The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 688 - 334 Respect Sino-Russian Friendship_2

What he found slightly amusing was that two of the three people just mentioned by Earl Melbourne had affairs with his wife. As for the remaining old cripple, only God knows.

However, based on Lady Melbourne’s predilection for chasing notable personalities in Europe, if Talleyrand had a taste for that sort of thing, his chances were most likely not good.

If judged by conventional moral standards, it would be difficult to understand the extraordinary marital relationship of the Melbournes.

But, for the nobility, marital fidelity was only expected until an heir was produced.

Many couples, united through arranged marriages without much love, after securing an heir, largely did their own things. They also turned a blind eye to each other’s infidelities, as long as things weren’t too scandalous to damage their noble decorum. Such matters were usually ignored.

The couple were having an animated conversation when suddenly the drawing room door was pushed open. Lady Melbourne dismissed her attendants and sauntered up to her husband and her lover.

She gently swept her curly hair behind her ears and playfully blinked at Palmeston as she extended her hand toward him.

Understanding her gesture, Palmeston performed a hand-kissing gesture, "Madam, it seems the cold winds of St. Petersburg not only preserve food, but you also seem even younger after your holiday there."

Lady Melbourne, with a twinkle in her eyes, said, "Henry, if you applied this talent for pleasing the ladies to diplomacy, I don’t know who could resist your unstoppable charm."

Earl Melbourne, leaning back on the sofa with a cigar, said, "Well, I do know one."

Lady Melbourne, lifting her skirt to sit closer to her husband, asked softly, "Who?"

Earl Melbourne chuckled and responded directly, "Muhammad Ali. Your all-capable Henry just said he couldn’t handle him."

Viscount Palmeston cleared his throat softly, "My lord, may I remind you that I merely stated that Ali does not pose a problem for now."

Lady Melbourne also chided her husband, "Darling, how could a heathen appreciate the charm of a Christian gentleman? That man only knows how to play with sand in Syria. That’s hardly Henry’s fault."

Upon hearing this, Earl Melbourne merely raised his eyebrows and shrugged, "Well, my considerate wife, you are always right, how could you not be when you were born so beautiful?"

At this, Earl Melbourne pulled out a pocket watch, glanced at it, and suddenly stood up, "It’s getting late, I must be off to a dinner party. Due to the cholera outbreak, various clubs and salons were shut down for several weeks, now that they have finally reopened, I need to compensate for the past few weeks."

Viscount Palmeston rose to see him off, but as he stood up, Earl Melbourne pressed him back down by his shoulders.

The Earl bent down and whispered in his ear, "No need to see me off, just take good care of Dorothea. When she’s in a good mood, pass on a message for me, I won’t be back at the embassy tonight."

Upon hearing this, Viscount Palmeston smiled politely, "Then I wish you a pleasant evening."

Earl Melbourne, removing his hat, bid farewell to his wife and Palmeston, "And I wish you both a pleasant evening as well."

With that, he lightly kissed his wife on the forehead and left the drawing room with a cheerful stride.

Viscount Palmeston, watching him leave, leaned on the armrest of the sofa, resting his head on his hand and said, "I feel like His Lordship didn’t come today to discuss Egypt, but rather to dump you here with me."

Upon these words, Lady Melbourne’s face fell.

She waved her lace and feather fan irritably, "What? Are you not pleased?"

"Of course not," Palmeston quickly changed his tune, flattering, "Dorothea, you have no idea, I nearly went mad without you in London. Every time I closed my eyes, your smiling face appeared before me, your voice echoed in my ears. I miss your embrace all the time, and your lips, sweet as cherries."

Lady Melbourne, unconvinced, turned to him and asked, "Really? Isn’t my absence in London precisely giving you and Emily plenty of time to be alone?"

"Oh!" Palmeston grimaced, "Dorothea, it seems you’re unaware, Emily isn’t in London right now. She’s been having a tiff with her brother, got so upset she went back to the countryside to stay."

"Ah?" Lady Melbourne looked surprised, "What happened?"

Palmeston recounted to his old flame the entire sequence of events surrounding Earl Melbourne’s extramarital affair scandal, leaving Lady Melbourne somewhere between laughing and crying.

Lady Melbourne asked, "Why does Earl Melbourne always find himself in these situations? First, it was the trouble with Lady Melbourne and Lord Byron, and now this adultery suit. I remember him being quite an upright man! Why does God always like to tease him?"

Palmeston straightened his collar, a mysterious look on his face, "Really? I don’t think William is all that upright, he’s just more discerning about partners."

"More discerning?" Lady Melbourne’s interest was piqued, "What kind of women does he like then?"

Palmeston said, "Well... he’s a man of letters, ever since his wife’s incident, he has spent almost all his spare time reading, it seems he may be trying to avoid reality. And although he may appear lax, he’s actually quite selective, interested only in ladies who can match his intellectual prowess. Unfortunately, his broad knowledge means that in the end, the ladies who could engage him in conversation are always in the minority." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