## Chapter 183: Platonic Love?
Arthur, with a casual air, regaled Mrs. Cowper with tales of the Home Office’s various departments, peppering his narrative with embellished accounts of his legendary cases.
The captivating stories, interwoven with bizarre snippets of chemistry knowledge and a sprinkle of plausible embellishments, transformed the grisly tales of detection into a portal to a new world for Mrs. Cowper. She hung on Arthur’s every word, her delicate fingers clutching her handkerchief tightly at each dramatic turn of events.
“My God! So it was the innkeeper all along? He aided the killer by disposing of the two unfortunate women?” she exclaimed.
“Laughing gas is a dreadful substance. What’s worse, young people use it as a trendy pastime. Who could have imagined it could be used for murder?” she shuddered.
“No wonder you despise body snatchers, it’s all because of that poor little girl. Alas… Perhaps responsible politicians in Britain should reconsider the Anatomy Act. Even if the bishops oppose it, I admit it’s unfair to the poor who die in workhouses. But something needs to be done, we must consider the living…” she sighed.
“Oh, heaven’s above! You actually killed that Fred? Mr. Hastings, I think you should consider publishing this high-seas chase as a novel. It would be a huge hit!” she declared.
Time flew by as Mrs. Cowper was completely engrossed in Arthur’s tales. Her long-awaited gramophone had been completely forgotten.
When Arthur finished the last drop of tea in his cup, Mrs. Cowper finally sighed contentedly, “I can’t believe you, a young man of twenty, have already experienced so much. I thought your demonstrations of Faraday’s cage and the gramophone were amazing, but now it seems they’re nothing compared to your adventures at Scotland Yard. The newspapers don’t exaggerate, you are truly a legend of Scotland Yard, a living legend.”
Arthur, despite the praise, remained cautious.
“You’re too kind, Madam. I’m simply doing my duty. As John Locke said, the only legitimate purpose of government is to protect the life, property, and liberty of the people, and to provide for their welfare. What I do is simply the responsibility of Scotland Yard. Your gratitude is already included in the parish tax, you pay, I work, it’s only natural. And I’ve received a promotion as an added reward, as you can see, I’m now an Inspector. I’ve received so much praise, how could I ask for more?” he said modestly.
Mrs. Cowper, growing increasingly fond of the young man, remarked, “Mr. Hastings, you are the most gentlemanly twenty-year-old I’ve ever met.”
Arthur glanced at the sky, rising to take his leave, “Madam, perhaps we should end our conversation here. I’d love to chat more, but Scotland Yard is a demanding place, and my leave only lasts until this afternoon. Lunch break must be almost over, I need to get back to work.”
Mrs. Cowper wanted to keep him, but remembering Arthur’s earlier remarks about Scotland Yard’s tedious rules, she decided to let him go.
“It’s a shame to hear that, but I understand, young man. Perhaps I’m being presumptuous, but I sincerely hope you’ll soon be transferred to a department with more reasonable hours. Scotland Yard’s detective stories are exciting, but from an old woman’s perspective, I believe staying there for too long will hinder your chances of finding a happy marriage.”
Arthur simply smiled and nodded, “Thank you for your blessings, Madam. Until next time.”
The butler, noticing Arthur’s departure, swiftly retrieved his coat and hat from the coat rack.
Arthur, fully dressed again, exited Cowper Manor under the courteous guidance of the old butler.
He took a deep breath, relaxing his tense nerves. Perhaps it was because London was under a raincloud today, the post-rain air was free of dust, industrial pollutants, and the stench of sewage, a rare treat!
Breathing in such quality air, Arthur’s spirits lifted.
A swaying carriage pulled up slowly in front of Arthur. The footman beside the driver hopped down, opening the door. A yawning, middle-aged man with streaks of gray at his temples emerged.
The man seemed to be very cold, dressed in layers. A silver-gray fur-trimmed overcoat concealed a tailcoat, which was further layered with a sleeveless burgundy waistcoat. Underneath his thick, navy blue scarf, a white shirt collar peeked out.
He spotted Arthur emerging from Cowper Manor, raised an eyebrow in curiosity, but quickly suppressed it, his face regaining its listless expression from excessive sleep.
He was about to walk into the manor when he saw Arthur standing by the road, smiling at him.
The man, out of politeness, could only smile and nod in response.
In this strange atmosphere, the two passed each other, Arthur returning to Scotland Yard, and Mrs. Cowper welcoming her own brother – Viscount William Lamb of Melbourne.
