The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1853: Chapter 123: Isn’t This Victoria’s Marriage? What Does It Have to Do with Me, Arthur Hastings? (2)

First, although Arthur’s lineage is quite dubious, regardless, in the eyes of the Marquis of Hastings, his distant cousin Sir Arthur Hastings is a legitimate lineage of the Earl of Huntingdon.

Secondly, although Arthur falls far short of the middle-class standards in the eyes of the Earl of Dalmo, in this little patch of London, Sir Arthur Hastings might not be considered a big deal, but at the very least, he’s a small deal. Therefore, he doesn’t have any financial concerns.

More importantly, he seems to not care much about things like dowries.

If he truly likes Flora, perhaps in a moment of happiness, he could stomp his foot and want nothing in terms of dowry.

Of course, even if Arthur doesn’t want anything, the Marquis of Hastings would still provide his sister with some property, because he still wants to mingle within the British nobility circle. If word gets out that the Hastings family sends off a daughter without a penny, then what would happen to the family’s reputation?

But even so, choosing to marry Arthur is certainly going to be lighter in terms of dowry burden than marrying into other high nobility families.

And the response of Miss Flora Hastings was also very interesting.

Initially, she didn’t take Arthur’s attentiveness seriously, perhaps due to her knowledge of the family’s financial situation. She had long become accustomed to her fate as an impoverished lady ignored during the social season, and was determined to dedicate her life to the cold court politics. Perhaps she could eventually marry, but that would have to wait until she had accumulated enough dowry through her political endeavors.

After all, such stories aren’t uncommon in the nobility circle; marriage never is about free love or mutual affection but about property.

As long as you have money, you can still get married even at sixty.

Back when King William IV was thirty, this Prince even considered marrying Miss Wickham.

The Wickham family was merely a gentry household in Hampshire, neither royalty nor nobility, and Miss Wickham had a peculiar temperament. But as she was the sole daughter of the Wickham family, bounded with estates in Hampshire, Surrey, and Oxfordshire, her land rent alone could fetch fifteen thousand pounds a year, even a prince contemplated marrying her.

If not for King George IV wielding the Royal Marriage Law to threaten his brother, telling him that daring to marry a commoner would immediately forfeit his right to succession, and the death of George IV’s only daughter Princess Charlotte in childbirth giving William IV hope of ascending the throne, he might have indeed married Miss Wickham.

Flora initially set out to become a self-sufficient version of Miss Wickham, but Arthur’s sudden attentiveness offered her a glimmer of hope.

She initially thought that Arthur’s weekly visits, gifts of books, wine, and fruit were merely a courtesy due to their ”distant cousin” relation.

Until one day, Arthur gifted her a scarf she had casually mentioned, she suddenly realized she might be pursued.

This left her a bit flattered, and somewhat flustered.

She began frequently looking at mirrors, started having her maid comb her hair in advance, and occasionally subtly mentioned her ”cousin’s insight” and ”Imperial Publishing’s prospects” during the court balls.

She did not lack suspicion about Arthur’s intentions in approaching her but wasn’t entirely opposed to such proximity.

Yet, just as she started enjoying the feeling of being pursued, Arthur suddenly vanished from her sight as if he vaporized into thin air.

Initially, Flora thought perhaps Arthur was busy with business these days, given her outstanding cousin was burdened with so many crucial responsibilities.

The students of the London University never give him peace, the publishing business of Imperial Publishing also demanded his attention in every deal, and the English Electromagnetic Telegraph Company’s business in Belgium was steadily advancing. The Economist said that the first telegraph line was soon to be completed—would he need to go to Brussels to attend the opening ceremony...

Flora counted the days this way: one day, two days, three days, four days... one week, two weeks, three weeks... one month...

Even if...

Even if he really went to Belgium, he should be back by now, shouldn’t he?

Where did her cousin go? This was the biggest concern for Miss Flora Hastings in July 1836.

Yes, where did dear Sir Arthur Hastings go?

He went nowhere, stayed at home.

It wasn’t some ploy of attraction nor had he gone to Belgium.

But he suddenly realized that, unknowingly, the rumor that ”Sir Arthur Hastings is pursuing Miss Flora Hastings” sprouted legs, spreading through London in every ball and salon.

Arthur was not someone who easily let rumors push him to action, but this time he had to admit he indeed faltered.

Initially, he just wanted to win over Flora, leveraging her position at Kensington Palace to reopen the door to Victoria that was gradually closing.

He admitted to gifting a few poetry collections and shared a few baskets of grapes and bottles of Château d’Yquem en route, but swore he never uttered a word of romance, let alone mentioned marriage. He was well aware of Flora’s subtle emotional shift towards him, and did indeed wish to capitalize on these sentiments.