Chapter 5
Happy was the day that Mrs Mavis Bingley saw her daughter, who she had believed was on the shelf, disposed of in marriage.
That her new son-in-law was not of the first circles, and his parents were untitled, and their being on their estate for only some years meant nothing to her.
Louisa was married and to someone who was not a tradesman.
She would be able to boast about that fact to all of her friends to her heart’s content, using it to tell them how her family would rise in society.
She was not pleased that none of her new son-in-law’s highborn friends had attended. No matter, as soon as Caroline came out and caught Mr Darcy the younger, all of her dreams would be realised.
Mavis Bingley was unaware that, with Louisa’s full agreement, Harold had written to the Fitzwilliam brothers and William Darcy to tell them he recommended they not attend.
He pointed out that Mrs Bingley and her younger daughter would see it as something it was not—a compliment to themselves.
Based on Harold’s recommendation, the men had not attended.
Unlike his wife, Arthur Bingley was as pleased and proud as a father of a bride could be.
His genuine joy had nothing to do with Mavis’s worries about their ascent in society.
Rather, he was reflecting the happiness he had seen in his eldest since his now son-in-law had begun to call on her.
He cared not about the Hursts’ wealth or standing in society, which he suspected was better than the family let on.
The couple had been married on the final Friday of August 1803, at St Mary’s Church, which was on the headland. It was the largest Church of England in the town, so none other would have done for Mavis.
Harold and Louisa had waited until all of their friends and family had departed for the Bingleys’ house at 148 Princess Street, where the wedding breakfast would be held. From what they had been told, the wedding breakfast had been planned by Louisa’s mother to impress her neighbours.
The final two that they farewelled had been his parents.
Harold was very grateful there had been nothing at Father’s work which had stopped him from attending the wedding.
Harold still smiled when he remembered his father telling him that nothing short of His Majesty commanding he not attend, or if there was an invasion of the United Kingdom, would have kept him from being present on this day.
Their honeymoon was to be a sennight in the dower house at Winsdale, something about which Louisa had not complained.
Harold had told her it was because of work.
She had assumed it was work on the estate, and he had not corrected her impression.
On their carriage ride to the estate after being at the wedding breakfast, Harold intended to tell her all about his and Father’s work.
He had never prevaricated about what his father did, nor all of his own tasks. Rather, he had obfuscated.
“Come, Mrs Hurst, it is time for us to follow the others to your parents’ house,” Harold suggested. He placed his hands either side of her head and lifted her head a little. He leant towards her until their lips met. “Our first of many kisses now that we are married.”
Louisa was flushed with pleasure. “I look forward to many, many more, and things other than kisses.” She blushed at her forwardness. “I should not have said…”
He placed his finger on her lips. “Shhh. You may say anything you want to me. You remember I told you I was looking for a partner, not some meek lamb I lead around by a ring in her nose. I love you, my Louisa, and I too look forward to when we are in private and can do much more than kiss.”
The newlywedded Hursts joined hands and made their way out of the church to where the open landau waited for them.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
For the first two hours of the journey from the Bingleys’ house to Winsdale, Louisa and Harold rode in the coach which bore his parents as well. Their carriage, a new one gifted to them by Louisa’s father, followed behind. Bringing up the rear, was a cart with the rest of her possessions.
Not that she objected, but Louisa was not sure why they were in the conveyance with her in-laws. In the time she had come to know them, she had come to like them a lot.
Until they left the environs of Scarborough, there was only banal conversation. Once they were in the country, Hurst gave his son a nod.
“You remember the few times you asked what my father’s work at the Navy Board was; I was rather vague in my replies, do you not?” Harold enquired as he took his new wife’s hands in his own.
“I do, but I thought nothing of it. I assumed that it was something to which I was not allowed to be privy,” Louisa replied.
