The Shadow of Great Britain-Chapter 769 - 364 Gears and Crosses_2

To that end, she learned Latin and Greek, and it was in the process that she became fascinated with books by Ancient Greek authors such as Homer, Pindaros, and Aristophanes. Besides these, she also enjoyed the works of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Waston-Craft."

Arthur took a drag on his cigarette, and the influx of nicotine started his brain rushing.

"The young lady’s interests are quite broad; she is a religious enthusiast, yet she likes Voltaire... Hmm... let me guess, could she also be a deist? Does she believe that God created the world and humanity, but then did not intervene thereafter, letting the world operate according to its own laws?"

Mrs. Shelley replied with a smile, "You truly are an outstanding detective. Then guess, which one of your works is her favorite?"

"Which work?" Arthur asked, frowning, "Madam, I have only one work, the ’Hastings Case Files’."

"That’s not all," Mrs. Shelley said with a smile. "There’s also another, ’St. George’s flag still rises’."

Upon hearing this, Arthur waved his hands repeatedly, "No, madam, you might be mistaken. That one is Mr. Dickens’s work."

Mrs. Shelley smiled slyly, "But Mr. Dickens said that the inspiration and plot of that work were all conceived by you. Elizabeth has written to the editors, and Mr. Dickens personally informed her of the origins of the story. He was merely the one to put pen to paper, while the framework and key plot points were all shaped by you."

"That rascal Charles, always doing unnecessary things..."

Arthur ran his fingers through his hair, "Well then, it seems that Elizabeth likes dolphins... er, no, sharks, is it?"

Mrs. Shelley covered her mouth and laughed, "It’s not about sharks. Your work moved her to tears; she felt inspired by the indomitable spirit of Eld Carter, his determination not to succumb to fate. Seeing Carter’s struggles, she felt as though she was seeing her own battle with fate."

Arthur was so stunned by this response that he was speechless for a long while, not speaking until the cigar burned down to his fingers and the sudden sting snapped him back to reality.

Looking at Mrs. Shelley’s sincere, warm smile, Arthur’s feelings were so mixed that he felt at that moment anything he might say would seem blasphemous.

The Red Devil, with a playful smile on his face, put an arm around Arthur’s shoulder and consoled, "Look on the bright side. After all, a good deed has been done. Eld managed to inspire a girl suffering from paralysis with his own harrowing experience, even if he didn’t do it intentionally."

Arthur’s concerns clearly diverged from those of the Red Devil, and he suddenly felt that choosing to visit the fan’s home with Mrs. Shelley today was a mistake.

What if Miss Elizabeth suddenly asked about the prototype for the story’s creation? What would he say to explain this to her?

"St. George’s flag still rises" is a lie I can’t bring myself to utter?

Is it actually a romance that transcends species? frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Just as Arthur was about to find an excuse to rush out the door, the carriage wheels slowly came to a halt.

Mrs. Shelley glanced at the white-painted apartment through the window and nodded slightly to Arthur, "Mr. Hastings, we’re here."

The coachman opened the door, and Arthur’s boots touched the wet brick pavement, giving him the unsettling feeling of being cornered.

However, before he could voice his refusal, a familiar, pleasant voice with a touch of surprise reached his ears.

"Mr. Hastings?"

Arthur turned to see a noble lady stepping out with the assistance of a manservant.

She gently lifted her beige wide-brimmed hat, and through the lace edge of the brim, her mischievous smile was just visible.

"Miss Byron?"

Ada Byron was about to approach Arthur for a chat when she noticed Mrs. Shelley getting out of the carriage right behind him.

Frightened, she quickly retreated her playful expression and politely curtsied, "Mrs. Shelley."

"Ada?" Mrs. Shelley also seemed surprised by the appearance of the young girl, "Isn’t your mother accompanying you on your outing today?"

Ada shook her head, "I’ve come of age now, and can also attend social dances. So naturally, my mother doesn’t need to watch over me every day."

