The Shadow of Great Britain

But Arthur knew that this lady was speaking on behalf of the Duchess of Kent...

Or at least, it appeared that way on the surface.

They spun for two steps, then separated again with the music.

When Arthur returned to Flora’s side, she was waiting in place, poised and graceful, though her eyes betrayed a hint of uncontainable annoyance.

”Mrs. Levin?” she asked softly, as if confirming, as if reminding, ”She didn’t say anything to you, did she?”

Although Mrs. Levin was a friend of the Duchess of Kent, Flora still disliked this famously renowned European socialite.

As someone who received a traditional aristocratic education and holds rather conservative beliefs as a devout believer, she had little interest in these so-called high society socialites, and even held a bit of disdain for them deep down.

Arthur didn’t avoid the subject: ”I was somehow swapped over. Don’t worry, we only danced a little, strictly speaking, it wasn’t enough to constitute a full social engagement.”

”You shouldn’t be too close to her.” Flora’s palm tightened slightly as Arthur reached for her, and she spoke softly, as if in a casual remark: ”Of course, I’m saying this out of goodwill.”

Arthur looked into her eyes: ”You mean Mrs. Levin?”

Flora didn’t answer immediately but used the pause of the next spin to lean slightly closer to him.

”I do know that on an occasion like tonight, it’s difficult for you to choose your dance partner.” She paused, her eyelashes quivering: ”But... she’s not only a longtime friend of the Duchess of Kent, but also... the good friend of many others... politically, or... in a more embarrassing way...”

That last bit she seemed to nearly bite her lip to say, looking as if she’d made a significant decision.

”Of course, I’m not trying to interfere with you.” Flora realized she might have said too much, so she quickly averted her gaze and shrugged her shoulders: ”Perhaps I just think... perhaps you deserve to have more friendly, kinder friends, like... like Mr. Carter.”

Arthur was still counting the steps seriously in his mind, but when Flora suddenly mentioned his old friend, he almost inadvertently stepped on Flora’s dress.

Flora and Eld had known each other since they were young, but they didn’t see each other often, and given that Eld had been at sea for years, her impression of him was likely stuck years ago.

However, Arthur didn’t want to ruin Eld’s image publicly, because since Eld completed a global voyage and joined the Navy Department as a third-class clerk, his mother living in Nottingham has made it her life’s mission to ensure the Carter family’s lineage continues.

In the past year, Eld has attended many balls in London and met more than a few noble ladies and socialites.

But the girls Eld liked didn’t like him.

The girls who liked him, Eld didn’t like.

If he had to pinpoint the reason, Arthur thought, it might largely be due to himself, Eld’s most trusted old friend.

If he hadn’t founded ”The British,” Eld wouldn’t be famous as a writer in Britain.

Even if Eld became famous, if Arthur hadn’t given him shares in the Empire Publishing Company, he wouldn’t feel himself too wealthy to dismiss the daughters of merchants or bankers who offered substantial dowries.

In short, Eld’s mental state was still in the ”just playing around, marriage is a long way off” phase.

Whenever Arthur thought that Mrs. Carter might move to London to urge her son to get married soon, he felt a strong urge to kick Eld out, to have him roll out of Lancaster Gate 36.

But outwardly, he smiled and replied: ”Flora, you know. A person as outstanding as Eld is extremely rare in London.”

”Indeed!” Flora responded softly to Arthur’s teasing comment with a smile: ”People as outstanding as he is, are truly rare.”

Flora looked at the swirling skirts in the center of the ballroom, and her gaze deliberately avoided landing on Arthur’s face. She originally thought Arthur would follow her lead or explain himself. But now it seemed he wasn’t intending to keep his distance from that Russian noblewoman or welcome her comments on the matter.

Just as she was about to change the subject, Arthur suddenly spoke: ”Actually, even if you didn’t mention it, I usually don’t dance with Mrs. Levin. Ever since the Caucasus incident, I feel uncomfortable whenever I’m in the same room with Russians.”

”I see...” Flora realized: ”I thought... you just...”

”Only had eyes for her among the Russians?” Arthur chuckled, teasingly adding: ”If I truly had eyes for her, then I should be by her side tonight, instead of being treated like a suspect about to testify by a certain lady.”

Arthur paused lightly, then playfully added: ”But if you’re willing to be the judge, I would gladly plead guilty.”

Flora was amused, her face blushing as she playfully tucked her hair behind her ear: ”Then you’d better hope I’m in a good mood, otherwise my judgment can be very severe... Arthur, do you... think I’m fit to be a judge?”