Chapter 4
Harold joined his father in the study one morning after being home for about a sennight. “I heard from Fitzwilliam. Only he would relish how physically punishing the initial training has been,” he reported. “Also, he told me what the parasite chose.”
“That was very well done of you to nudge the Darcy heir towards making the disclosure to his father,” Hurst stated.
From Cambridge, Harold had made for London, where he had met up with his parents so that they were able to travel to Winsdale together.
During the four days in the coach, he had told his parents all that had occurred, including that he had met a lady he wanted to get to know.
His parents had not pushed for too much information, knowing he would share news with them once there was something to report.
“William Darcy can be rather inflexible and does not like to change his mind when he has made a decision,” Harold related.
“Regarding that, Fitzwilliam wrote that Wicky, as he and Darcy call the seducer, accepted the terms Mr Darcy gave him. Only time will tell if the parasite is able to change his ways. He will be closely watched.”
“It is a great pity that he turned his abilities in deception to evil pursuits; such a man could have been a very good member of my team,” Hurst opined.
“Father! You cannot be serious! That man cares about nothing that is not for his own benefit. Self-preservation is the only reason he agreed to the strictures Mr Darcy laid out. In my opinion, if he sticks to the rules, it will only be because the alternative will be far worse.”
“Peace, Harold. That is not the kind of man I want in our ranks. I was only saying that if he had been a man willing to use his abilities for the good, he would have been someone I would have recruited.”
Now that Harold listened to his father’s words, which he should have done before unleashing his visceral reaction, making him miss half of what Father had said, he felt rather sheepish.
“Please pardon me, Father. I more than most know how important it is to listen to everything being said before I make a judgement.”
“Think nothing of it. Now, Son, have you decided when you will travel to Scarborough yet? Is it not warm enough for you to visit the coast?” Hurst grinned at his son.
“I was planning to depart on the first Monday in July. There is still much for me to do on the estate, and in addition, I did not want to seem too keen and arrive too soon after the Bingleys reached their home.”
“You will have Holcomb and either Biggs or Johns with you, will you not?”
“Should not both of the large men remain here with Mother?”
“I am here with some of my men, so your mother will be perfectly well guarded. Your concern for her safety does you credit. If I need to depart before your return, I will leave some additional men here for her protection, just in case—not that I think your mother is in danger. When one is in my position, you cannot be too careful. If nothing urgent is brought to my attention in London, I will return to Winsdale for part of August.”
Harold left his father’s study to meet with Mr Church so they could ride out and view some of the tenant cottages which needed repairs.
Another reason for their tour of the cottages was to see how they looked with the new roofs, which had over the last year been changed from thatch to slate.
The Hurst men had been convinced by the greater efficacy of slate to keep the dwelling warm and dry, not to mention that no vermin could make their homes in slate, causing their droppings to fall into the homes below.
Although far more expensive to begin with, in the long run, it would become cost-effective as it did not have to be replaced every two or three years like rotting and infested thatching did which had been the case in the past at Winsdale.
Best of all, it was not prone to burn like thatch was.
The needed repairs were not very serious but were immediately authorised before small issues were ignored and became large ones.
Whenever he weighed the benefits of keeping the tenantry happy, Harold remembered the lessons regarding how much it benefited the estate when the tenants were content.
That had been foremost in his mind when he had recommended the slate roofs to Father, and since the work had been done, there had been great appreciation expressed by the tenants.
As June waned, Harold found himself counting the days until the time of his departure to Scarborough arrived.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Louisa Bingley tried very hard to hide her disappointment.
They had been home for over a month, and Master Hurst had not come to call on her.
She was very thankful she had not mentioned the possibility of his coming to either her mother or Caroline because they would have teased her about disappointed hopes every chance they got.
She placated herself by thinking about the fact that he had not said when he would arrive and only that he would possibly come to Scarborough.
On this, the first Tuesday in July, Louisa was seated in the drawing room at the front of the house, where the windows gave a good view of Princess Street, which was the street where they lived.
