shadow of britain

Chapter 850 Conroy's Decline is Over
At the end of the arched corridor, the Earl of Liverpool stood before the half-open French windows, a silver-grey evening cloak draped over his shoulders, and his ever-present cane in his hand.

He didn't turn around, but upon hearing footsteps, he spoke calmly: "You've come at the right time, Sir Arthur."

Arthur stopped beside him and nodded slightly: "Is there anything you need?"

The Earl of Liverpool gazed out the window at the night sky, the garden below shrouded in mist, its outline barely visible: "Tonight, we've finally accomplished a difficult task. Conroy... has finally agreed to back down."

Arthur smiled faintly and said, "I believe he didn't want to take that step."

“Of course he was unwilling.” The Earl of Liverpool finally turned back: “But he had no other choice; he had no other way. It’s just…”

He paused, then took out a folded letter from inside his cloak and handed it to Arthur: "You can probably guess what's inside: a request for the cabinet to consider whether to appoint Conroy as the royal treasury manager, plus a decent but uncontroversial pension."

Arthur wasn't surprised by what was written on the letter, but he still took it and glanced at it.

However, he wasn't there to read the contents, but to check if the Earl of Liverpool had signed it.

As expected, Arthur did not find his signature on the letter.

Even with this unsigned petition, the Earl of Liverpool was unwilling to hand it over to Arthur rashly. He preferred that Arthur verbally relay the results of his negotiations with Conroy to Victoria.

Seeing Arthur refold the unsigned letter, the Earl of Liverpool slowly said, "You see, this is not some earth-shattering arrangement, nor is it anything to be ashamed of; it is merely to preserve his British political dignity."

At this point, the Earl of Liverpool changed the subject, subtly inquiring, "How has Her Highness been lately?"

Arthur handed the letter back to the Earl of Liverpool: "It has been a while since I have been able to meet with Her Highness alone, but as far as I know her, Her Highness's mood is always dependent on the circumstances. And whether the circumstances are stable often depends on whether she is treated as an independent person."

“Well said.” The Earl of Liverpool smiled slightly. “Her Highness’s independence is just around the corner. Now, all that’s needed is for her to make a statement, even if it’s just indirect or symbolic.”

Arthur, unwilling to play the role of the know-it-all, simply turned his head to look at the Earl: "What do you mean?"

“A nod, a noncommittal remark, a gesture of accepting the envelope.” The Earl of Liverpool spoke softly: “If Her Highness is willing to show such a gesture, I can tell the Cabinet that she has tacitly approved of the matter.”

He paused deliberately, then added casually, "Sir Arthur, you know her habits better than any of us... Do you think Her Highness is willing to do so now?"

This is a temptation.

Arthur could tell, of course.

The Earl of Liverpool's task was to maintain a balance between the Duchess of Kent and Conroy and Victoria, doing his utmost to prevent a mutually destructive conflict, thereby ensuring a smooth succession to the British throne.

Meanwhile, the Earl of Liverpool had heard some of the inside story of the Ramsgate affair and was aware of Victoria's stubborn personality. Therefore, persuading her to back down was actually no less difficult than persuading Conroy to back down.

He looked around the world and realized that, apart from King Leopold I of Belgium, only Sir Arthur Hastings and Lady Lerzen could accomplish this.

However, given the irreconcilable conflict between Mrs. Lezen and Conroy, it was practically impossible for her to accept the task.

As for Sir Arthur Hastings...

The main point of contention between the two is the Ramsgate incident last year. Before Ramsgate, their relationship, at least on the surface, was acceptable.

Therefore, the Earl of Liverpool naturally focused his attack on him.

Just when the Earl of Liverpool thought Arthur was about to start making demands, he unexpectedly saw Arthur lean back slightly, as if to distance himself from the topic.

"If you want to know Her Highness's wishes, I suggest you ask her yourself."

The Earl of Liverpool blinked, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. “If I could ask him myself, I wouldn’t need to trouble you, Sir Arthur. Her Highness distrusts most people these days, but I’ve heard that she has never turned you away. Some things, once written down, become declarations of war. But when the right person says them at the right time, the right words can defuse conflict. You’ve been a diplomat; I’m sure you understand this.”

Sir Arthur Hastings, the former diplomat who orchestrated the "Caucasus Incident," didn't think it was anything to brag about. Had it been Foreign Secretary Palmerston who said it to his face, Arthur would likely have taken it as sarcasm.

