shadow of britain

Chapter 816 Inheritance Crisis
"What's wrong with 'The Ideas of Napoleon'? Isn't Louis's book quite good?"

Arthur chuckled and casually recited a passage from Louis's masterpiece: "Progress never dies, but it often changes direction. It flows between the rulers and the ruled. The tendency of revolution is always to bring progress back to those in power. When it is at the highest level of society, it can move forward decisively, because it leads the way. But when it sinks into the masses, it can only trudge slowly, because it struggles. In the former case, the people accept governance with trust. In the latter case, the people want to take control of everything themselves."

Flora looked up at Arthur, her gentle gaze tinged with unease: "These words... are good, but they're too good, so good that it's worrying."

“Worried?” Arthur didn’t know what she was trying to say, but he didn’t think about it in any other way. After all, he already knew that his cousin was very traditional. He joked, “Flora, you’re not worried that I’m inciting the people to seize power, are you? It hasn’t been many years since Fleet Street denounced me. Most of the people who experienced the Tower of London incident are still alive.”

“Arthur, my dear, I’m not kidding you.” Flora’s tone suddenly turned serious: “Perhaps Mr. Bonaparte is right, very right, but to publish his work in The Economist… now is not the time, at least not this month.”

Arthur sensed something was wrong: "Flora, what are you worried about? What did you mean when you said 'now is not the time'?"

Flora paused for a moment, seemingly considering whether or not to reveal the matter.

She lowered her head and gently stroked the edge of her lace gloves, then whispered after a while, "The political atmosphere has been very tense lately, and George said the same thing..."

At this point, she seemed worried that Arthur wouldn't take her warning seriously, so she emphasized again: "Believe me, at least this month, you'll have to remove political articles like 'The Ideas of Napoleon' from the pages."

"Why?" Arthur realized something was wrong, but his desire to get to the bottom of things drove him to feign ignorance: "Flora, is there something you're hiding from me?"

"I didn't, it's just..."

Flora struggled for a moment, then took a deep breath, as if she had finally made up her mind: "Darling, promise me you won't tell anyone. Even if the person you trust most interrogates you, even if I ask you later, you won't reveal what I said today."

Arthur stared at her, neither nodding nor shaking his head: "Flora, I know what's important. If it's really that important, I won't agree to pass the message out, even if you ask me to."

Upon hearing this, Flora first politely gestured for the old butler and her personal maid to stand further away, then covered her mouth with her hand and whispered, "Your Majesty..."

"Hmm... Your Majesty..."

"His Majesty fell ill in Windsor two weeks ago. It wasn't the kind of common cold that elderly people often have, but a real coma. He didn't wake up all night, and the royal physician thought... thought he might not make it."

Upon hearing this, Arthur's eyes widened involuntarily: "Is this information reliable?"

“Darling, do you think I would lie to you about something like this?” Flora retorted. “Princess Sophia and the Duke of Cumberland rushed to Windsor a few days ago. Princess Sophia has been crying ever since she returned. The atmosphere at Kensington Palace is very heavy right now, and even Conroy hasn’t dared to say much these past two days.”

Arthur frowned and asked, "But...didn't His Majesty the King receive guests in Windsor just a few days ago? And he also attended the ball hosted by Queen Adelaide."

Flora said irritably, "That's because he pulled through. If you had attended the Queen Adelaide's ball, you would have noticed that His Majesty's spirits were not what they used to be. Although he still had the same smile on his face as usual, he sat in his chair for almost the entire banquet and did not get up to dance even once."

Upon hearing this, Arthur finally understood why Flora had told him to be careful.

If William IV were to fall seriously ill, even if the old sailor survived thanks to his robust health, he would not be able to withstand another ordeal.

In other words, the king could die at any time, perhaps in a year, perhaps in six months, perhaps in a month, or even tomorrow.

If Imperial Publishing Company continues to promote Napoleonic ideas at this critical juncture, it will inevitably touch the sensitive nerves of conservatives, who are simply not worth taking such a risk.

Arthur pressed a hand to his chest, pretending to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "Flora, if it weren't for you, I would have almost suffered another major setback this time."

Flora was very pleased with Arthur's gratitude, and she replied with a smile, "So what will you do to repay me?"

Upon hearing this, Arthur's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and pretended not to notice the emotional fluctuation behind Flora's word "repayment."

"As for the reward... By the way, don't you like literature? Recently, the company took over an old warehouse in Piccadilly, and unexpectedly found a batch of hardcover books from the last century. Among them was a copy of Pope's 'Pastoral Poems.' I originally wanted to keep it to myself, but you obviously appreciate Pope's art better than I do."

Flora didn't answer immediately. She maintained a polite smile, but her slender eyes seemed to narrow even more.

She lowered her head and twirled the teacup in her hand, the dried rose petals inside swirling gently: "Pop's Pastoral Poems are certainly good, and since you've offered them, I'll gladly accept. But, Arthur, you know, ladies are always quite greedy."

Sir Arthur Hastings, who was even more greedy than the ladies, broke out in a sweat upon hearing this. He stroked his chin and pretended to ponder, saying, "Then... a carriage, do you like a carriage? Of course, I'm not saying your carriage is bad, but its color and style don't suit a young and beautiful girl like you. What do you think of the Viennese Fiak carriage, the kind that Mrs. Levine and Mrs. Cowper often ride in? It's a four-wheeled two-seater or four-wheeled four-seater with a foldable leather roof, and with two slender Austrian horses, it must look very beautiful."

The four-wheeled, four-seat Fiac carriage

It must be said that Arthur's proposal really appealed to Flora, and she even wavered for a moment.