Mrs. Shelley seemed somewhat displeased upon hearing this.

In terms of restrictions on their children, perhaps because both had been hurt by poets, her views were similar to those of Ada’s mother, Lady Milbanke.

Just as Byron and Shelley were intimate friends who shared everything, the wives of these two poets had also become close in recent years.

For the young girl Ada, Mrs. Shelley almost regarded her as her own daughter.

Mrs. Shelley began, "You should listen more to your mother’s advice. There are many terrible fellows in society, and a naive girl like you could easily be deceived by them without being careful."

Upon hearing this, a mischievous thought struck Ada, and she asked innocently, "That... you’re right, there are indeed many terrible people in society. Like the one next to you, these days the newspapers seem to be attacking him. Whether it’s ’The Times’ or ’The Guardian,’ they call him a downright villain. You should hurry over to me, I’m afraid he might attack you any minute."

Mrs. Shelley’s face turned dark instantly upon hearing this, "Ada, you can’t take everything in the newspapers at face value. To judge someone’s character, you have to feel it for yourself, and sometimes even feelings are not trustworthy. It takes time to see someone’s true nature. In short, whether a person is good or bad should not be determined solely by what others say. Mr. Hastings is a very fine police officer and a man of integrity. You must apologize to him for what you just said."

"Alright..."

Ada hung her head, her drooping eyes still surreptitiously observing Arthur’s reaction.

Arthur, of course, did not miss such a small gesture, but he was far from pleading on her behalf. Instead, he seemed rather interested in examining the young lady’s chest.

As Ada felt Arthur’s intense gaze, her face turned scarlet, and she hurriedly stepped back, "Mr. Hastings, what are you looking at?"

"That..." Arthur pointed to the book she was holding to her chest and asked, "What’s that?"

"Which one?"

Ada looked down and felt her face burning, as if flames were igniting, "This is data given to me by Mr. De Morgan. I have to take it back for statistical analysis."

"Mr. De Morgan? Data?"

Arthur suddenly slapped his forehead, remembering something, "I almost forgot, Mr. De Morgan was previously your home tutor. This means the documents in your arms must be the cholera case statistics assigned by the Central Health Committee to the University of London, right? Are you assisting the Government in their work?"

"Well... it’s just a little hobby. I’m delighted to be able to apply my mathematics knowledge practically," Ada said, her eyes shifting, "Of course, another significant reason is that Mr. De Morgan allowed me to sit in on his classes at the University of London. So, when he mentioned that the Central Health Committee and Mr. Arthur Hastings from Scotland Yard entrusted the University of London with daily statistical data on cholera cases, I agreed without a second thought."

Mrs. Shelley, overhearing this conversation, couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Arthur beside her, then cast a reproachful look at Ada before saying, "Ada, you really are a cheeky girl."

Ada’s face turned completely red with embarrassment, "It’s because you were too eager to scold me."

Arthur, doffing his hat with a slight bow, said, "Miss Byron, I am very grateful for your assistance with the Government work. The cholera statistics is a cumbersome task, and your involvement must have made the work a lot easier."

Ada blinked, a hint of skepticism in her query, "Is that all?"

Arthur thought for a moment, then added with a smile, "I’m also thankful that you don’t detest me. There are already enough people in London who dislike me, and I’m glad not to have lost yet another beautiful and charming supporter. Should the opportunity arise to invite you to dance, I hope you won’t reject me."

Ada nodded contentedly upon hearing this, "I have no reason to refuse a gentleman."

Mrs. Shelley looked on and, turning to Arthur with a smile, said, "The misunderstanding is cleared up, and now we should go meet your other supporter."

Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, Ada suddenly followed, looking at the dubious apartment in front of her and then back at Mrs. Shelley and Arthur, she asked suspiciously, "May I boldly ask if you and Mr. Hastings have any special plans for today?"