However, given that the Earl of Liverpool was a Conservative, Arthur patiently accepted it as an unintentional slip of the tongue: "Are you suggesting that I persuade Her Highness to accept your opinion?"

“No,” Liverpool immediately denied, his reply sounding extremely polite: “How could I dare to have a monarch who could ascend the throne at any moment agree with me? That would be too impolite.”

He paused, then slowly added what he really wanted to say: "I just want to know... are you confident that you can get His Highness to let go of his prejudices?"

The air suddenly went still for a moment.

Arthur lowered his head, as if in thought, and after a moment he said, "I'm not sure I can get her to let go of anything."

The Earl of Liverpool frowned slightly.

Arthur then added, “But I might be able to arrange a… less confrontational conversation. At the right time and in the right place, I can also be there if you need. As for what Her Highness says or does at that moment, that’s entirely up to her.”

“That’s enough.” Liverpool’s eyes lit up again, and he patted the silver tip of his cane. “Sir Arthur, please believe me, I’m not trying to pave a way for Conroy’s reinstatement. I just want everything to appear proper and respectable on the surface.”

Arthur said meaningfully, "Like this unsigned letter."

The Earl of Liverpool did not answer directly, but simply smiled and extended his hand to Arthur: "Then I'll leave it to you."

……

A black carriage entered the archway on the west side of Trafalgar Square. London was gradually awakening in the morning; the gaslights were still lit, and the streets were shrouded in a milky mist. Due to today's events, the main entrance to the National Gallery was not open to the public at 8:30 a.m. as usual. Temporary barriers symbolizing royal events were erected along the stone steps, and several squads of Scotland Yard Royal Horsemen stood silently by the roadside.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the Kensington Palace carriages appeared on the streets near the National Gallery as scheduled. The citizens who came to watch the spectacle cheered and shouted with excitement when they saw the motorcade. Many gentlemen threw their hats into the air. However, the Kensington Palace motorcade did not drive directly into the main entrance as planned.

At Arthur's arrangement, the convoy, citing security concerns, turned ahead of time onto a garden path near the gallery's east wing. Sir Arthur Hastings, who had arrived at Trafalgar Square at seven in the morning, had already completed his security checks of Scotland Yard and was now waiting at the end of the garden path. Behind him was an art gallery that was not yet open; the door was unlocked, and the room was empty.

Victoria chose a dark blue morning dress today. As she got out of the car, the hem of her skirt swayed gently, and the morning mist dampened the tips of her shoes.

She looked up and saw Arthur waiting at the end of the path. Her eyes showed a moment of tension, but then she clearly relaxed.

“Your Highness.” Arthur put away his pocket watch and stepped forward to greet you. “I have arranged a short meeting for you. The place is quiet and no one will disturb you.”

Victoria lowered her voice, almost as if confiding in a close friend: "Sir Arthur, you don't need to explain too much. If it was your arrangement, I'm at ease."

Madame Lezen followed behind her, clearing her throat slightly to remind her to be mindful of her status.

Arthur bowed and said, "It is my honor, Your Highness."

Victoria simply waved her hand defiantly and followed Arthur straight into the exhibition hall that was not yet open to the public.

The exhibition hall was quiet, with the smell of lime and varnish in the air. Many of the canvases hanging on the walls were still covered with burlap and looked unfinished.

Arthur pulled out a chair for her, but Victoria didn't sit down immediately. Instead, she whispered to him, "I didn't sleep well all night. I know the Earl of Liverpool will still speak up for Conroy, but I really... really can't stand him anymore."

Upon hearing this, Arthur gently comforted him, "I understand, Your Highness. Just remember what Sir Herbert Taylor said: if you are truly unwilling to compromise, no one in this country can force you."

Upon hearing this, Victoria's gaze immediately softened considerably.

She let out a soft breath, as if she had unloaded a heavy burden: "Only you and Leichen will always stand by my side. Everyone says to be dignified and to maintain balance, but none of them have ever truly spoken from my perspective."

Her tone carried a girlish urgency and a hint of unease: "You and Leizen will always stay by my side, right? Even if they all pressure me, you won't abandon me, right?"

