The Shadow of Great Britain

Because he had already started asking for others’ forgiveness, even though he didn’t actually owe Arthur an apology in that matter.

Immediately, the King began to reminisce about his childhood, saying that when he was young one could still catch salmon swimming upstream in the Thames, back when it had a dark green hue rather than the murky black it’s become from pollution, resembling Manchester’s Ewell River riddled with corpses.

King William IV habitually rubbed the back of his index finger on his pockmarked nose, then stared at the chaotic scene on the street where street performers were making noise, a ”sandwich man” wore soap advertisements, several boys sold matches, vendors hawked pies, and an Indian beggar with a nose disfigured by syphilis beat a drum.

The horse hooves clattered on the cobblestones and passed piles of dung, splashing mud onto the hems of ladies’ skirts, dirtying the street.

William IV watched all this and his mouth moved, but in the end he said nothing and sighed softly.

Perhaps because he truly lacked the energy, or perhaps he was utterly weary.

Though the King had given no order, the Palace Minister’s Office had tacitly begun preparing for his departure.

The most typical example was that they proactively sought out Arthur and provided England Electromagnetic Telegraph Company with a lucratively paid order.

Under Sir Arthur Hastings’ personal supervision, several inconspicuous telegraph lines were rapidly completed within months, connecting St. James’s Palace where the King resided to White Hall, Buckingham Palace, and the Guard Cavalry Regiment in Hyde Park.

And in the specially made cipher book for royal communications by England Electromagnetic Telegraph Company, there was an encrypted segment never seen in other cipher books — TOLIFD (Tower of London has fallen).

Though Arthur didn’t know if King William IV was aware of all these arrangements, he felt that even if William IV was fully cognizant, he wouldn’t see anything wrong with it, as he was well aware of his impending demise.

In the final years of his life, William IV believed he had only one task left to complete.

And that was to place the crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland smoothly onto his niece Victoria’s head.

During such sensitive times, he sensed many unusual scents in the air.

King Leopold of Belgium sent his advisor Baron Stockma to Kensington Palace, ending his vacation early to begin residing there since January, while Victoria’s other two uncles frequently traveled between Britain and the European Continent, hoping to introduce their unremarkable sons to the future Queen of Britain.

The aged and frail William IV was now unable to withstand the Saxon-Coburg-Gotha Family’s marital onslaught, Victoria and the two royal heirs of the Orange-Nassau Family from the Netherlands simply didn’t click, and he had no good solution.

However, William IV still believed that Victoria’s dislike of the Dutch didn’t mean she would definitely favor her cousins.

Especially after the Ramsgate incident, William IV felt that many external rumors about Victoria were mostly false; she was under the Kensington System, so many of her opinions weren’t actually her own, but rather the thoughts of the Duchess of Kent and Conroy.

To help Victoria escape the influence of Kensington Palace, William IV decided to first liberate her financially from their control.

He supported his frail body, mustered the energy to write a handwritten letter to his niece.

William IV promised to help her achieve independence on her 18th birthday. First, he would ask Parliament to allocate 10,000 British Pounds annually for her use. Second, he would allow her the freedom to appoint her own treasury manager and financial officers, answerable only to her. Most importantly, if Victoria wished, he was prepared to grant her the power to establish her own residence independently, allowing her to move out of Kensington Palace.

This handwritten letter from the King to Victoria would be delivered by his two messengers—Lord Chamberlain and former crown prince tutor Sir Arthur Hastings, to Kensington Palace.

On the street outside Kensington Palace, Arthur and Chamberlain rode tall horses side by side, followed by eight Guard Cavalry responsible for their protection.

Lord Chamberlain tightened his reins, muttering, ”Sir Arthur, have you met with Baron Stockma recently?”

”Me?” Arthur shook his head lightly, ”Baron Stockma has practically stayed at Kensington Palace without moving recently, rarely attending Almack’s Club dances. Last month, I invited him out for a game of chess, but he politely declined.”

Chamberlain chuckled at this: ”Are the Belgians keeping such a close watch lately? Leopold sent Stockma here, seemingly hoping he remains in London permanently. If the crown prince eventually ascends the throne, wouldn’t he then have to make decisions for Britain’s Queen?”

Arthur replied mildly, ”Though Her Royal Highness is just a young girl, from the Ramsgate incident you can see she has a notably firm character. Although Baron Stockma is by her side, which may lead her to favor Belgium on certain topics, I don’t think Leopold can impose his will on his niece in all matters. Otherwise, he’d be no different from becoming a second Conroy, whom Her Royal Highness despises.”

Chamberlain slightly pursed his lips at this: ”Hopefully. But Leopold has always been a clever man, otherwise the Belgian throne wouldn’t have fallen into his lap. As for Stockma, he indeed is an outstanding figure, having him by Her Royal Highness’s side saves us considerable trouble.”

Arthur agreed, ”That’s right, if Baron Stockma was at Ramsgate last year, I wouldn’t have needed to resort to unconventional measures.”

Chamberlain turned to look at Arthur, merely smiling without speaking.

Arthur felt uneasy under his gaze and couldn’t help but ask, ”Did I say something wrong?”

Chamberlain shook his head, ”No, everything you said was correct. Not everyone can spot opportunities in a crisis. If I were in your position back then, I’m not sure I’d have the courage to make such decisions. Sir Arthur, you’ve achieved what you have today, I personally am not envious.”

Arthur glanced at Chamberlain, pondering but unable to discern the implications behind his words.

What does he mean by saying he personally isn’t envious?

Does it mean many others are envious?

However, Arthur didn’t dwell further on this matter.

His newly appointed Police Commissioner Committee is indeed a powerful department; it would be unusual if no one coveted it.

Nonetheless, despite such a department, the true nobility with status still disregard taking on such roles.

Because, after all, police are police, a profession engaged by lower-tier people.

If it were the War Department or Navy Commission, now those would be jobs suitable for those of true rank.

If it weren’t for this, Arthur wouldn’t have been appointed so quickly, nor would his old acquaintance Edwin Chadwick have held his position as Secretary of the Poor Law Commission so steadily.

As long as the proper old British elites aren’t eyeing his position in the Police Committee, it poses little threat to Arthur.

After all, as a senior official emerging from amongst the people, Arthur’s achievements and influence in Fleet Street, the music world, and the field of Natural Philosophy make it truly challenging to unseat him casually as a police expert.