[1.5] The Duchess of Kent and Strathearn | B. Bridgerton

Chapter 7

An Unexpected Visit

Maidstone, Kent

Lord Arthur Kinsley was in his household in Kent, watching people walking with their families from the market, or just to spend the time. There were children chasing each other, playing, screaming, laughing...

Everything was great. As always, people were born, people lived and died... But Lord Kinsley had a vision that the county he grew up in could be far better than any other county in England.

There were important matters that the government has overlooked, for example, how the people feel unsafe in their own homes, specially the ones who live so close to the Medway.

"My lord," his right hand man approached him and lightly bowed his head in respect. "How are you feeling today?"

"Cold," he sighed. "But nothing a warm tea can't fix."

"Ri– Right away, my—"

"No," Lord Kinsley said firmly. "What do you know of the Royal Family? Any news?"

"Not much, really. The Prince Regent is doing a few tours around a few counties in England with the Princess of Wales. They are in Windsor Castle, in the county of Berkshire, as we speak," Bason explained. "And the– the Duchess is still in Scot—"

"Of course she is still in Scotland, you twit. It's her honeymoon!" He stated. "As for the Prince Regent... Berkshire, huh? And here in Kent we have not received word of his arrival."

"Do you not think His Royal Highness is not here because he wishes his sister to be the first to visit?" He questioned. "I– I mean, she is the Duchess of Kent, sir. And her husband is the Duke."

"Perhaps. It could be a reason, but it is still no excuse, nor the perfect reason for the future sovereign to not pay attention to all counties of his kingdom equally," Lord Kinsley sighed in frustration. "Certainly not when all he wishes is for people to see him as the man he really is not: a good husband, and a sane man."

"Well, if we speak of ranks, my lord, for now, the Prince Regent is the most important," Bason explained. "But before the eyes of the people, between Prince George and Princess Charlotte... That could be a drastic change."

"I see," he hummed. "And who does our people favour?"

"I think there's a sense that they'd favour whoever you told them to, my lord," Bason stated. "More than half of the people I asked, favours the Princess over the Prince Regent."

"That's good," he nodded. "But not good for the Prince Regent, of course."

"My lord, if I may..." Bason paused for a moment to stare at the lord before him, who could barely keep his eyes open. "You have fought all your life for the people of Kent to be heard... Do you ever get tired of politics? Of helping them?"

"And what else is there?" Lord Kinsley stated, and shrugged. "Besides, can you imagine a more political moment than undermining the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland?"

"For the people to prefer the Princess on the throne?" Bason frowned, but his face softened with a bit of concern when Lord Kinsley nodded.

"Precisely," a small smirk graced his face, and sighed. "It would be France all over again. Except this time, the Princess would remain untouchable."