shadow of britain

Chapter 695: Talleyrand? Little Pitt?
Arthur's question echoed in the study for a while. The Duke of Wellington looked at him meaningfully and then laughed softly.

"Why, you find this surprising?" The old duke walked slowly, his eyes lingering on Arthur for a moment, then turned to the charcoal fire in the fireplace: "Do you think Palmerston will let it go after you've made such a fuss? When he was young, he was famous for his vindictive temper. Whether in a debate or a speech, he always put on an aggressive posture and held grudges very well."

Sir Peel added quietly: "Especially since you overturned his chessboard."

Arthur stared at Sir Peel, but could see nothing but a genuine smile on the other's face.

But the innocent smile alone was not enough to make Arthur believe what they said. Sir Peel was a veteran who had been in politics since he was 20 years old. Although the Duke of Wellington was more famous as a military general, in fact, before the old Duke became famous on the battlefield in India, he had served as the secretary of the Governor-General of Ireland and a member of the Irish Parliament for a long time.

In other words, these two were thousand-year-old foxes. If there was no special reason, Arthur didn't believe that they would stand up and defend him in such a matter that had nothing to do with them.

But what the Duke of Wellington said was not entirely false. Arthur had heard that Palmerston had a bad temper.

Moreover, he had long understood that his actions in the Caucasus would inevitably cause a diplomatic crisis.

But his original plan was that even if Palmerston was dissatisfied with this, he would only reprimand him, at most transferring him to a minor position or even kicking him out of the diplomatic system.

Although the position of Foreign Secretary is one of the three major cabinet positions, Palmerston's power is limited to this.

As long as you are determined not to get involved in the diplomatic system, what good does it matter if he is vindictive?
However, judging from what the Duke of Wellington said, Palmerston was not just simply dissatisfied this time, but really angry. He even brought up the Caucasus incident at the Privy Council meeting. This was a bit...

"Your Excellency the Duke..." Arthur spoke slowly, testing me: "Since you are defending me, does this mean that... the Privy Council has already reached a conclusion on my case?"

"Conclusion?" Duke Wellington shook his head and gently stroked the silver lion-headed cane. "No conclusion yet, but the situation is not optimistic for you."

Sir Peel said slowly: "You must know that the political situation in London has been unstable recently. Grey's cabinet may fall at any time, and the contradictions among the Whigs are also deepening. Therefore, at this time, most people do not have the energy to be distracted by the affairs of the Caucasus."

Arthur couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard this.

But before he could be completely reassured, Sir Peel suddenly brought up another point.

"Arthur, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that although Palmerston is still in the position of Foreign Secretary, he may not be able to hold on to the end. Once Grey resigns and the cabinet is reorganized, who knows which ministry he will be in charge of in the future. Perhaps he may not even be able to become the Minister of the Duchy of Lancaster. But we have to tell you the bad news. Grey handed in his resignation to His Majesty the King in person the day before yesterday, and he will be replaced by Viscount Melbourne. You may have heard about the romantic affairs between Palmerston and Viscount Melbourne's sister, Lady Cowper, when you were having fun at the Allmark Club. Moreover, the two of them were already very close personal friends, so I don't think it is necessary for me to continue to gossip about these things. I just want to tell you that according to what we have learned, Palmerston will remain in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Viscount Melbourne takes over as Prime Minister, so you'd better not have too many illusions in this regard."

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly felt as if he was being pushed to the edge of a cliff.

He wasn't even ready to back down when Sir Peel jumped in and told him that this was a dead end.

No matter how you look at this matter, it seems like there is something fishy going on behind it.

Sir Peel saw that Arthur was silent, so he smiled and told him not to rush and have a drink first. He said slowly, "Arthur, please understand that we can't stop him from putting pressure on you, but if you want, we can provide a safer way out."

"A way out?" Arthur saw that the fox's tail had finally been exposed, raised his eyebrows, and lowered his posture and said: "You mean..."

The Duke of Wellington picked up the glass and swirled the amber liquid in it. "You are in a very delicate situation now. The Whigs are worried that you have bad intentions, and the Tories... to be precise, it's me, Peel, and His Majesty the King. We are not completely disappointed in you yet."

Arthur originally thought that they wanted to persuade him to join the Tory Party, but he never expected that the king was involved.

"I... Your Majesty?" Arthur repeated slowly, with a hint of inquiry in his tone.

The Duke of Wellington nodded slightly, raised his glass and took a sip, while Sir Peel leaned forward slightly and looked at Arthur with burning eyes.

"Arthur, you should know that His Majesty has been holding a grudge against the Duchess of Kent since he ascended the throne." Sir Peel said softly, "The relationship between them is no longer just an ordinary court dispute, but a real political problem. And this problem is becoming more and more difficult as time goes by."

Arthur frowned. He certainly knew about the discord between King William IV and the Duchess of Kent.

William IV was a hot-tempered and outspoken king, while the Duchess of Kent was a stubborn and ambitious woman. The conflict between them was deep-rooted and almost irreconcilable. However, he still didn't understand what the royal family dispute had to do with him.

