wouldn’t mind making a spontaneous change to accompany me for a waltz.

But…

aren’t you afraid Emily will be cross?

She’s been quite intent on monopolizing your company for the long term.”

Viscount Palmeston laughed in response, “How could that be?

Emily is clear about these matters, and besides, she’s hosting a salon at her home this weekend, so even if I were inclined to dance with her, she wouldn’t have the time.”

Lady Liv shook her head slightly, “Emily has indeed devoted a lot to the Cowper Earl, looking after the Cowper Family’s social circle.

If not for her managing things, given the Cowper Earl’s stuffy nature, I reckon he would have long been sidelined from the main political circles of Britain.

However, if Emily hadn’t recklessly eloped in a moment of youthful indiscretion, bringing scandal upon herself, she could have married a husband with a sense of humor and influence.”

She was too impulsive, too easily deceived by men, and at that time she didn’t understand the true nature of marriage.

Wanting to bind love and marriage together is, under normal circumstances, quite a difficult feat to achieve.

Had she been as free-spirited back then as she is today, with her capacity to manage her husband’s social circle, she might well be the wife of the Prime Minister by now, instead of constantly stuck with the silent, inarticulate Earl Cowper, who blushes at a mere few words with the ladies.

Finding Emily was his sheer luck; had she not committed such folly, causing old Viscount Melbourne such distress that he was eager to marry her off quickly, the Cowper Earl could never have stumbled upon such fortune.

But then again, Emily’s entire family seems notorious.

Young Viscount Melbourne was quite the libertine himself, and Emily’s mother, Lady Melbourne, was famously a social butterfly of London, deeply trusted and favored by the late King George IV.

If not for her, Viscount Melbourne would not have gradually risen from an ordinary knight to a viscount.

And then, there’s the tale of Emily’s sister-in-law, Lady Ponsonby, wife of the younger Viscount Melbourne—which is even more scandalous.

During Lord Byron’s lifetime, London’s newspapers practically daily thrived on the gossip involving Lady Ponsonby and Lord Byron.

Reflecting upon this, the quiet, elegant younger Viscount Melbourne seems quite the odd one out in their family.”

Ladies’ penchant for gossip is indeed insatiable, and Viscount Palmeston, too, was pleased to steer the conversation away from Poland, maintaining mystery and secrecy as his consistent political style and a shrewd tactic to protect himself and strike at his opponents.

He would rather indulge in a bit more idle chatter than disclose one syllable more about his views on diplomacy.

Viscount Palmeston began, “William has indeed been most unfortunate, with his demeanor and habitual grace, if born into a normal noble family, he’d certainly have grown up to be the paragon of virtue that priests delight in.

He interacts with elegance and propriety, particularly around ladies, that’s how everyone perceives him.

But…

Dorothea, if you truly think he is as abstinent as a suffering monk, then you are gravely mistaken.

William too had his fair share of merriment in his youth, even embroiled in a divorce case once.

But perhaps it was the aftermath of his wife’s scandal with Byron and his own unfortunate marriage that smoothed out William’s edges.

He may not seek material touch, yet on an emotional level, he needs affection far more than other men do.”

Luckily, I’ve recently noticed that he seems to have found his true love.

Since William met that delightful lady, his spirits have improved significantly compared to before.

As a friend, I am genuinely happy for him.”

“Oh?”

As expected, Viscount Palmeston’s bait immediately piqued Lady Liv’s curiosity.

She playfully scolded Viscount Palmeston, “Henry, you know full well I want to hear more, so why tease me like this?”

Viscount Palmeston replied with a teasing smile, “It’s not that I’m withholding, rather, I think it’s better for you to take a stroll over to the adjacent private room than to take my word for it.

Dorothea, you know, my lips are usually sealed tight, and I do not fancy spreading the secrets of friends everywhere.”

“You mean…

they are next door?” Lady Liv gasped, hand at her lips, eyes wide with astonishment, “Viscount Melbourne and his intimate companion?”

“Ahem, ahem…” Viscount Palmeston coughed, “Dorothea, we should not speak so.

William has always maintained his and that lady’s innocence, and I believe in his credibility.

Their relationship appears more one of the soul than of the body.

As to whether they have indulged physically, I expect only God knows.”

Lady Liv, hearing this, lifted her fan to cover half her face, her eyes nearly closing with mirth, “Henry, you’re a wicked one.

So you want me to go witness for myself and report back to you?

Forget it, I won’t fall for your trap.

You better save these tricks for dealing with Parliament.”

Viscount Palmeston responded with a laugh and a compliment, “My dear Dorothea, I’ve always said, if you were an English gentleman, I doubt I could last half a day in the British political scene.

My little tricks would all be exposed before Prime Minister Dorothea.”

Lady Liv leaned forward slightly upon hearing the words, resting her head on Palmerston’s chest, “That’s not necessarily the case, you sneak, you always have a trick up your sleeve.

I don’t believe for a second that you’ve exhausted all your tricks.

To punish your dishonesty, today you must show me something new.”

Lady Liv’s hand caressed the side of Palmerston’s face, her eyes brimming with affection as she said, “Henry, my request isn’t too much, is it?”

Palmerston wrapped his arms around the beauty’s waist, his breathing becoming heavy, “Dorothea, as you know, I never refuse a lady’s request.

Although I won’t admit that I lied, but if you must see something new, then I’ll rack my brains to make up something on the spot for you.”

The two were deeply engrossed in each other, lost in a moment of infatuation.

Suddenly, there came a loud thud as the door to the private room was kicked open.

Immediately after, a roar that could almost spread across the entire floor ensued, “Caroline, you filthy whore, despicable prostitute!

I knew you were up to such vile acts with Melbourne!”

Viscount Palmerston jerked in shock, Lady Liv hid in her companion’s arms, scared by the sudden outburst, and didn’t dare to show her face.

After a brief moment of mental disarray, Palmerston finally composed himself.

He looked at the standing figure at the door, the magistrate Norton, who had come to catch the adulterers, and after scrutinizing for a long while, assured himself he did not recognize this man.

Viscount Palmerston slammed his hand down and bellowed, “Who in the devil are you, rascal!

Why are you barging into my room?!”

Norton, peering through the dim light in the room, finally realized that he might have entered the wrong room and, moreover, the face before him looked somewhat familiar – it was none other than the influential Foreign Secretary.

Norton suddenly felt a chill from head to toe, and the rage he had mustered was quickly suppressed again.

He gave an embarrassed chuckle, “Sorry, it seems I’ve got the wrong room.”

At that, a loud snap was heard as the door of the private room was shut again.

Viscount Palmerston, furious, lifted his coat to draw his gun, and while pulling out his weapon, he roared towards the outside, “Scoundrel!

Don’t you run, you hooligan!”

However, by the time he got to the door, the scoundrel who had ruined his good time had already disappeared without a trace in the corridor.

The hallway still echoed with the angry bickering of him and his partner.

“Bernie, didn’t you fucking say it was that room?”

“How the fuck would I know!

The information I got was that room, maybe Viscount Melbourne canceled at the last minute, or maybe they switched rooms?”

“Damn it!

I knew it wasn’t for no reason that you were caught in that brothel!”

“Fuck off, you think your brains are any better?!”