shadow of britain

Chapter 928 Arthur Hastings, First Class A Actor at Buckingham Palace

When Arthur stepped out of the black wooden door of Scotland Yard, a heavy fog was pressing down on the London sky.

He paused on the steps for a moment, Lewis's words still echoing in his ears.

Arthur knew very well that Victoria couldn't hear him.

But he heard it.

This means he has to do something.

He buttoned up his gloves and climbed into the waiting carriage.

The carriage traveled along the riverbank toward Buckingham Palace.

As the carriage came to a stop, Arthur straightened his bow tie and stepped down from the carriage.

Although the guards and attendants were already familiar with this Buckingham Palace VIP, they still followed the audience procedure meticulously, step by step.

The guard officer checked Arthur's name card and summons record at the palace gate, then stepped aside, exchanged nods with Arthur, and raised his hand to signal the guards to let him through.

In the front hall, a clerk from the office of the Minister of the Palace Affairs stood guard by the door, a thick register of audiences spread out on his desk.

When Arthur saw him, he raised his hand and lightly touched the brim of his hat as a greeting: "Mark, are you on duty today?"

"Good afternoon, Sir Arthur." Mark leaned down to glance at the name in the register, then checked the time of the summons again. After confirming that it was correct, he made a checkmark in the margin: "Her Majesty the Queen knows you are coming and is currently in her study."

Arthur nodded and continued walking inside without stopping.

At the bottom of the white marble staircase, the palace official stood ramrod straight, as if he had been waiting for him for quite some time.

He bowed and then gestured with his hand as a matter of routine.

Arthur understood and removed his gloves, placing them on a tray held by a servant. He then took out a pocket watch from inside his coat and handed it to the servant for inspection.

The palace official took the pocket watch, and after confirming that there was nothing wrong with the cover and the back, he closed it and handed it back to Arthur with both hands: "Please forgive me, Sir. There are many rules in the palace, and we must be meticulous."

“It’s my duty, I understand.” Arthur asked while being searched by the servants, “Is His Majesty in the study?”

“That’s right, His Majesty should be working in his study at this time.”

"So that means the Prime Minister is here too?"

"The Prime Minister?" The palace steward smiled. "Today is an exception. The Viscount of Melbourne seems to have gone to the Viscount Palmerston’s residence for a meeting. There seems to be some trouble in Canada. The two of them need to discuss their initial handling of the situation. They will come to Buckingham Palace for an audience this afternoon."

"Canada?" Arthur felt uneasy as soon as he heard the name. He pretended to be nonchalant and asked, "Could it be that Earl Daramore has abandoned his post?"

“Possibly.” The palace official smiled awkwardly. The political circle in Britain wasn’t small, but it wasn’t that big either. Of course, he knew about Arthur’s relationship with Lord Brougham and the Earl of Daramore. “However, you can’t really blame the Earl of Daramore. After all, he had already written to the Prime Minister warning him that if his advice wasn’t taken into account, he would resign. Now, even if His Excellency the Earl were to back down, he would simply be fulfilling a promise.”

After speaking, he stepped aside and gestured for Arthur to go upstairs.

As Arthur walked upstairs, he subconsciously straightened his cuffs.

At the corner of the stairs, a young servant was already waiting. Seeing him come up, the servant immediately stepped forward: "Sir Arthur, the Yellow Hall has been informed. Please follow me."

"Good work."

Walking through the long corridor adorned with oil paintings, the thick carpet swallowing all their footsteps, the two reached the door of the Yellow Hall. The servant stopped and gently knocked on the door.

The attendant on duty leaned out, saw Arthur, and bowed slightly, saying, "Good afternoon, Sir. Her Majesty is still in her study, but she instructed that if you arrive, please wait in the inner room for a moment."

Arthur casually asked, "Is His Majesty busy?"

"We're looking at the latest official documents from Canada, as well as the draft of the new Police Bill you submitted yesterday," the attendant said in a low voice. "But it should be ready soon."

After speaking, he stepped aside and opened the door completely: "Please come this way."

In the yellow drawing room of Buckingham Palace, several branch-shaped candlesticks were lit, and the golden wallpaper appeared even warmer in the candlelight. On a small round table near the inner door, there was a silver teapot and two pairs of cups and saucers, clearly prepared on purpose.

Arthur had just sat down when he saw the servant walk to the narrower inner door and knock twice more: "Madam."

This time, a familiar female voice came from behind the door.

But it wasn't Victoria, it was Lezen.

"Who?"

"Sir Arthur, we have arrived as His Majesty instructed."

The latch was moved slightly, and Lezen stepped out from behind the door.

The Hanoverian pastor's daughter was still wearing that dignified dark dress, with a silver button on her chest symbolizing her status as a lady-in-waiting, but her entire demeanor had undergone a dramatic change compared to two months ago.

