The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1687: Chapter 56: The Responsibility of a King

The Duchess of Kent always comported herself with decorum, and even though her heart was already filled with many emotions at this moment, she maintained a composed and graceful expression on her face.

She held Princess Victoria with one hand and placed the other on her chest, nodding slightly towards the row of police officers standing solemnly: ”The officers of Scotland Yard toiled tirelessly and have finally recovered Delina’s beloved item. My gratitude and that of the Crown Prince are heartfelt. Without your relentless investigation and enforcement, this theft might have ended unresolved like many precedents.”

Before she finished speaking, Victoria, encouraged by Lady Leisen, stepped forward half a step. Although Arthur had previously made her practice speeches for three weeks, speaking unprepared in public like today was still her first experience.

After some thought, she finally decided to use her own words to thank the officers: ”Thank you for retrieving my writing box. I... I know it’s just a small thing, but I will always remember that it was you who found it.”

Hero Officers Colly and Hooter exchanged glances, appearing somewhat at a loss.

For these two young men, engaging in fierce combat with criminals was something they were not shy about. With a well-placed left stomp, a right whip kick, and a couple of sticks if necessary, they could even bring down a two-hundred-pound British strongman.

However, when faced with a 15-year-old girl, and a Crown Prince at that, they were unsure how to proceed.

Fortunately, besides the two of them, several senior officers from Scotland Yard, who had faced Napoleon at Waterloo, were present today.

Standing at the front, Charles Rowan responded steadily to Princess Victoria’s gratitude.

”Duchess, Your Highness,” Rowan’s voice was deep and resonant, carrying a certain commanding presence honed from military service: ”To serve the royal family, Scotland Yard is honored. As long as Your Highness and your family are well, our wishes are fulfilled.”

With that, Rowan nodded slightly at Inspector Geoffrey Gordon, who was holding the writing box beside him.

Inspector Gordon then stepped forward three steps, solemnly handed the writing box to Victoria, and saluted, revealing his right hand with only three remaining fingers: ”The 89th Regiment salutes you, Your Highness!”

Victoria initially felt somewhat afraid because of Inspector Gordon’s mutilated hand, but when she heard ”89th Regiment,” her eyes widened: ”You... aren’t you a Scotland Yard officer? How... 89th Regiment?”

Inspector Gordon, upon hearing this, smiled faintly: ”Geoffrey Gordon reporting to you, enlisted at 15 with the 2nd Battalion of the 89th Infantry Regiment, participated in the first Kandy War in Ceylon in 1805 with the battalion headquarters, promoted to corporal after the war, rotated to Malta Island in 1811 for second-line garrison duty with the battalion headquarters, then served as a Marine Corps sergeant assisting the Royal Navy with escort and landing operations along the Ligurian coast. After the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1816, promoted to color sergeant of Company Six, 2nd Battalion, 89th Regiment. Retired in 1826 as sergeant major of 2nd Battalion, 89th Regiment, joined Scotland Yard in 1829 as an inspector. Your Highness, thank you for granting the 89th Regiment a new regimental flag! I even saw it in the newspapers; the new flag is very beautiful, and if I were twenty years younger, I would be very happy to carry it on my shoulder.”

Upon hearing this, Victoria immediately felt that Gordon’s appearance was much more amiable, and even his hand did not seem so frightening: ”Well... your hand?”

”You mean this?” Gordon turned to look at his hand and laughed proudly: ”It’s not a problem. Missing limbs for those who’ve been to the battlefield is not unusual. The Duke of Wellington is deaf in one ear, the Marquis of Anglesey lost a leg, Sir James Thompson and Sir John Hope became lame in the Peninsular War and the Netherlands Expedition, relying on crutches for life. Compared to them, losing a forefinger and ring finger is nothing. There’s nothing to complain about.”

Beside him, Minister Luo Wan half-jokingly reassured the Crown Prince: ”It’s really no big deal. Inspector Gordon often jokes about his three fingers with younger officers. He always says: ’So what if I have three fingers? Sir John Hope patrolled the entire camp on crutches without allowing anyone to give up their seat. If you have some guts, learn from the Marquis of Anglesey, who rode and charged even with one leg missing.’

The Duchess of Kent, seeing the officers’ optimism, couldn’t help but feel a fondness for them.

Though these rough ex-soldiers were not as refined as the Whig gentlemen, one had to admit that these old fellows, used to seeing gunfire, were indeed remarkably optimistic, one after another.

She tactfully praised Gordon: ”I used to think that gentlemen as humorous as the Marquis of Anglesey were few in the army. Now it seems that such optimists might be the mainstream.”

Having witnessed the peculiarities of the Marquis of Anglesey at Almack’s Club, Arthur couldn’t help but chime in: ”Did that gentleman also flaunt his wooden leg to you?”

”It wasn’t just flaunting,” the Duchess of Kent pretended to complain: ”I think it would be hard to find someone in all of London who hasn’t seen his wooden leg or heard the Cavalry Commander’s boasts about charging at Waterloo.”

As someone who experienced Waterloo firsthand, Minister Luo Wan was evidently more familiar with the Marquis of Anglesey’s ”illustrious deeds” than anyone present.