The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1559: Chapter 7: Talleyrand? Pitt? (Part 2)

Arthur furrowed his brow; he certainly knew about the discord between King William IV and the Duchess of Kent.

King William IV was a quick-tempered, outspoken king, while the Duchess of Kent was a stubborn and highly ambitious woman. The conflict between them ran deep, nearly reaching a point of total incompatibility. However, he still couldn’t figure out what the royal family quarrel had to do with him.

Not sure what was in the other’s gourd, Arthur could only feign ignorance while trying to glean information: “Is it because of the Regency Bill issue?”

“To be precise, it’s about the education of the Crown prince and their future political inclination,” the Duke of Wellington said calmly, “His Majesty the King is, of course, aware that he has no legitimate offspring, and at his age, it seems unlikely he ever will. Thus, Princess Victoria’s future accession to the throne is almost a certainty. The issue lies in who will shape her thinking and influence her philosophy of governance before she officially ascends.”

Arthur remained silent; he had already guessed the Duke of Wellington’s implication.

The Duchess of Kent was a staunch supporter of the Whig Party, and her private secretary, Conroy, was adept at manipulation. Since Princess Victoria was young, they had employed various means to isolate her from the outside world, attempting to mold her into a queen wholly influenced by the Whig Party.

“His Majesty’s concerns are not merely about her future inclinations, more importantly…” Sir Peel lowered his voice, speaking meaningfully, “If His Majesty were to pass away before Princess Victoria came of age, then according to the Regency Bill, the Duchess of Kent would become the Regent, taking control of the entire Kingdom’s affairs in her stead.”

“His Majesty absolutely cannot accept this situation,” the Duke of Wellington said firmly, “and neither can Britain and the Tory Party accept such single-party dominance.”

Arthur could vaguely guess the answer behind it, but he still found it somewhat unbelievable: “So… what do I need to do for His Majesty and the people of Britain?”

Sir Peel gently tapped the table: “His Majesty needs someone who can enter Kensington Palace, someone who can maintain a clear head under the control of the Duchess of Kent and Conroy, and provide us with timely intelligence while ensuring the princess is not overly swayed by the Whig Party.”

Hearing this, Arthur thought this task might not be as easy as Sir Peel made it sound.

Kensington Palace had been crafted into something like a fortress by the Duchess of Kent and her private secretary, Conroy. If it were really that easy to influence the Crown prince under their watchful eyes, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel wouldn’t need to resort to various coercive tactics today.

If successful, this task would undoubtedly be a great accomplishment, not only pleasing King William IV but also earning significant favor with the future Queen Victoria.

However, if this task were botched…

the consequences would certainly be disastrous!

Nevertheless, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Arthur did not immediately reject the proposal; instead, he first voiced his concerns and began negotiating with the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel.

“I certainly do not dare to fail His Majesty’s expectations. However, as you just mentioned, the Whig Party members now suspect I harbor ill intentions. And as far as I know, the Duchess of Kent is a fervent Whig Party supporter. Are you… and the Duke really sure I am a suitable candidate?”

The Duke of Wellington shook his head: “Your reputation in academic circles is sufficient to approach the princess as a cultural luminary. Your experiences at the University of Gottingen, your acquaintances with prominent scholars, and your involvement in Natural Philosophy, these are your advantages.”

Arthur questioned, “But, Your Excellency, what if the Duchess of Kent and Conroy ultimately reject me? After all, my reputation in London isn’t particularly stellar.”

Sir Peel added, “Your previous ‘hard-line’ image has changed after the Caucasus incident. Now, in the eyes of many, you seem more like a Liberal, rather than purely a Whig. This is a condition the Duchess of Kent might find acceptable.”

Arthur was well aware of this, but still feigned ignorance: “As you mentioned, even though my reputation has improved considerably. Yet, for someone like me to proactively apply as a family tutor at Kensington Palace, it still seems too out of the ordinary.”

“Therefore, you must conceal your motives,” Sir Peel squinted his eyes, “Arthur, be flexible, like you did at Scotland Yard. You have worked with Lord Brougham before, who is an important figure in the Whig Party. If he were to recommend you, no one would doubt your standing. Coupled with your impressive resume, the Duchess of Kent would most likely feel flattered, making everything fall into place naturally.”

Hearing this, Arthur did not immediately respond but rather intentionally paused for a moment.

“You’re hesitating?” The Old Duke slowly said, his tone unhurried yet carrying an implicit pressure.

“Arthur,” Sir Peel chuckled, picking up a bottle of wine on the table and pouring a glass for Arthur, “you’re a smart man. I know you’re already weighing the pros and cons. So, why not let me help clarify them for you?”