Chapter 2397 - 315: A True Knight Cannot Be Bought

If the current Lord Chamberlain were still the Marquis of Cunningham, even if Victoria could not summon Arthur for some reason, the Palace Minister’s Office would certainly provide a detailed explanation to Arthur.

However, ever since the Duke of Argyll replaced the Marquis of Cunningham, Arthur could clearly feel Buckingham Palace’s attitude rapidly cooling down.

The Whig Party, knowing that their advantage in the Lower House is perilously close to vanishing, is sparing no effort to enhance their influence within the Royal Family. To achieve this, it’s necessary to eliminate the uncooperative Arthur Hastings.

The carriage entered the courtyard and came to a steady stop in front of Buckingham Palace. The sound of the wheels abruptly ceased, and the surroundings suddenly went silent.

Before Arthur even got out of the carriage, he had already grasped the lay of the land.

By convention, when a high-ranking official’s carriage arrives at Buckingham Palace, the Palace Minister’s Office would at least send an Attendant to wait under the porch.

If the visitor is someone like him, who regularly frequents the court, sometimes an even higher-ranking official might personally greet him, exchange a few pleasantries, and conveniently share the Queen’s mood and today’s schedule.

But at this moment, the porch was empty.

Only the two guards stood there like wax statues.

Arthur pushed open the carriage door, grasped his cane, and stepped onto the cobblestone path.

The sound of his boots on the ground was exceptionally clear.

Step by step.

The entire palace was so quiet that it seemed uninhabited.

Arthur didn’t pause, he merely walked between those two wax statues.

The hall inside was also silent.

At this time of day, there would usually be a few Attendants moving about in the hall; someone would take his coat, someone would take his hat, someone would softly inquire if he needed directions.

But now, the entire hall was empty, with only fire burning in the fireplace.

Arthur stood in the center of the hall, his cane tapping the floor, his gaze sweeping around.

No one.

Not a single person.

His coat was still on him, his hat still in his hand.

No one came to meet him, no one came to ask, not even a glance was given his way.

He just stood there like a stranger who had wandered into this place by mistake.

A moment later, footsteps came from the stairs.

A young Attendant descended from upstairs, hurried steps, with just the right touch of apology on his face: "Sorry to have kept you waiting, Sir Arthur, please come with me."

Arthur looked at him; he’d never seen this young man before.

Arthur didn’t say anything; he merely followed the young man up the stairs, along the corridor.

He suddenly asked, "What’s your name?"

The young man was slightly taken aback, perhaps not expecting Arthur to ask, perhaps that wasn’t covered in his instructions.

But he quickly recovered, bowing slightly: "William, Sir, William Burns."

"How long have you been at Buckingham Palace?"

"Three months, Sir."

"Three months?" Arthur repeated, "Only three months and you’ve been assigned to receive me, you seem very promising."

Burns was a bit embarrassed by the comment, he smiled awkwardly, and opened the door to the reception room: "Sir, please wait here, we’ve sent someone to inform Her Majesty the Queen."

Arthur sat down in the reception room.

He’d been to this room countless times.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, deep red velvet draped over the sofa, and on the wall was a portrait from the time of George III, the stubborn King gazing somberly at everyone who entered this room.

Ordinarily, while waiting in this room for an audience, someone would bring in a cup of tea, or ask if anything was needed.

Sometimes it was an Attendant, sometimes the secretary of the Palace Minister’s Office, sometimes a high-ranking official who happened to be passing by, exchanging a few pleasantries, and casually probing the purpose of his visit to the palace that day.

But today, there was nothing.

The door to the reception room was closed.

How long he waited, Arthur didn’t know.

Perhaps ten minutes, perhaps fifteen.

Finally, footsteps were heard from outside the door.

Arthur stood up out of habit, the silver tip of his cane gently tapping the floor.

The door opened, but instead of Victoria, it was Lady Leisen who walked in.

Lady Leisen wore a dark purple velvet gown today, the kind that London noblewomen often wore with a very low neckline, her hair pinned high, revealing a smooth forehead.

Two maids followed Lady Leisen, but they didn’t enter the door, stopping instead to stand guard outside the reception room.

Lady Leisen walked into the reception room, her skirt gently sweeping the floor, making a rustling sound: "Sir Arthur, sorry to have kept you waiting, Her Majesty has quite a bit of state business to attend to today. I was concerned you might be bored alone, so I took the liberty of coming to keep you company, I hope you’ll forgive me."

She sat down elegantly and confidently on the opposite sofa chair, also draped in deep red velvet, resembling the master of the room: "Sir Arthur, won’t you sit?"

Arthur was silent for a moment, as if he wanted to say something but finally composed himself and sat down.

"Sir Arthur." she started, her voice very soft: "These days, I’ve heard a lot of... unpleasant rumors. I believe you must have come today because of those rumors."

"Those rumors, saying that you and Miss Hastings..." She sighed softly, with just the right amount of regret and concern in the sigh: "Claiming there’s some... improper relationship between you. When I heard that, I simply couldn’t believe it. Sir Arthur, I’ve known you for five years. When you were still at Scotland Yard, I already knew you. I know what kind of person you are, you are an upright person, a respectable person, a... forgive my directness, I don’t believe you’re the kind of person to do such a thing."

Leisen paused, as if drawing a conclusion: "I am certain that those rumors about you are utterly baseless!"