Since Victoria ascended the throne, the atmosphere in the entire court has changed.

Perhaps the biggest change is not in the Queen herself, but in her "shadow mother".

Lezen's once gaunt face now had a radiant glow, and her cheekbones no longer appeared as high and sharp as before. The wrinkles that had deepened over time due to worry, insomnia, and the pressures of the uterus now seemed to have been smoothed out considerably.

The composure that Leizen exuded was something only those who held power and were free from worries could display.

"Baroness Johanna Clara Louise von Reizen" painted by German artist Karl Friedrich Köpke in 1842.

“Sir.” Lezen stepped forward, her skirt trailing softly on the carpet, her every movement suggesting she had lived in Buckingham Palace for many years: “It’s been a long time.”

"It's not really a long time," Arthur said, removing his hat and bowing. "Didn't we just see each other at the concert the day before yesterday?"

“We’ve met, but it’s been quite a while since we’ve actually had a proper conversation, Sir.” Lezen smiled.

Although Arthur didn't understand what the German woman was trying to say, he dared not neglect Lyzen, because since Victoria's accession to the throne, Lyzen had been in charge of a role similar to the Queen's unofficial private secretary at Buckingham Palace. She was not only the chief liaison of the royal residence, but also held the butler's keys to Buckingham Palace as a symbol of her status.

Lezen handled almost all of Victoria's correspondence, arrangements for private meetings, and decisions on her daily schedule.

In other words, it's better to offend the Viscount of Melbourne than to offend Lezen.

“I’ve been so busy lately.” Arthur gently rubbed his temples. “Everything’s piling up at once. The concert at Buckingham Palace just ended, and now the paperwork from Whitehall is here again. I’ve been so busy lately that I’m completely overwhelmed. Sometimes I even forget to wear my hat when I leave in the morning.”

After listening to Arthur's explanation, Lyzen simply nodded: "I know you're busy, Her Majesty the Queen knows, we all know. However, no matter how busy I am, I must come and say a few words to you today." Arthur's heart sank; this didn't sound right.

"You've been appearing in the palace more often lately," she said casually, "quite more than before."

Arthur smiled and said, "Since His Majesty summoned me, I naturally had to come."

“I know Her Majesty is pleased with this as well.” Lezen did not deny it, but she changed the subject: “However… I have noticed that you are also frequently interacting with people from the old Kensington Palace.”

Arthur sensed tension, but he remained calm and said, "You mean... Flora? If you mean Flora, she's my cousin. It's normal for family members to visit each other often."

Although Arthur doesn't think he sees Flora very often, and Flora even complains that Arthur hasn't visited her recently, if Lyzen says that, it's probably because Flora saw some "little things" he did with her backstage at the concert that day.

“It’s normal for family members to visit each other, but…” Lyzen’s tone was calm, but the warning was strong: “But, Sir, Kensington Palace is not what it used to be. Her Majesty the Queen now resides at Buckingham Palace, and the Duchess of Kent is still maintaining her old circle. As for your cousin, Miss Flora Hastings, if I may be so bold, she remains loyal to her. Many people have left during this time, but Flora is still serving as the Duchess’s lady-in-waiting.”

Lyzen slowly took a step forward: “I know you have connections and influence over there. I will always remember how you helped me and Her Majesty the Queen during your time at Kensington Palace. And it’s not just me who remembers; Her Majesty remembers even more. That’s why I can’t bear to watch you go astray. Sir Arthur, you are one of Her Majesty’s most trusted people. If you get too close to that side… Her Majesty will be very disappointed.”

Leizen paused deliberately at this point, as if wanting his words to ferment in the air.

Unexpectedly, Arthur seemed unwilling to savor the aftertaste of those words. He simply replied, "I will not put His Majesty in a difficult position, you can rest assured. As for Flora, it is her own decision to remain as a lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Kent, and I have no say in it. However, I must also make it clear to you that I will not distance myself from her because of this."

"why?"

"Because we consider issues from a different perspective."

"Your perspective?" Lezen's tone was unfriendly. "Your perspective is from Kensington Palace's point of view?"

“It’s not from Kensington Palace’s perspective, but from the perspective of chivalry.” Arthur straightened his back. “In my opinion, Flora’s choice not to abandon the Duchess at this time speaks volumes about her character.”

Leizen's brow twitched slightly.

“Call her stubbornness or her foolishness,” Arthur continued, “but at least she didn’t change her allegiance. After Her Majesty ascended the throne, she could have, like others, like those you and I have seen, who change their allegiance to power faster than flipping through a book. But she didn’t.”

He paused, softening his tone slightly: "In Britain, especially in the British court, there are very few people who can do this nowadays."

Leizen didn't reply, but he didn't look away either.

