The Shadow of Great Britain

322: Chapter 204: A Woman’s Friend (4k4)_2 322: Chapter 204: A Woman’s Friend (4k4)_2 The painter couldn’t help but point at Arthur and say, “Young man, you learn quickly!

It seems your commission plan today will go very smoothly.

As a reward, how about coming to me for a portrait?

While you’re still young and have hair, why not keep a memento for yourself?”

Having said this, the painter didn’t forget to take out two business cards from his coat pocket and hand them over to the two of them.

Arthur looked down at the card, which was not particularly complicated in content; however, the string of titles and experiences that followed the iris flower pattern on the card made Arthur realize that having a portrait painted by this gentleman would probably not come cheap.

Name: John Aitken

Born in Britain, a master portraitist trained in the Apennines, devoted his life to seeking the combination of humans and nature as a Romanticist painter.

A prodigy who held a private exhibition in Rome at the age of fifteen, the new academic leader praised by Royal Painter Sir Thomas Lawrence.

Formerly a watercolor portrait lecturer at the Roman Academy of Fine Arts, he is now a Professor of Watercolor Studies at the Royal Academy of Arts and head of Aitken Studio as well as the chief portraitist.

Although Arthur didn’t understand much about Romanticist painters, art academies, or Rome, as an albeit not entirely authentic British gentleman, he knew that anything associated with the Royal on this little island, regardless of quality, was never going to be cheap.

Even though Mr.

Aitken had a smile on his face, in Arthur’s eyes, this artist in his early thirties, elegant and much sought after, seemed to be staring intently at his not particularly bountiful bank account, ready to take away a great part of it at any moment.

People often say that art appreciates over time, especially after the artist has passed away.

But Arthur felt that Mr.

Aitken seemed quite young still, and as a conservative investor, he wasn’t about to bet most of his estate on Mr.

Aitken’s sudden demise.

As Arthur was pondering how to decline the offer both tactfully and without offending, Mrs.

Norton, having stretched her stiff body, pushed open the door of the studio and returned to her seat.

Seeing this, Aitken could only reluctantly wink at Arthur: “We’ll talk more later.

Remember my offer.

For now, you can discuss the manuscript with Mrs.

Norton.”

Having received verbal and practical instruction from Aitken, Disraeli was the first to ask, “How are you feeling now, madam?”

Mrs.

Norton, caught off guard by Disraeli’s sudden question, still responded very politely, “Thank you for your concern, I feel much better after moving around.”

“Have you decided what kind of novel you want to write?”

“Hmm…” Mrs.

Norton said wryly, “Honestly, I’ve had a lot on my mind to write about lately.

But if you ask me so suddenly, I really wouldn’t know where to start.”

Seeing this, Arthur suddenly spoke with a smile, “Truthfully, when Benjamin first asked me, I also didn’t know what to write.

But then he told me, just write about what you are most familiar with, what concerns you most.

And so, we have the ‘Hastings Case Files.’ Madam, if you’re at a loss for ideas, why not start from a familiar angle like I did?”

Mrs.

Norton maintained her smile and replied, “Thank you for your suggestion, Mr.

Hastings.

Unfortunately, I am not as learned and experienced as you.

I’m just an ordinary common woman, as you see, married soon after turning sixteen.

My family had arranged a husband for me, but I insisted on choosing my own, and in the end, I still ended up with the same fate as those arranged women.

You must have met my husband, the magistrate of Westminster.

Have you had a pleasant interaction with him?”

Arthur found this a bit difficult to respond to.

If he were to bluntly agree with Mrs.

Norton and denounce Mr.

Norton as a disagreeable person, that would clearly violate social etiquette.

But praising Mr.

Norton could potentially cause Mrs.

Norton to take offense.

Moreover, and most importantly, according to the latest intelligence from the London Police Intelligence Bureau, the relation between the Nortons appeared to have softened since they attended the Coburg concert together half a year ago.

The best proof of this was that the couple, who had been living separately for some time, had moved back in together,

Therefore, Arthur didn’t understand whether Mrs.

Norton’s grievances were still as strong as they had been half a year ago.

What puzzled Arthur even more was, according to intelligence, Viscount Melbourne would occasionally visit the Norton household.

And when Mr.

Norton wasn’t busy, he would personally accompany his wife to the Home Office for cordial conversations with His Lordship, the Viscount.

This perplexing behavior, which brought their complex and bizarre relationship to a new level, was indeed something Arthur found difficult to comprehend.

Perhaps only Eld could make sense of such intricately tangled relationships.

Unfortunately, at that moment, Eld might already have been in the mouths of Cannibals.

Uncertain of the situation, Arthur thought it over for a long time and eventually decided to play it safe, opting for a somewhat circumspect reply: “Although Mr.

Norton was previously a senior lawyer, he had been preoccupied with the trifles of Parliament before coming back as a judge.

Adjusting to a new job takes some time, and I can understand that.”