The Shadow of Great Britain

Arthur’s face was as dark as if he had been pulled out of a coal heap.

The copy of the Morning Paper in his hand was clenched tightly, with the corners almost twisted into a rope.

Agares naturally noticed this, but he just acted like a cat seeing a door crack; the more he saw someone trying to close it, the more he wanted to stick his paw in.

”Oh my, that expression of yours!” Agares slapped his thigh, as if he had seen a rare treasure: ”I really miss those days in St. Petersburg. Back then, whenever you had a problem, the entire embassy, from the third floor to the first, had to share your disgruntlement. It’s a pity that...”

Before he finished speaking, the carriage suddenly jolted violently.

Arthur steadied the handrail with one hand, instinctively protecting the newspaper with the other.

Agares was flung out of the carriage, but not before cursing the London Municipal Committee for corruption: ”These fools ought to be on the gallows! The potholes on this damn road keep multiplying, and it wasn’t this bad the last time I was here...”

The carriage swayed a couple of times before finally stabilizing.

Outside came the hoarse shout of the coachman: ”Sorry, Sir, a gentleman suddenly rushed out in front of us, and I had to brake urgently!”

Arthur frowned, lifting a corner of the curtain to look outside.

Through the rain, a figure with a black umbrella stood in front of the carriage, with the umbrella’s edge almost knocked askew.

The person had evidently just avoided the wheels, still shaken, with their suit’s creases not yet smoothed out.

”Benjamin?”

Disraeli had originally planned to lie on the ground and demand compensation.

But seeing that it was his dear friend on the carriage, he was too embarrassed to push the issue too far.

He muttered a few curses, then approached to ask, ”Arthur, your coachman almost sent me to meet God!”

With that, he glanced at the muddy spots on his suit and said regretfully, ”I just had this suit made on Jermyn Street, and I haven’t even worn it for a few days!”

Arthur looked at the crooked umbrella and the rare pure black attire on Disraeli, teasing, ”Benjamin, is this outfit of yours... rehearsing for your own funeral in advance? And that immaculate hairstyle, did you just escape from some barber on Strand Street?”

Disraeli shook off the raindrops hanging from the tip of his umbrella, rolling his eyes: ”Thanks for caring. Even if I die, it won’t be by your shabby carriage. If I’m hit, it better be by something with four wheels and eight seats.”

Arthur smirked, making room beside him: ”Get in, the rain’s heavy. I’ll give you a lift. You still live with Mrs. Sikes... Oh, no, you must have moved out by now?”

Disraeli gave him a glare but climbed into the carriage, giving his coat a couple of quick shakes: ”I moved back to live in Bayswater. But I’m not going back now, take me to the London Derry Marquis Mansion.”

”The Marquis of Londonderry?” Arthur frowned: ”Benjamin... you... you haven’t gotten involved with the Orange Party, have you?”

”The Orange Party? Perish the thought!” Disraeli flatly denied: ”I have no intention of rebellion. Besides, the Orange Party disbanded long ago, and with Queen Victoria on the throne, who would be foolish enough to support the Duke of Cumberland’s claim now?”

”Then what are you doing at the Marquis of Londonerry Mansion?” Arthur advised kindly: ”Though he’s an excellent cavalry commander and once captured a French Army colonel single-handedly. But if you’re looking to forge ties with him, consider the judgment of the Duke of Wellington.”

”What did His Excellency say about him?”

”His Excellency appreciates his military talents but also thinks the Marquis of Londonderry is the blundering fool and troublemaker among the staff.”

”Now, that’s harsh, yet it’s exactly in His Excellency’s straightforward style,” Disraeli wiped the water off his head: ”Don’t worry, I’m visiting the Marchioness of Londonderry, not the Marquis himself.”

”You...” Arthur had a look of disbelief, hesitantly: ”Benjamin, what are you... up to again?”

Disraeli glared at Arthur, fuming: ”Arthur! Can you get a grip? Stop filling your head with indecent, lowly, unspeakable filth like Eld. I beg you! Can’t I have normal female friends? Just like you and Miss Ivan, and Miss Hastings.”

Arthur first pondered whether his relations with Fiona and Flora counted as normal friendships with women, then asked: ”Benjamin, that’s not what I meant at all. I was just drawing a reasonable inference based on past experience. You know I was a detective, it’s practically an occupational habit.”

Disraeli adjusted the tie on his chest, giving Arthur a sideways glance: ”I’m visiting the Marchioness of Londonderry to express gratitude! Since Mrs. Sikes moved out of London social circles, the Marchioness has become my primary sponsor. Moreover, the Marchioness is one of the influential hostess figures in the Carlton Club. Without her support, my status within the party wouldn’t be so solid. Especially on issues like O’Connell, without her lobbying, not that many in the party would stand by me.”

At this, Disraeli, as if remembering something, gave Arthur a grateful smile: ”Ah, and I forgot to thank you earlier. For the O’Connell matter, it was thanks to you.”