The Shadow of Great Britain

They poison her every day, every hour.

——Baron Stockma

Arthur was leaning on the wooden railing of the seaside promenade, the distant tide slowly receding, revealing a vast expanse of wet sand.

A few bathing carts painted in blue and white were being gently pulled into the sea by horses, waves splashing against the wheels creating tiny sprays. Children crouched on the beach picking shells, several ladies wearing wide-brimmed straw hats strolled under parasols, their white skirts fluttering in the sea breeze.

Eld held a tin mug filled with ginger beer, he had just come out of a nearby changing booth, with his shoes in the other hand, half-dry fine sand clinging to his calves.

He hummed a tune as he walked over to Arthur, leaning against the railing: ”What’s this? Still holding a grudge?”

”Holding a grudge? How could I dare?” Arthur lit a cigarette: ”Sir John Conroy is the Grand Steward of Kensington Palace, the favorite of the Duchess of Kent, where do I dare to cross him?”

Eld couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing Arthur like this.

He knew very well that Arthur was like this, the more he said he didn’t care, the more furious he was inside.

But in this case, it’s indeed not Arthur’s fault, it’s Conroy who handled things in a rather undignified manner.

The whole of Kensington Palace coming to the seaside for a vacation was supposed to be a good thing, everyone was in a pretty good mood along the way.

During the welcoming event for the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria’s visit to Ramsgate, loyal local parliamentarians and citizens’ representatives paid their respects, and Ramsgate’s government expressed their welcome to the Royal guests by announcing that they would rename several famous local landmarks after them: Kent Square, Royal Kent Terrace, Kent Bathhouse, Victoria Bathhouse, etc...

Overnight, the small seaside town of Ramsgate almost became a second Kensington Palace.

To echo the citizens’ enthusiastic support, the elated and ambitious Duchess of Kent wore a floor-length gown and read aloud the cordial response words pre-drafted for her by Sir John Conroy in her German-accented English.

Conroy himself was bustling around, during the Duchess’s speech he alternately signaled to her or handed her notes, seemingly busier than the British Prime Minister.

Lady Leisen was seated next to Arthur, and this lady, who was at odds with Conroy, naturally couldn’t resist complaining to Arthur about Conroy’s conduct and claimed he seemed a bit too neglectful of Victoria herself, the Princess was obviously the protagonist of the welcoming ceremony.

These little gestures were overheard by the spy Conroy arranged nearby, and after the matter reached Conroy, the situation escalated immediately. Especially when Conroy found out Victoria’s speech at the welcoming ceremony had been altered by Arthur, the Grand Steward of Kensington Palace’s dissatisfaction peaked.

Although considering Arthur’s social status and network, Conroy didn’t confront him directly, he still courteously invited Arthur after the welcoming ceremony and informed this Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of London: Kensington Palace appreciates your loyalty, but there’s no more place needing your assistance. So, from today onwards, whether you stay to vacation in Ramsgate or return to London for work, it’s up to you.

Compared to the polite attitude towards Arthur, Conroy didn’t have such reservations with Lady Leisen.

He obviously wasn’t planning to show any courtesy to this daughter of a Hanoverian priest.

Among the dispersing crowds, he strode over, speaking to Lady Leisen in a much louder voice than he used with Arthur: ”Thank you very much for your guidance just now. But next time if you really can’t resist picking faults, you might as well check yourself in the mirror to see how many of the things you manage are done properly.”

Lady Leisen’s complexion sunk immediately, yet Conroy had no intention of stopping, instead, he spoke more assertively: ”Princess’s speech today was personally approved by the Duchess. If you have objections, please directly discuss it with her, don’t whisper criticism on the observation platform, behaving like a gossipy busybody.”

To the decorous upper class, such remarks might not be heard for years, yet that day they poured out continuously from Conroy’s mouth.

Not only did he issue a dismissal to Arthur, several attendants and ladies he deemed unreliable were also sent back to London by him.

Although ultimately Conroy didn’t dare to dismiss Lady Leisen, who had the backing of King William IV and Leopold I, he nonetheless ordered from now on forbidding Lady Leisen from meeting Victoria alone.

For Arthur, the only good news might be that Miss Flora Hastings was not on Conroy’s ”isolation” list.

After all, over the past few years, the Grand Steward of Kensington Palace always considered Flora his important ally, as Flora repeatedly sided with him and the Duchess in numerous disputes with Lady Leisen.

And Conroy’s sudden actions not only filled Arthur with rage but also terrified Feodora, Victoria’s half-sister who had brought her children from Germany.