Father was at the carriage works with Charles, and her mother and Caroline were out shopping.
She did not mind the solitude of being the only one at home with the servants. Of late, when she was alone, her thoughts returned to the handsome Master Hurst and why he made sure he did not look as good as he could.
She was thus engaged, dreaming of Master Hurst, when a carriage stopped before the house.
She watched as a mountain of a footman climbed down from the back bench and extracted the step.
The huge man opened the door. In an instant, her heart swelled.
It was Master Hurst. He had come to call on her, just like he had said he would.
When she remembered that conversation in her head, Louisa had to own that he had not said possibly; in fact, he had stated that he would come, but he had never mentioned when.
All that mattered was that he was here now.
What an opportune time for Mother and Caro to be out of the house!
While she watched the man who had occupied her thoughts since meeting him in Cambridge stride up the garden path towards the front door, Louisa rang for the housekeeper.
“Mrs Higgins, please make sure a maid is seated in the drawing room with me before Mr Higgins shows the gentleman into the room,” she instructed once the housekeeper arrived and bobbed a curtsy.
“Wait about a quarter of an hour after his arrival and have a tea service delivered.”
The housekeeper bobbed another curtsy and left to carry out the orders. In quick order, a maid entered and after bobbing a curtsy, took a seat in the corner farthest from Miss Bingley.
Before either Louisa or Gladys—the maid—could get comfortable, Mr Higgins entered the room, followed by the man Louisa had been hoping would call on her.
Louisa stood and Gladys followed her. When the butler announced Mr Harold Hurst of Winsdale and Hurst House, Louisa felt herself blushing with pleasure.
Seeing Miss Bingley’s reaction to his arrival pleased Harold.
That she had a maid sitting with her as a chaperone only raised her in his estimation.
Knowing what he did about the mother and younger sister, he had no doubt that they would not observe the proprieties to gain that which they desired.
Once the butler announced him, Harold bowed to Miss Bingley, and she curtsied to him.
“Please take a seat, Mr Hurst,” Louisa invited as she fought to modulate her voice so the excitement she felt would not show.
“I would have called sooner, but after being away from the estate for a long period, there was much I had to see to before I turned my attention to much more pleasurable pursuits,” Harold revealed as he sat.
It was mostly true. He did not want to tell the lady that he had not wanted to seem too keen.
The housekeeper entered with a footman carrying a tray with the tea service on it. She directed him to place it on the table in front of where Miss Bingley was seated, and after the man exited, Mrs Higgins withdrew.
Harold was impressed that after serving him tea only once at the Cock and Bull Inn in Cambridge, Miss Bingley remembered his preferences regarding how he enjoyed his tea without having to ask him.
She poured a cup of tea just as he liked it and nodded to the maid who was chaperoning them.
The girl handed the cup and saucer and a plate with some tea cakes on it to him.
“Thank you,” he responded gratefully. Harold turned to look at Miss Bingley, who was pouring her own beverage. “You remembered how I enjoy my tea.”
Louisa felt her face heat up as she blushed again. “It is nothing,” she tried to claim.
In order to allow Miss Bingley time to recover her equanimity, Harold ate some of the treats on his plate and drank his tea in silence. “Thank you, everything was very good,” he said once he had eaten and had his tea.
The footman who delivered the tray collected it after the bell had been rung.
“Where are you staying? I assume you are not here just for today?” Louisa asked hopefully. She had to fight not to blush all over again at her forward question.
“I am at the Blacksmith’s Arms Inn in Cloughton.
It is only about four miles from your house.
I arrived yester-afternoon, but it was too late for me to make a call.
Hence, I arrived at your house today. It is my intention to remain in the area for at least a sennight.
If there is reason to remain for longer, I will adjust my plans accordingly,” Harold replied in a detailed way that demonstrated he had not thought her questions impertinent.
“Also, may I meet with your father to seek his blessing for me to call on you?”