The Shadow of Great Britain

744: Chapter 356: The Greatest General’s Most Severe Test_2 744: Chapter 356: The Greatest General’s Most Severe Test_2 Duke Wellington nodded and spoke helplessly, “She wanted to see if I was still wearing the armband she gave me.”

Arthur hesitated a bit, wanting to know the answer but also fearing disappointment.

He was silent for a good while before he couldn’t help but ask, “Did she find it then?”

“Of course, she found it,” Duke Wellington’s smile seemed a bit complicated, “Just like any time during the past twenty years, if she wished to look, I was always there.

How strange it is!

People can live together for half a lifetime yet only understand each other in the end.”

At this, Arthur suddenly remembered the gossip he had heard from various dinner parties in the past.

He remembered that Duke Wellington’s wife, Catherine, was the daughter of the old Earl of Langford, and back in 1793, the young Duke Wellington had fallen in love with this lively and charming girl and had actively proposed to her.

But his proposal was rejected by Catherine’s older brother, the now Earl of Langford Thomas Parknan.

Because he thought then that Duke Wellington was too young and deeply in debt, and as a younger son without inheritance rights, his future did not seem very promising.

This rejection directly led an angry Duke Wellington to burn his beloved violin and resolve to make a significant career in the military.

When Duke Wellington had achieved notable success in India in 1806, leading the British forces to victory in the Maratha War, the Langford family shamelessly came knocking, asking if he was still willing to marry their daughter.

Although Duke Wellington agreed to the marriage, when he saw Catherine again, he couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, “She has become ugly.”

Everyone said privately that this was why Catherine never felt quite confident in front of Duke Wellington.

If she had married the then-obscure Duke Wellington thirteen years earlier, perhaps her marriage would have been happier.

However, it was not entirely her fault; the responsibility lay more with her family.

The Earl of Langford was too eager to marry off his beautiful and charming daughter for a high price, resulting in her not marrying until the age of thirty.

Fortunately, they were lucky to have met Duke Wellington.

The same Thomas Parknan who had rejected the proposal became a caring brother-in-law to Duke Wellington after the marriage, receiving his support when called upon during the Peninsular War to command the Third Division and take part in the Battle of Salamanca, Duke Wellington’s crowning achievement.

If previously Arthur could not quite comprehend what Duke Wellington had said, now he somewhat understood.

He couldn’t help but exclaim, “Indeed!

Humans are strange creatures, living side by side, yet it takes till the end of life to truly understand a person.”

Duke Wellington stood up from the hammock, putting on his coat, “Young man, are you troubled by something?

At your age, you shouldn’t have such impressions.

You’ve never been married, perhaps not even with a woman; what could possibly be bothering you so?”

Arthur smiled, “Nothing much, seeing how composed you are, I think my troubles don’t amount to much.”

“Hmm…”

Duke Wellington poured a cup of tea, “Are you talking about the Whig Party?

Are they giving you a hard time?

In my view, at least Brougham values you quite a bit.

After all, you are his student, and I remember Bentham praised you in the newspaper before, didn’t he?

In a sense, although the Earl Grey sits in the Prime Minister’s seat, Bentham is the spiritual leader of those Whig members who support reform.”

Arthur did not conceal the truth, saying, “I’m a policeman, so I don’t take a side with parliamentary issues.

I just feel that if things continue this way, it’s bad for everyone in Britain.”

Duke Wellington sipped his tea, “Were you sent by Brougham to be a spokesperson?”

“Your Grace, why would you think that?”

Arthur replied with a laugh, “I just happened to be passing by your doorstep and took the opportunity to arrest a few rioters who were smashing your windows.”

“Hmm?” Duke Wellington turned to look at the battered iron windows of the study, realizing, “So that’s what you’re here for.”

Arthur joked, “Your Grace, I’m not trying to persuade you to back down in your stance.

But now that you’re not the leader of the opposition, why not go back to the countryside for some hunting?

London isn’t peaceful lately.

If you really think the parliamentary reform is no good, then I believe at such a time, you’d be a better opposition leader than Sir Peel, given your prestige in this country.”

Upon hearing this, Duke Wellington’s expression suddenly darkened, “Leader of the opposition?

I know those people want me in this position.

But I say to them, I’ve served my country for forty years, twenty in commanding its army, ten in the Cabinet.

I have the most unswerving loyalty to my country, whether I like it or not, I will never oppose His Majesty the King’s government, nor will I let myself become some leader of the opposition because that sounds like being part of a revolutionary faction.”

Arthur was taken aback by Duke Wellington’s words.

It took Arthur a while to understand why Duke Wellington was so resistant to the title of opposition leader.