Arthur smiled and nodded slightly: "It's not just me and Lady Lyzen, but also Scotland Yard, Your Highness. There are far more people who support you than you can imagine."

Upon hearing these words, Victoria finally felt relieved.

Originally, according to William IV's decree, she could have moved out of Kensington Palace immediately upon reaching adulthood and received a financial subsidy of £10,000 per year.

However, due to the sudden deterioration of her dear Uncle William's condition, the matter had to be put on hold. The sudden disappointment inevitably made Victoria restless, so much so that she tried to grasp at any straw.

Victoria smiled with relief, then quickly suppressed her smile, straightened her back, and tried to speak in a more mature tone: "Alright. Then please invite the Earl of Liverpool in. I want him to hear my position for himself."

Arthur gently pushed open the side door of the exhibition hall and led the Earl of Liverpool slowly inside.

The Earl first bowed respectfully to Victoria: "Your Highness, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me."

Victoria did not immediately gesture for him to sit down. Instead, she lowered her head and unfolded a stack of letters in her hand, which were covered with dense notes in neat handwriting. It was clearly copied by Leizen: "I thought about it for a long time last night and wrote down some key points. I must make them clear to you in person today."

Liverpool nodded slightly, listening patiently.

“First of all…” Victoria began, her voice a little hurried, but she tried to be clear and organized: “I will not appoint a private secretary. I do not want anyone to use this title to handle political affairs on my behalf or to influence my personal judgment. Secondly, I am willing to entrust the power of daily affairs to the Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. I know he is experienced and responsible. Compared to others, he is my most trusted advisor.”

Victoria paused briefly, her tone instantly turning cold: "But there is absolutely no way I can continue working with Sir John Conroy."

This sentence was almost blurted out, filled with strong emotion and dissatisfaction.

The Earl of Liverpool twitched slightly, but did not interrupt immediately; he wanted to hear the reason.

“Your Excellency,” Victoria continued, her voice tinged with barely concealed agitation, “you know better than anyone how much disrespect and rudeness Sir John has shown me over the years. It wasn’t just occasional rudeness, but repeated contempt and oppression. Moreover… besides these, I know something else about him. These things make it absolutely impossible for me to keep him by my side in any confidential position, including, of course, the position of steward of the Royal Treasury.”

Upon hearing this, Liverpool finally spoke, cautiously inquiring, "Your Highness, what you've said... could you tell me more? To convince the Cabinet and the Privy Council, you must provide sufficiently convincing reasons."

Victoria blushed immediately upon hearing this.

She didn't know how to explain what had happened over the years to the Earl of Liverpool. The Ramsgate affair could be brought to the forefront, but...

She had witnessed firsthand the overly intimate interactions between Conroy and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, those things…

Whether from the perspective of being a daughter or from the perspective of maintaining the dignity of the royal family, she could not bring herself to say it in front of outsiders.

“No. I will not tell you. I do not need any corroborating evidence, nor do I need anyone else to testify for me. Because these things are what I saw and heard with my own eyes and ears. They are not what others told me, not rumors, not hearsay. They are what I know personally, and these things are enough for me to lose all trust in Sir John Conroy.”

Victoria handed over the letter she was holding. It was handwritten by Lyzen herself, and it clearly and concisely expressed her position: she rejected all arrangements concerning Conroy and was unwilling to make any promises.

Liverpool took the letter, unfolded a corner, glanced at it, and then closed it again.

It had a clear signature, but no promises were made; all that remained was a blatant rejection.

The Earl of Liverpool lowered his eyes, as if deep in thought, or perhaps sighing.

He tapped the ground lightly with his cane: "Your Highness, is there really not even the slightest room for maneuver?"

When Victoria heard that the Earl of Liverpool was still speaking up for Conroy, she couldn't help but choke up, her voice trembling with tears: "Your Excellency, everything is clearly written down. Please open your eyes and see the difficult situation they have created for me over the years. Please forgive me, but I cannot accept any stance that defends Conroy under any circumstances."

When the Earl of Liverpool saw the Crown Prince almost burst into tears, he realized that things seemed to be more serious than he had imagined.

He remained silent for a long time, only glancing at Arthur beside Victoria. After confirming that Arthur had no intention of speaking up for Conroy, he could only bow deeply and say, "Your Highness, although I do not know the specifics of what you have experienced, I assure you that I will convey your wishes truthfully."

(End of this chapter)