Wearing British clothes as a second-generation aristocrat

Chapter 141 The Tsar's Mouth Substitute

At this moment, the musicians in the salon began to play.

A typical Russian ball usually begins with a polonaise.

The musicians played a slow and majestic three-beat rhythm, and the ladies, with their hands on their male companions' wrists, walked along the edge of the hall like a ceremonial guard in silk armor.

Naryshkina set an example tonight, wearing a cream-colored satin Greek dress and a cashmere shawl, and nodded her chin toward Dugan.

"Sir, Polonaise is 'coming out to talk,'" she laughed in French. "I invite you to the first dance."

"It's my pleasure." Dugan readily took Naryshkina's arm, and the two danced gracefully as they walked through the hall with the crowd.

Polonaise is an elegant dance that requires little physical contact.

Naryshkina gently placed her gloved hand on Dugan's wrist, and the two glided along the edge of the hall like a ceremonial guard to a three-beat rhythm.

Her posture was impeccable; the hem of her skirt swayed slightly with each step, exuding a mature and irresistible charm.

Naryshkina leaned close to Dugan's ear and whispered, "When His Majesty Alexander ascended the throne, he vowed to defeat that Corsican monster, to wash away the shame of Paul I's humiliation, and to liberate Europe from Napoleon's tyranny. He craved victory, to be remembered in history like Peter the Great. This was his long-cherished wish as the heir to the Romanov dynasty."

Dugan replied somewhat perfunctorily, "I completely understand His Majesty's feelings."

"But in the court, in the Privy Council, the voices advocating war have been suppressed for far too long. Kutuzov and his friends, those truly patriotic generals, are now at a disadvantage," Naryshkina continued.

"Is it because of Arakcheyev?" Dugan asked in a low voice.

Naryshkina nodded.

"Indeed, he told His Majesty that the Russian army was not ready, the treasury was empty, the supply lines were too long, and that going to war with Napoleon would be suicidal. He advocated delay, compromise, and even sacrificing our allies if necessary. Under his influence, the peace faction now holds absolute sway. His Majesty's ambitions are being eroded little by little by this cowardly wisdom."

Dugan frowned. "So?"

"As the Emperor of Russia, Alexander had to consider all sorts of factors," Naryshkina said, adjusting her breathing with a spin in her dance.

"However, as the Emperor of Russia, Your Majesty must consider various factors, such as the balance of the nobility, the balance of factions, and even the balance of the national treasury. Kutuzov's pro-war voice is very strong, but he has made too many enemies, especially Arakcheyev. Behind him stand countless conservative grand dukes who fear war and only want to protect their family property. If Your Majesty openly favors Kutuzov and publicly suppresses the pro-peace faction, it will immediately cause a huge uproar in the country. Your Majesty cannot take this risk."

Dugan understood immediately: "Therefore, His Majesty needs a reason to stay out of this."

“That’s right!” A glint of light flashed in Naryshkina’s eyes. “His Majesty needs a proxy, someone who can openly shift resources towards the pro-war faction without causing His Majesty to be accused of favoritism. And you, General Dugan, are the British auditor, an outsider in charge of the purse strings. Your actions represent British interests, not the interests of any particular faction in Russia. It is precisely because you are a foreigner that His Majesty can pretend not to know your inclinations, pretending it is merely a British decision.”

"Your Tsar is truly wise!" Dugan complimented verbally, while inwardly cursing a hundred grass mud horses.

"If you can establish that kind of intimate relationship with Kutuzova, then this inclination can become more legitimate, even more public. You will no longer be supporting Kutuzov simply for Britain's strategic interests; you will be supporting your lover's father." Who in the world can accuse a man of helping the father of the woman he loves?

"—Does this count as using public funds to pick up girls?" Dugan recalled how Gris used military funds to buy wool that he didn't need in Hanover to pick up girls. Dugan's current spending was much bigger than Gris's, it was a million pounds!

Dugan smiled and continued, "Then His Majesty Alexander can perfectly remain uninvolved. He can say to Arakcheev, 'Look, this wasn't my intention; that English nobleman was blinded by love.'"

He could then say to Kutuzov, "Look, although I can't openly help you, my allies have already supported you with concrete actions." In this way, no faction within the country, whether advocating war or peace, could accuse His Majesty of favoritism.

Because all the blame will be directed at me!

"Talking to smart people is that simple!" Naryshkina smiled slightly.

Dugan thought that Naryshkina's words might be what the Tsar was thinking, but he just couldn't say it himself, so he had his mistress Naryshkina speak for him.

