The Shadow of Great Britain

Moreover, it was once rumored within the bureau that Thomas Plunkett, the leader among them, was initially going to be the first Police Chief of the newly established Liverpool Police Department. However, Plunkett declined the offer because his wife and children were in London, and he had just bought a house there.

Although Plunkett going to Liverpool sounded bizarre, because according to the provisional regulations of the Police Commissioner Committee, the local Police Chief should be taken over by the local Sheriff, and Plunkett had no foundation whatsoever in Liverpool, everyone thought this matter was nonsense fabricated by some scoundrel.

It wasn’t until someone remembered that Sir Arthur Hastings had gone to Liverpool in his early years to handle a cholera outbreak, that everyone began to suspect if Sir Arthur had used his influence to persuade the Liverpool City Council.

Did Arthur really do the work for Plunkett?

Is that even a question?

Back when the Treasury allocated ten thousand pounds of municipal bonds for Liverpool’s city construction, others might not know, but the contractors in the Liverpool City Council certainly did.

Although Arthur wasn’t the one who ultimately made that decision, without him acting as a bridge, how could the matter have been accomplished?

Besides, now that Sir Arthur has become both committee member and Secretary-General of the Police Commission, as long as he mentions it, Liverpool’s business people would be more than willing to sell a favor to appoint a Sheriff, which wouldn’t be seen as anything special.

However, regardless of whether this matter was successful or not, just the ability that Sir Arthur exhibited in this affair was enough to make all the policemen in Scotland Yard long for.

As a British policeman, you may do everything wrong in your life, but you absolutely cannot let down Sir Arthur Hastings.

In Scotland Yard, just do your best within your capabilities, and work diligently.

As for promotion, how to assist you in getting promoted, that is Sir Arthur’s business to consider.

Arthur and Chamberlain had just dismounted in front of Kensington Palace when they saw several policemen in plain clothes not far away taking off their hats to salute them.

Chamberlain assumed they were passing London citizens, but when he turned to see Arthur’s expression, he smiled and asked, ”Are they from Scotland Yard?”

”Not exactly.” Arthur patted the dust off his clothes, ”Now it’s off-duty time.”

Chamberlain did not expose Arthur but tossed his whip to the attendant behind him, ”Such treatment, I’ve only seen with the Duke of Wellington before. Previously, when I heard them say you are the Wellington of Scotland Yard, I didn’t believe it; now it seems it’s indeed true.”

With that, he instructed someone to knock on the door of Kensington Palace.

When the attendant at Kensington Palace saw Lord Chamberlain’s arrival, he was evidently surprised, ”Your Excellency, you...”

But in the blink of an eye, he saw Arthur behind Chamberlain, ”Sir Arthur?”

The attendant’s expression was quite awkward and embarrassed; he didn’t dislike Arthur, he even quite liked this gentleman who was gentle and occasionally cracked cold jokes.

However, ever since the Kensington Palace entourage returned from Ramsgate, Conroy demanded all palace personnel to stay away from this likable young man.

Although Miss Flora Hastings argued vehemently on this matter and emphasized to Conroy that her cousin Arthur had no ill intentions during the Albion Villa incident. Quite the contrary, he was wholeheartedly considering Her Highness the Princess. And facts also proved this point, as Victoria nearly lost her life in Ramsgate due to typhoid.

And Lady Leisen also stepped forward at this time to support Flora, with whom she previously did not see eye to eye.

Conroy clearly hadn’t expected these two women to stand together, he even threatened at one point to expel them both from the palace.

However, neither Leisen nor Flora knew Conroy was merely bluffing.

Because any adjustment of royal court members must receive the King’s consent, not to mention expelling them both, even dismissing any one of them, King William IV would never agree.

Yet unfortunately, the Duchess of Kent ultimately chose to side with Conroy, asking everyone in Kensington Palace to execute Conroy’s orders.

Thus, although Flora and Leisen still remain within the court, Arthur became unwelcome in Kensington Palace.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t all bad.

Returning from Ramsgate, Victoria, who had been taciturn, saw all of this, and that once detested Miss Flora Hastings turned out to be such an enthusiastic person, leaving Victoria greatly shocked.

Moreover, Flora being Arthur’s cousin, gradually led Victoria to regard her as the second person within Kensington Palace she could confide in.

She occasionally had Flora help her convey messages to Arthur, assist in bringing back some novels and curiosities Arthur recommended from outside the palace, and even wrote letters to Arthur through Flora.

In those deeply oppressive days, seeing Arthur’s letters filled with encouraging words always brought Victoria immense comfort.

What was most commendable was that Arthur never filled his letters with philosophical talk.

But often told her mysteriously that he heard of an incredibly accurate witch in London saying Victoria was destined to be Queen.

Or that he took Victoria’s portrait to see a physiognomy master, who felt Victoria’s face initially appeared rather sorrowful, but upon closer inspection, exuded an inner regal quality, suggesting Victoria would endure hardships early on but, after overcoming them, her future would become smoother.

It’s common knowledge that young ladies are always intrigued by such occult matters, and Victoria is surely no exception.

However, she also hesitated to express her interest, especially not directly clarifying to Arthur that she actually wants those masters to calculate her love fortune.

Especially when Arthur mentioned that his friend Eld Carter was recently obsessed with using Tarot cards to predict marriages for ladies, making Victoria even more restless.

The attendants privately speculated about the letters Flora passed between Arthur and Victoria, but everyone generally turned a blind eye to such small actions. Not because they were lax in their duties, but rather, after the Albion Villa incident, nearly everyone believed Conroy went too far in this matter.

Furthermore, as time slowly went by, Victoria’s coming of age was nearing, and Conroy, nearly hopeless in hoping Regent, wasn’t as frightening in everyone’s eyes as before.

Compared to being detested by Conroy, the attendants and ladies certainly prioritize Victoria’s likes and dislikes.

Upon first seeing Arthur, the attendant indeed felt somewhat awkward, but ultimately did not confront him directly, instead, he apologized and said, ”Sir Arthur, please wait, I have to inform the Duchess and Sir John Conroy.”

Unexpectedly, before he could turn away, Lord Chamberlain stopped him: ”No need to inform. Sir Arthur and I are envoys of His Majesty, and in Britain, no one can prevent him from delivering His Majesty’s decree.”

The attendant hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded: ”Alright, then please follow me.”

Arthur and Chamberlain were led to the reception hall by the attendant; they had just sat down when hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.

The Duchess of Kent first nodded toward Chamberlain, then turned her gaze to Arthur, but she didn’t reprimand him, rather, she was somewhat awkward and apologetic: ”Sir Arthur, it’s been a long time.”