Unable to figure out what the other party was up to, Arthur could only play it safe while trying to get as much information as possible: "Is it because of the Regency Act?"

"To be precise, it's about the education of the crown prince and his future political inclinations." The Duke of Wellington said calmly, "His Majesty the King certainly understands that he has no legitimate heirs, and it would be difficult for him to have one at his age. Therefore, it is almost certain that Princess Victoria will inherit the throne in the future. The question is, before she officially ascends the throne, who will shape her thoughts and influence her ideas on governing the country."

Arthur remained silent. He had guessed what the Duke of Wellington meant.

The Duchess of Kent was a staunch Whig supporter, and her private secretary, Conroy, was an expert manipulator. Since Princess Victoria was a child, they used various means to isolate her from the outside world and tried to shape her into a queen completely influenced by the Whig Party.

"His Majesty is not only worried about her future inclinations, but more importantly..." Sir Peel lowered his voice and said meaningfully, "If His Majesty dies before Princess Victoria comes of age, then according to the Regency Act, the Duchess of Kent will become the regent and take charge of the affairs of the entire kingdom on her behalf."

"Your Majesty the King cannot accept this situation," said the Duke of Wellington firmly. "Britain and the Tory Party cannot accept such a situation where one party dominates."

Arthur had already vaguely guessed the answer, but he still found it a little unbelievable: "So...what do I need to do for His Majesty the King and the British people?"

Sir Peel tapped the table lightly. "His Majesty needs someone who can enter Kensington Palace, someone who can keep a clear head under the control of the Duchess of Kent and Conroy, and can provide us with intelligence in a timely manner, while ensuring that the princess will not be overly influenced by the Whigs."

When Arthur heard this, he felt that this job might not be as easy as Sir Peel said.

Kensington Palace was built like an iron barrel by the Duchess of Kent and her private secretary Conroy. If it were really easy to influence the Crown Prince under their noses, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel would not have resorted to all kinds of threats and inducements today.

If this task is accomplished, it will naturally be a great achievement. Not only will King William IV be happy, but it will also help to make his presence felt in front of the future Queen Victoria.

But if this thing fails...

The consequences would surely be devastating!

However, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Arthur did not reject the proposal immediately, but took the lead in raising his concerns and began to bargain with the Duke of Wellington and Sir Peel.

"Of course I dare not disappoint His Majesty the King. However, as you just said, the Whigs now suspect that I have bad intentions. And as far as I know, the Duchess of Kent is a very enthusiastic supporter of the Whig Party. Are you... and His Excellency the Duke really sure that I am a good candidate?"

The Duke of Wellington shook his head. "Your reputation in the academic world is enough for you to approach the princess as a cultural celebrity. Your experience at the University of Göttingen, your friendship with a group of great scholars, and your knowledge of natural philosophy are all your advantages." Arthur asked, "But, sir, what if the Duchess of Kent and Conroy finally reject me? After all, my reputation in London is not that good."

Sir Peel added: "Your past 'iron-fisted' image has changed after the Caucasus incident. Now, in the eyes of many people, you are even more like a liberal rather than a pure Whig. This is an acceptable condition for the Duchess of Kent."

Arthur knew this very well, but he still played dumb and said, "As you said, even though my reputation is much better now than before, it still seems too abnormal for a guy like me to take the initiative to apply for a tutor at Kensington Palace."

"So you must hide your purpose." Sir Peel narrowed his eyes. "Arthur, be flexible, just like you did in Scotland Yard. You have worked with Lord Brougham before, and Brougham happens to be an important figure in the Whig Party. If he recommends you, no one will doubt your position. Coupled with your impressive resume, the Duchess of Kent will probably just feel flattered, and then everything will become a matter of course."

When Arthur heard this, he did not express his opinion immediately, but deliberately paused for a moment.

"Are you hesitating?" The old duke said slowly, his tone neither hurried nor slow, but revealing a hint of pressure.

"Arthur." Sir Peel chuckled, picked up the bottle on the table and poured a glass of wine for Arthur: "You are a smart man, I know you have already calculated the pros and cons. Then, why not let me help you sort it out."

He paused, then looked directly at Arthur and said delicately: "You should know that Palmerston will not let you go."

Sir Peel put the glass back on the table, crossed his hands on his knees, and stared at Arthur calmly: "His Majesty has expressed his dissatisfaction with you, do you know?"

Arthur was slightly stunned and frowned: "Your Majesty?"

"Of course." The Duke of Wellington nodded and said, "Nicholas I has expressed his strong dissatisfaction to His Majesty the King. He believes that the British government has turned a blind eye to your and Urquhart's actions and even condoned your actions. This makes His Majesty the King very angry. After all, he does not want to have a direct conflict with the Russians."

Sir Peel said slowly: "Someone must be held responsible for the Caucasus incident. It's either you or David Urquhart. Unfortunately, Sir David Urquhart has a good relationship with His Majesty the King, so..."

The Duke of Wellington stared at the changes in Arthur's expression, nodded slightly with satisfaction, and softened his tone: "But if you accept this mission, the situation will be completely different. Not only will you be able to escape Palmerston's pursuit, but you will also occupy a crucial position in the court. If you succeed, His Majesty the King will look at you with new eyes, the Tories will regard you as an important ally, and the future Queen..."