However, Dugan thought again that as long as he spent the money on fighting France, he would have completed his mission. Even if the news got back to London, no one could criticize him.

After all, the money was indeed spent on fighting the French.

As the music ended, Dugan gracefully stopped and leaned down to kiss Naryshkina's hand.

His movements remained precise, but his mind was racing.

He had now become the most crucial and dangerous piece on the Tsar's chessboard.

After the Polonaise comes the Cadriel, a French square dance performed in groups of four, involving exchanging positions, bowing, and...

Bowing and speaking French witty remarks.

"Alright, Sir, it's time you invited Ms. Elizabeth Mikhailovna Kutuzova to jump to the next group!" Naryshkina winked at Dugan.

So Dugan walked up to Kutuzova with a confident air and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Mrs. Kutuzova?" Dugan asked in a mix of Russian and French, "Could you grant me half a group of Englishmen?"

'

Kutuzova's eyes lit up: "You can speak Russian?"

"I can count eight beats of Kadriel's Russian in front of me." Dugan laughed. "If you, madam, would be willing to teach me more Russian, then I..."

I am deeply honored.

Kutuzova smiled sweetly and gracefully extended her hand to Dugan.

The musicians tuned their instruments, and then began to play a lively yet complex chorale.

This is a square dance originating from France, requiring four pairs of partners to form a square formation, performing a series of prescribed movements:

The dance is performed by moving forward, backward, crossing, and rotating.

Dugan and Kutuzova formed a group, together with three other pairs of noble dance partners, creating a square formation.

In the next few minutes, Dugan displayed amazing memory and coordination. Kadrier's dance steps were intricate, often involving rapid position changes and turns, but he always hit the beat precisely. He even managed to whisper to Kutuzova while spinning, making her giggle.

In a "chain dance" move, male and female dance partners need to walk in an alternating manner, holding each other's hands as they glide past each other.

Dugan squeezed her fingertips tightly through his glove and whispered, "Your eyes look a lot like your father's."

Kutuzova paused slightly, then asked curiously, "Have you seen what my father looked like on the battlefield?"

"Having seen the portrait, does that count?" Dugan said jokingly.

"Pfft—" Kutuzova burst into laughter again.

Kutuzova paused for a moment in mid-air, then looked up, her hazel eyes fixed intently on Dugan.

"Dugan—" she whispered, a hint of barely perceptible excitement in her voice, "You always say those things when I need them most."

After a quick turn, Dugan returned her to her original position, their bodies brushing past each other at extremely close range. He could smell the faint scent of violets in her hair, a unique fragrance that fascinated Dugan more than any expensive French perfume.

As the Kadriel dance drew to a close, the atmosphere on the dance floor had reached its climax. The young nobles laughed and gasped, eagerly anticipating the next performance.

Naryshkina did not personally participate; she simply sat on the soft couch in the main seat, holding a glass of champagne, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Dugan and Kutuzova.

She saw the exchange of glances between the two in the Kadrier, and she saw the shy yet joyful blush on Kutuzova's face.

"It seems this young knight is quite adept at flirting with women!" Naryshkina thought with a hint of jealousy.

However, she knew the time had come.

Naryshkina slightly turned her head and made a very subtle gesture to the chief eunuch beside her: Change the music.

The steward understood immediately, walked to the orchestra pit, and whispered a few words in the principal violinist's ear.

The music abruptly changed as the cheerful and lively Kadriel's final notes faded away.

The violin bow no longer throbbed rapidly, but instead produced a long, melodious, lingering string of notes with a swirling rhythm.

That's a waltz.

This three-beat "devilish dance" has long been popular among the younger generation in St. Petersburg, but in formal and solemn occasions, the waltz is still regarded as something bold, indecent, and even immoral.

The moment the music started, there was a brief silence on the dance floor, followed by the barely suppressed cheers of the young people.

All eyes were on Dugan and Kutuzova, who had just finished the Kadrier.

According to the rules, after the Kadriel ends, the dance partners should separate and return to their respective places.

But Naryshkina wouldn't allow them to be so rational and gentlemanly!

Naryshkina wanted to further escalate the ambiguous relationship between Dugan and Kutuzova.

Dugan could tell that Kutuzova had no intention of returning to her seat, so he didn't hesitate at all.

He turned to face Kutuzova, and this time, instead of simply extending one hand as before, he bowed slightly, making a perfectly standard waltz invitation gesture.

"Madam, could you please dance one more time?"