The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1648: Chapter 42: Isn’t It Too Despicable to Manipulate a Little Girl Like This? (2)

For the Duchess of Kent, Arthur’s words were not difficult to understand, yet she still had doubts: ”Be that as it may, I heard... Viscount Palmerston seems to be planning to directly send troops to Spain to intervene in their civil war, which is much more aggressive than what we did in Portugal.”

”Aggressive? No, Your Highness, I guess you surely do not understand Viscount Palmerston.”

Arthur got irritated whenever Palmerston was mentioned, but he tried to remain calm while casting mud on the Foreign Secretary’s face: ”I assure you, he will not send troops directly to Spain; even if he does send troops, they would not be regular forces but retired veterans, and they will not carry any official banner, at most they’re called the British Volunteer Army or something like that. That gentleman at the Foreign Office is well-versed in undeclared warfare; it was so in Greece, in Portugal, and likewise in Spain.”

”Then can’t it be the same in the Caucasus?”

”Of course not, Your Highness.” Arthur, suppressing the urge to consume Palmerston alive, replied calmly: ”He always has a precise grasp of who is a pushover.”

The Duchess of Kent felt a pang upon hearing this: ”It seems Viscount Palmerston is not always as reliable as Lady Cooper claims.”

”If you are strong enough, Viscount Palmerston is dependable all lifelong, but if you are declining, he is indeed not the character who will lend you a hand. To put it more harshly, it’s a conscience-awakening moment if he doesn’t kick you on your way down.”

At this point, Arthur suddenly felt his expression was too blunt, so he added: ”Of course, to most people, he is undoubtedly a competent Foreign Secretary.”

Seeing Arthur’s attempt to curse yet maintain a semblance of dignity, the Duchess couldn’t help but laugh: ”So, it seems you belong to the minority then?”

”You need not worry, Your Highness.” Arthur calmly drank a sip of tea: ”Anyway, I have always fought against the odds all my life; I have long been accustomed to such matters. No difficulty can beat me down; if they wish to come, then let them come. I will always stand right here.”

Arthur’s stance instantly triggered memories for the Duchess of Kent; she felt that over the years, she was not unlike fighting against the odds as well.

A German widow, pulling through with her child in a foreign land, and always cast a disdainful glance from within the royal family.

To this day, she could not forgive the indifference of the royal family and Parliament all those years ago.

It’s worth knowing that little money for traveling from Hanover back to London back then was borrowed from others. When she and the Duke of Kent just got married, George IV not only reacted coldly to their union but after returning to London, didn’t even arrange a decent palace room for them; instead, they were shuffled off to the royal family’s marginal members’ residence, the long-neglected Kensington Palace.

Back then, Kensington Palace wasn’t as wonderful as now. Ever since George II’s death in 1760, his successor George III shifted the political center from Kensington Palace to St. James’s Palace, this place hadn’t been refurbished for over half a century.

What the Duchess found even more intolerable was that even though the palace was so dilapidated, the couple still couldn’t have Kensington Palace to themselves; they only occupied a living room here, while other rooms were for the mistresses and illegitimate children of other royal members, along with their servants.

Fortunately, after enduring for years, when King William IV ascended the throne, Victoria was officially confirmed as the heir, and her annuity along with Victoria’s was increased by Parliament from seven thousand pounds to twenty-six thousand pounds.

Although she still felt this sum was insufficient, at least she could have Kensington Palace refurbished, and no longer had to play the part of an oppressed soul like before.

Upon thinking this, the Duchess became all the more resolute in hiring Arthur as the tutor.

For Arthur was not only a talented young man but also shared her convictions.

Most crucially, his relationship with Princess Victoria’s rival, the Duke of Cumberland, was equally poor.

Though Arthur had converted to the National Church, it didn’t stop the Duke of Cumberland from looking at this former Catholic believer who had benefited from the Catholic Emancipation with peculiar eyes, having been an advocate of the Bloody Act reform.

The Duchess of Kent was pondering how to get Arthur to accept her invitation in an appropriate yet courteous way when a swift sound of footsteps and the rustling of a skirt against the carpet came from outside the door. She looked up at the door, slightly surprised.

Soon, the door was gently pushed open by a servant.

In the interlacing light and shadows, Princess Victoria appeared at the doorway.

She had changed out of her theater gown and sported a light green satin suit with some lace trimming at the collar.

Lady Leisen tightly followed behind her, along with three young ladies from the von Bloh family.

Gabrielle looked composed, Adelaide’s eyes darting continuously, Caroline nearly bouncing in with excitement, like a kitten spotting its prey, almost unable to speak out of excitement.

”Mother, we’re back.” Victoria said as she slightly bowed: ”Lady Leisen told me you’re planning to hire a new teacher for me?”

Arthur placed down his teacup, stood up, and looked toward the Duchess of Kent.

The latter, however, remained seated as usual, her tone indifferent, though one could tell she was suppressing anger: ”Yes, my dear. You surely know, I also invited him to have dinner with us, didn’t I?”