After all, she had wanted to change to a different carriage for a long time, but considering the financial reasons and the fact that she didn't usually travel far, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it.

If we take this opportunity...

No, no... Flora dismissed the thought as soon as it crossed her mind.

After all, she had come to Arthur's house today with a plan, and she had to follow it.

Flora did wonder if Arthur would take this opportunity to propose to her, but considering her cousin's meticulous nature, she knew the chances were slim.

Although Arthur couldn't muster the courage to disappoint Flora, fortunately, she had another sure-fire option.

“The Fiak carriage is certainly good. It just so happens that the summer trip to Kensington Palace is coming soon. If I can travel in the Fiak, it will definitely be more comfortable than my old Baruch.”

Baruch's Carriage

Sure enough, Flora noticed that Arthur's eyes lit up considerably as soon as she spoke.

"Kensington Palace's summer tour? You mean the annual summer parade that Kensington Palace holds?"

Flora smiled and stared at Arthur: "That's it. Last year we went to Wales and York, so this year we'll be going south and east."

At this point, Flora paused deliberately, then slyly feigned concern, "By the way, darling, how's your heart? I heard that the ailment you developed years ago hasn't fully healed yet, so you have to go to sunny spots by the sea every few days to recuperate?"

“It’s not like I have to go to the beach every time…” Arthur coughed lightly, as if trying to hide something, but in the end he still reluctantly took the bait: “However… you’re right, the sea breeze in the southeast is indeed good for me, and the doctor also recommended it.”

Flora's eyes gleamed with victory upon hearing this, but her words remained gentle: "Then you should definitely come with us. Ramsgate, Brighton, Eastbourne... there's bound to be a place suitable for your cardiopulmonary recovery."

Even though it was about to be dragged out of the water, the amphibious fish from the York Poor Manor still clung to the hook and wouldn't let go. He pressed on, "Um... when are you planning to leave?"

"The tentative schedule is for the middle of next month, once Her Highness the Princess's condition has improved slightly, we will set off. At that time, not only the Duchess of Kent and Her Highness the Princess, but also myself, Sir John Conroy, and of course, perhaps a few noble ladies who are close to the Duchess... I heard that the Duchess of Westminster may be invited, oh, and perhaps a young political talent as well."

Arthur listened more carefully: "A promising young talent in politics?"

Flora shrugged casually: "Her Highness seems to be quite interested in state affairs lately, so the Duchess of Kent wants to arrange for some moderate young gentlemen to meet with her, so as to help her pass the time during her travels."

Arthur pondered Flora's words, then suddenly realized he seemed to have overlooked something: "Wait, Flora, you just said Her Highness the Princess is ill?"

“She is indeed sick.” Flora recalled, holding her teacup. “It’s been about four or five months. She has a poor appetite and is losing clumps of hair. Actually, the Duchess lifted the confinement order on Her Highness the Princess three months ago, but she herself is unwilling to go out, probably because she is afraid that outsiders will see her in her current state.”

Arthur's fingers unconsciously traced the handle of the glass: "Why isn't there any related report in the newspapers? Has the Duchess issued a gag order?"

Flora nodded and said, "The Duchess has indeed issued a gag order, and since Kensington Palace was closed, the gag order has been much more effective than before. Moreover, as you know, if Her Highness were to contract an infectious disease or suffer from mental instability, it would damage her image. The scandal caused by Lord Elfenstone was already troublesome enough, and the Duchess can no longer accept any risks."

Arthur stroked his chin and asked, "Then... what exactly is wrong with Her Highness the Princess?"

“Dr. Clark said it was a stomach upset, but Sir John Conroy thinks Her Highness is faking it out of spite; after all, a stomach upset can't last for months.” Flora wasn't sure if she should sympathize with Victoria. She used to be a little jealous of the princess, but now she felt they were in the same boat: “However, I think Her Highness is probably exhausted from being confined for so long, and she misses El terribly…”

At this point, Flora suddenly stopped speaking, blushing as she interrupted herself, "Ahem, that's about it."

Arthur hesitated, "Then...has her illness improved recently?"

Flora agreed, "I'm much better. If my condition hadn't improved, the Duchess wouldn't have been able to decide to proceed with the summer tour as scheduled this year."

“That’s good, that’s good…” Arthur pondered how to arrange the company’s schedule in advance to make way for the summer tour of Kensington Palace: “So, has the route for the summer tour been decided? Should we go to Ramsgate first, or Brighton? I need to plan ahead and arrange the itinerary in advance to make preparations.”

“Darling, you don’t need to go to such lengths to find out the details.”

"Why can't we ask? Is it due to security concerns?"

“Because…” Flora gently put down her teacup, “you’re scheduled to travel with us.”

Upon hearing this, Arthur frowned: "Being arranged?"

“That means…” Flora looked at him with a smile, “you will travel with the Kensington Palace motorcade, instead of having to apply separately, arrange your itinerary, send name cards, and show invitations like other outsiders… You won’t have to do any of that.”

Arthur still didn't understand the connection: "Then what was my role in Kensington's caravan?"

Flora's joy was palpable: "Of course, as a special advisor. Have you forgotten? I just mentioned that we needed a moderate young talent to accompany Her Highness the Princess, to chat with her, keep her company, and answer her questions... I recommended you to the Duchess for that. You've shown kindness to Princess Victoria, so she won't object. Besides, you're my cousin, so the Duchess of Kent won't think you're a bad choice. Lyzen and Conroy didn't object to you accompanying the Princess either, and Princess Sophia and the Duke of Sussex happened to be there that day; they even thought you were the perfect choice."

At this point, Flora winked playfully: "So, Arthur, you won't refuse my invitation, will you?"

(End of this chapter)