Arthur knew she was listening, but whether she was willing to admit it was another matter.

So he changed the subject: "Actually, my appreciation for Flora is probably because we are similar in some ways."

Leicen raised an eyebrow: "Similar?"

Arthur sighed softly: "Back in Ramsgate, I knew that doing so would offend the Duchess, offend Conroy, and perhaps even most of Kensington... but I still stood by Her Majesty the Queen and by your side. It wasn't for fame! It wasn't to curry favor! It wasn't for my own future! It was because it was right! It was what I should do!"

As Arthur finished speaking, his voice lowered as if he suddenly realized something, carrying a hint of wistful emotion.

“I remember when I was first summoned to St. James’s Palace after being awarded the title of Knight of the Order of the Sea. His Majesty William was still alive then, and he was wearing his favorite admiral’s uniform when he invited me to sit down next to him.”

Leizen's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Arthur knew exactly what she was thinking, but that didn't stop him from pushing the plot to its climax: "His Majesty patted me on the shoulder and said, 'Young man, knighthood isn't a title or a medal, it's the choice you make every day.'"

“From then on,” Arthur sighed softly, “I told myself that if one day I dared not practice chivalry because of fear of power, then I would not be worthy of the title of a lower-ranking knight, nor would I be worthy of the words His Majesty said to me that day.”

“That’s why…” He raised his eyes and looked at Leizen: “I will not abandon my beliefs and loyalty because of certain rumors, certain factions, or the expectations of certain people.”

Lyzen looked at him, her expression a complex mix of emotions, bordering on shame. The thought of Arthur's actions at Ramsgate last year made her blush at what she had said to him today: "Sir Arthur, I..."

Arthur raised his hand slightly, asking her to let him continue: "The reason I can stand by Her Majesty's side at crucial moments is not because I am smarter or more ambitious than others, but because, like Flora, sometimes we choose loyalty over self-interest."

Leizen was silent for a moment. This was not the answer she had expected, but she could not refute it.

Arthur immediately seized this subtle opening: "Madam, I understand your concerns and know that you do not wish His Majesty to be harmed in any way. But I must uphold my own principles. Flora is loyal to her master, and I am loyal to His Majesty; these two are not contradictory."

He removed his hat and held it to his chest, leaning forward slightly with just the right amount of respect: "You know what kind of person I am, and Her Majesty the Queen knows even better. I will not betray her trust."

Lyzen stared at Arthur for a long time, and finally let out a soft sigh: "Sir Arthur, I must say, I don't like this answer. But... I also have to admit that this answer is too much like you, too much like the man who stood up in Ramsgate and in hundreds and thousands of storms."

As soon as Leizen finished speaking, before Arthur could respond, a very faint noise came from behind the narrow door next door.

The sound was so faint it was almost imperceptible, like a finger accidentally brushing against the edge of a desk, or a shoe heel turning slightly half an inch on the carpet.

If it were someone else, they would probably just think it was a normal rustling of wind.

But for Arthur, a habitual eavesdropper, it was immediately apparent—someone was inside.

In the small room next door.

Victoria was still clutching the official document in her hand, but the paper was already slightly crumpled from her grip.

She had originally planned to have Lyzen probe Arthur's attitude first, as usual. After all, she knew Arthur wasn't in good health, and therefore didn't want to personally lash out at him like she had before the military parade. Even if there were any grievances, she would only use similar indirect methods in the future.

However, after waiting in the study for a while, she finally couldn't suppress her anxiety and decided to go next door to hear Arthur's explanation for himself.

She knew, of course, that she shouldn't eavesdrop, and that it was unbecoming of a queen.

However, she needed to know where Arthur would ultimately choose to stand between Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace.

When Arthur asked, "You mean Flora?", Victoria's fingers unconsciously clenched for a moment.

When Lezen said, “Her Majesty will be very disappointed,” Victoria couldn’t help but hold her breath.

When Arthur said, "I will not put His Majesty in a difficult position, nor will I distance myself from Flora because of this," her chest even twitched slightly.

Noticing the unusual atmosphere in the next room, Arthur calmly added with a smile, "Perhaps you don't like my answer, but I must say, if Her Majesty the Queen knew my answer today, she would definitely like it."

"Are you so sure?" Lezen raised an eyebrow.

“Madam, I am absolutely certain.” He paused deliberately, giving the listener in the next room time to prepare themselves: “The reason I can stand before you in this palace, why the guards make way for me, why the servants record my name, and why the doors of Buckingham Palace are open for me, is not because of flattery, not because of faction, and certainly not because of favor. It is because of loyalty! Because of integrity!”

Arthur looked up at Lyzen, but it was as if he had seen through her and pierced through that wall: "Because I have always done what Her Majesty the Queen believes is right!"

(End of this chapter)