The old duke chuckled and said, "If you are really good enough, maybe after she ascends the throne, she will assign you to work in the Palace Affairs Office. If you are interested, you can also consider getting a military post in the army in the next two years. In that case, you may be assigned to the position of a royal aide-de-camp."

The Duke of Wellington's hint could not be more obvious. His implication was that as long as Arthur was willing to pay, he could help him create a real vacancy in the army to improve his qualifications.

Faced with the olive branch thrown by the Duke of Wellington, even if this olive branch is wrapped with thorns, it is still hard not to be moved.

Whether it is a position in the Palace Affairs Office or a future as a royal aide-de-camp, these are opportunities that are hard to come by.

Colonel George Elliot, the Royal Navy aide-de-camp who stood beside William IV to award Arthur the medal, was officially promoted to Permanent Secretary of the Admiralty and was elected as a member of the Naval Board at the beginning of this year.

In just four years, he made the leap from captain to senior official of the Admiralty, all thanks to his status as royal aide-de-camp and the support of His Majesty the King.

Nowadays, if such a good thing falls on your head and you don’t try your best, it would seem that there is something wrong with your brain.

"Arthur, are you still hesitating?" Sir Peel said leisurely, "You know, we won't persuade you to do anything you don't want to do... But if you don't do it, things will become quite tricky."

"Sir, I accept this mission." Arthur stood up, with a hint of restraint in his tone: "But I hope to have a certain degree of freedom in my actions. After all, entering Kensington Palace is not an easy task, and winning the trust of the Duchess of Kent requires careful planning."

The Duke of Wellington smiled with satisfaction. "Of course you will have enough freedom. When I was fighting the Peninsular War in Iberia, I also hated the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs telling me what to do. Do not impose on others what you do not want others to do to you. I promise you that we will not interfere with your plans. As long as you can complete the task, you can decide what method to use. But then again, if you win the battle, no one will care about you, but if you lose the battle, you will be court-martialed."

Arthur drained the sherry in his glass and stood up. "Well, sir, I will work out a plan as soon as possible. As for Lord Brougham's recommendation, I need some time for him to make this suggestion voluntarily."

The Duke of Wellington narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes showing some interest: "What are you going to do?"

Arthur smiled. "Lord Brougham is a spontaneous person, but at the same time, he is also an extremely smart person. Therefore, what he fears most is missing a good opportunity. If Kensington Palace has asked him for his opinion on candidates, I just need to make him feel that I am the best choice, and he will naturally take the initiative to recommend me. As for how to get Kensington Palace to ask Lord Brougham for his opinion, perhaps I have to find a way at the Allmark Club."

Sir Pierre chuckled: "It seems that you have already come up with an idea, that's good. But..."

He paused and said, "Remember, time waits for no one. His Majesty the King wants to see results as soon as possible."

Arthur nodded slightly, then turned and walked towards the study door.

Arthur's footsteps gradually faded away. The Duke of Wellington leaned against the fireplace with a glass of wine in his hand. "This boy is a dangerous man."

Sir Peel leaned back in his armchair, a thoughtful smile on his face. "A dangerous man? Then, sir, why do you still want to use him?"

The Duke of Wellington slowly walked to the window and looked out at the gray streets of London. "Because he is the most suitable candidate at the moment."

"That's true. But I have to admit that I still have doubts about this young man." Sir Peel covered his forehead and said, "He is smart, flexible, and perhaps a man loyal to England. But his love for power is much stronger than we previously estimated... He has even become a little undisguised."

The Duke of Wellington smiled slightly, turned around and said, "This is the key to his success, isn't it? Only those who truly desire something will go all out to fight for it. Besides, being loyal to one's own interests is not a bad habit."

"Do you remember Talleyrand?" he asked suddenly.

Sir Peel raised his eyebrows slightly. "Of course I remember. A cunning old fox, the most successful speculator in French history. Whether it was the Bourbon Dynasty, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Empire, or the Restoration of Louis XVIII, he was able to survive smoothly and climb to a high position in every regime. This is not something that ordinary people can do."

The Duke of Wellington nodded slowly: "That's right. Talleyrand went from being a bishop during the Great Revolution to becoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Directory, then the Prime Minister of Napoleon, and finally he became a hero of the Bourbon Restoration."

Sir Peel smiled and said, "If you want to compare Arthur with him, it would be too much of a compliment."

“I’m not saying that Arthur and Talleyrand were equal in stature, but that their modes of thinking were similar.”

"But you have to admit that people like Talleyrand are a double-edged sword. Once such people become powerful enough, it is difficult to control them."

The Duke of Wellington shook his head slightly. "But who can completely control whom? George III once thought he could completely control Pitt the Younger, but it turned out that Pitt eventually governed Britain in his own way. Talleyrand was loyal to Napoleon at first, but he still dominated the Treaty of Vienna in the end. I admire Pitt the Younger because it was he who promoted me. As for Talleyrand and I, we have been old friends for many years. Don't worry, Pierre, believe me, such a guy is much easier to deal with than you think."

(End of this chapter)