Upon seeing him, the two exchanged a quick cheek kiss, before Mrs. Cowper began to complain, “William, you said you’d bring your nieces and nephews for lunch. Why are you so late?”
Viscount Melbourne sighed, “I didn’t expect to be so late either. Prime Minister’s Questions should have ended at 12:30. But today was different, both sides were arguing fiercely about the Reform Bill. Even the Duke of Wellington, who rarely speaks, was going all out. Emily, I swear, I’ve never heard the Duke talk so much in one go.”
Mrs. Cowper picked up on the subtext in her brother’s words, “So… Henry mentioned something about this recently. He said the Whigs would completely crush the Tories during Prime Minister’s Questions. It seems you succeeded?”
Viscount Melbourne tilted his head, scratching his ear, “I’d say so. I fell asleep when Henry said he’d move a vote of no confidence against Wellington’s cabinet. Then they probably argued about it for a while. But it doesn’t matter, the Catholic Emancipation Act and the Tories’ staunch opposition to the Reform Bill have alienated too many people. The end of the Tory era is inevitable.”
“So…” Mrs. Cowper’s eyes gleamed with joy, “You and Henry will soon play major roles in the cabinet? Henry as Foreign Secretary, and you as Home Secretary?”
Viscount Melbourne looked at his sister with a touch of surprise, “You’re quite well-informed, my dear. You know all the party affairs.”
“Of course, don’t forget what the Almacks Club is for,” Mrs. Cowper chuckled, “News travels much faster among the ladies than within your party. If I wanted to, I could even find out how the Tories plan to counter you.”
“No need for that, my dear sister. The Tories shouldn’t be thinking about counterattacks anymore, but how to minimize their losses in the upcoming elections. Frankly, they’ll lose all the religious and university seats in the next election. The bishops in the House of Lords might even swing towards us.”
Mrs. Cowper shook her head, “William, I don’t want to worry about the elections. But you have to promise me, get a good position for your nephew in the Home Office, preferably one that offers training, good pay, and isn’t too demanding. Scotland Yard is a definite no, that place is good for training but too tiring.”
Viscount Melbourne was puzzled, “I’ll arrange for Michael, but how did you suddenly think of Scotland Yard?”
“You didn’t meet him?”
“Who?”
“The young man who just left, he’s Inspector Arthur Hastings of Scotland Yard. You must have heard of him, he’s been in the newspapers several times this year.”
“This…” Viscount Melbourne’s expression turned strange. He glanced around, then lowered his voice, “I shouldn’t ask, but… can I confirm your relationship with him?”
Mrs. Cowper was furious, “William! Mr. Hastings and I respect each other, but nothing like my relationship with Henry. Can’t you see his age? I could be his mother!”
“Ah…” Viscount Melbourne, relieved, simply chuckled, “Sorry, maybe my nerves are a bit frayed.”
Seeing him apologize so quickly, Mrs. Cowper didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she felt a pang of sympathy for her brother’s struggles over the past decades.
“William, I shouldn’t be the one to bring this up, but let the past be the past. That woman from the Ponsonby family is dead. While she was alive, she didn’t fulfill her duties as a wife, but at least she held the title of Viscountess Melbourne. Now, you’re not young, but you’re far from old! You have a long life ahead of you, you need to consider marrying again, don’t let Ponsonby ruin you, the Melbourne family needs you!”
Viscount Melbourne felt a pang in his heart, “Emily, you don’t understand. Marriage, to me, now feels more like a burden, it’s actually fine not to be married. If two people can’t help and understand each other, why get married?”
Mrs. Cowper, recalling her own marriage to Earl Cowper, sighed after a moment’s silence, “Perhaps you’re right, but you can still find a woman who understands you now.”
“Hmm…” Viscount Melbourne pondered for a moment, finally giving in to his sister’s good intentions, he couldn’t help but smile, revealing the secret he’d been keeping close to his heart, “Actually, I do have a female friend I can talk to, but we’re not the kind of relationship you imagine…”
As soon as he finished, the Red Devil, who had been lounging by the fireplace and hadn’t left with Arthur, nodded repeatedly.
The Red Devil pushed up his glasses and muttered to himself, “Yes, yes! I believe you, there’s platonic love between men and women that doesn’t involve any physical contact. Tch, only a devil like me would fall for such nonsense…”
(End of Chapter)