688: Chapter 334 Respect Sino-Russian Friendship_2 688: Chapter 334 Respect Sino-Russian Friendship_2 What he found slightly amusing was that two of the three people just ntioned by Earl lbourne had affairs with his wife.
As for the remaining old cripple, only God knows.
However, based on Lady lbourne’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 lbournes.
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 lbourne 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 Palston as she extended her hand toward him.
Understanding her gesture, Palston perford 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 lbourne, 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 lbourne, leaning back on the sofa with a cigar, said, “Well, I do know one.”
Lady lbourne, lifting her skirt to sit closer to her husband, asked softly, “Who?”
Earl lbourne chuckled and responded directly, “Muhammad Ali.
Your all-capable Henry just said he couldn’t handle him.”
Viscount Palston cleared his throat softly, “My lord, may I remind you that I rely stated that Ali does not pose a problem for now.”
Lady lbourne 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 lbourne rely 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 lbourne 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 Palston rose to see him off, but as he stood up, Earl lbourne pressed him back down by his shoulders.
The Earl bent down and whispered in his ear, “No need to see off, just take good care of Dorothea.
When she’s in a good mood, pass on a ssage for , I won’t be back at the embassy tonight.”
Upon hearing this, Viscount Palston smiled politely, “Then I wish you a pleasant evening.”
Earl lbourne, removing his hat, bid farewell to his wife and Palston, “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 Palston, 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 co today to discuss Egypt, but rather to dump you here with .”
Upon these words, Lady lbourne’s face fell.
She waved her lace and feather fan irritably, “What?
Are you not pleased?”
“Of course not,” Palston quickly changed his tune, flattering, “Dorothea, you have no idea, I nearly went mad without you in London.
Every ti I closed my eyes, your smiling face appeared before , your voice echoed in my ears.
I miss your embrace all the ti, and your lips, sweet as cherries.”
Lady lbourne, unconvinced, turned to him and asked, “Really?
Isn’t my absence in London precisely giving you and Emily plenty of ti to be alone?”
“Oh!” Palston 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 lbourne looked surprised, “What happened?”
Palston recounted to his old fla the entire sequence of events surrounding Earl lbourne’s extramarital affair scandal, leaving Lady lbourne sowhere between laughing and crying.
Lady lbourne asked, “Why does Earl lbourne always find himself in these situations?
First, it was the trouble with Lady lbourne and Lord Byron, and now this adultery suit.
I rember him being quite an upright man!
Why does God always like to tease him?”
Palston 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 lbourne’s interest was piqued, “What kind of won does he like then?”
Palston said, “Well…
he’s a man of letters, ever since his wife’s incident, he has spent almost all his spare ti 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 ans that in the end, the ladies who could engage him in conversation are always in the minority.”
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