“That was true then, but now that you are my daughter, and for the most part, unless they are state secrets, we Hursts do not keep confidences from our wives. The truth is…” With help from his son and even some from Leticia, Hurst told his new daughter-in-law what he and her husband did when not managing the estate.
He shared what had earned him his property and a large fortune, as well as the title which came with it.
“Louisa, please forgive me for not being able to tell you about this part of my life,” Harold begged.
“Harold, do you think I am angry with you? That is not at all true. If you noticed a look on my face, it was surprise, not anger. Wait, Father Hurst, did you say you are a baronet, so you and Mother Hurst are actually Sir Ignatius and Lady Hurst?” Louisa verified.
Seeing her father-in-law nod his head, she began to giggle.
“Do not misunderstand me. The work you do to keep the kingdom safe is to be lauded and makes me very proud to know such men. However, the thought of my mother and Caroline’s faces if they ever discover you are so much higher than they believe and that one day, I pray it will be many decades from now, I will be Lady Hurst, they will fall over their own feet to fawn over you. ”
“I am glad His Majesty agreed that my title would not be made known until I complete my service to the crown,” Hurst responded with a grin.
“We are considerably wealthier than your mother and sister believe,” Harold revealed.
“The King bestowed a rather healthy fortune on Father, in addition to Winsdale and the house in London. At that time, the estate brought in more than six thousand pounds per annum. However, in the years we have owned it, thanks to the guidance of Mr Church, our steward, I have worked to raise the income to almost eight thousand pounds each year; that is, in between times I have been needed by Father for his work.”
“Have you ever been in danger?” Louisa worried.
“No, I gather intelligence. Did you notice that at times around your family I seemed to over-imbibe and needed to fall asleep on a chaise or settee?” Harold queried.
“I will admit that did worry me, but you were never that way when I was with you around your parents, Mr Holcomb, or the enormous footman chaperoning us.” Louisa did not miss the smiles on the faces of those in the coach with her. “They all work for Father Hurst, do they not?”
“You are correct,” Hurst confirmed.
“The indolent sot is my persona. It has been many years since I have been foxed. There are ways to dispose of the contents of a glass, so it seems to others that I am imbibing much more than I am. Then of course when I am in my cups, I need to find a place to fall asleep. You will not believe what people will freely say when they think that not only are you foxed, but asleep,” Harold explained.
Before she thought about it, Louisa pushed her hand against her husband’s belly. She felt the hard muscles below. “You are not portly at all, are you?” The realisation struck her. “It is part of your persona, and you wear clothing to give that impression, do you not?”
“You have the right of it. At times, Holcomb inserts a piece to give the impression that I am portly, as you would expect from one who is indolent and enjoys drinking as much as I am thought to do,” Harold responded.
“Louisa, you mentioned the small footmen. Johns was with your husband, and it was Biggs who came with us.” Hurst looked at his son. “Now that you are married, they will be with you at all times.”
“But, Father, were they not to guard Mother?” Harold protested.
“Your mother is more than adequately guarded when it is needed. Do not forget she is where I am most of the time. You and Louisa are the future of this family, and God willing, you will be blessed with children to continue the line,” Hurst stated.
Knowing that there was little industry in trying to gainsay his father once the latter had reached a decision, Harold just thanked his sire.
At the next stop, Louisa and Harold boarded their new Bingley coach after refreshing themselves, and the horses had been swapped for teams sent from Winsdale.
The interior still had the smell of newly installed leather seats and freshly padded squabs, which had not been used since being installed into the conveyance.
They had to be circumspect because both Holcomb and Louisa’s maid, Cherry Kinford, rode on the rear-facing bench.
Mr and Mrs Hurst’s valet and maid had joined them in the lead equipage.
Hurst felt it was a waste of resources to have a separate carriage for the personal servants.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
A few hours later, Louisa got her first view of Winsdale. As they drove along the gravel-covered drive, she decided she would have been able to tell that the estate was larger and more profitable than her husband had let on, and that was without having any prior experience being on an estate.