Why did Louisa have to summon him at just that moment? He was eager to hear Elizabeth's response regarding the Zibby signature. Unfortunately, he not did have the opportunity to find her again that evening.
He must speak with Elizabeth, but he did not know when they would next be in company together. Now that he was so close to something he had longed for all these years, he did not want to wait. However, Hurst was far too anxious. He needed help. Knowing Darcy broke his fast early, well before the rest of their party, Hurst asked his valet to wake him early so he could join the other gentleman the next morning.
Darcy was just finishing his coffee when Hurst entered the room. They nodded in greeting as Hurst looked over the dishes on the sideboard. "I am afraid you will find there is only a small selection of foods available at this hour, Hurst. Would you like me to request anything for you?" Darcy asked.
"No, no." Hurst noticed Darcy's raised eyebrows as he sat without filling a plate. He supposed that was quite out of character for him. "Darcy, if you are finished with your meal, I would like to speak with you. I have made a discovery that has left me unsure how to proceed. I was hoping I might seek your counsel if it is not an imposition."
"Of course. I sense it is serious." Hurst had never sought his advice before. Darcy's interest was understandably piqued.
"It is most serious. Life altering, in fact. However, I do not wish to speak here. This requires the utmost privacy," Hurst said quietly, glancing at the door as if expecting someone to walk through it.
"Shall we ride out, then?" Agreeing to do so, they met at the stable a quarter-hour later. They raced across the grounds for some minutes. They were almost to where Netherfield Park bordered Longbourn when they stopped.
Hurst sat atop his horse and stared wistfully at the house in the distance. For Elizabeth's sake, he hoped it was not just a house but a home. He quickly forced himself to push such thoughts down or he ran the risk of his emotions overtaking him. There would be time enough for that later.
"I have never seen Longbourn from this perspective before. What do you know of it?" Hurst asked, curious about where his sister was raised.
It took a moment for Darcy to answer, for he too was scrutinizing Longbourn. For his part, he was hoping to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth. He knew she delighted in early morning walks. Finally, he sighed in resignation for sights unseen and told Hurst of what he knew.
"As you can see, Longbourn is not a large estate, but by all accounts it is well-managed. It brings in a little over four thousand pounds a year. Mr. Bennet is a benevolent, if indolent master, but he has an excellent steward. The tenants think well of the family. I believe the Bennets have held the property for over two hundred and fifty years." Hurst nodded as he took this in. The prosperity of the estate was not so different from Raber Hill, his family's estate.
"Did I hear something about an entail?" Hurst was certain he had heard Caroline blathering on about it.
"Yes, there is an entail. With only five daughters, Mr. Bennet's heir is a distance cousin. It is the topic of a great many conversations. The heir is currently visiting, though we were not introduced last night. Apparently, Mrs. Bennet wishes a match between the cousin and her middle daughter, Mary." Hurst and Darcy turned their horses around for a leisurely ride back to Netherfield.
"Not Miss Bennet or Miss Elizabeth? How singular." Singular, but reassuring in its way. Bingley's interest in Miss Bennet was obvious to everyone. That her mother should wish for a match between them was no surprise. However, why promote a younger daughter when there was another elder daughter unmarried? Unless, perhaps, one wished for an entailed estate to stay in the immediate family.
He pondered that for a moment. Yet another piece was falling into place. More confident now, it was time to unburden himself to Darcy. Hurst had decided it was best to be straight-forward. "Darcy, do you know of my family's misfortune regarding my youngest sister?"
"I know only that you had another sister besides Mrs. Michaels."
"Like you, I have a sister several years my junior. Almost nineteen years ago, she went missing." Hurst shut his eyes tight, as if in doing so he could shut out the last nineteen years of pain.
"She was abducted?" Darcy's question urged Hurst to continue.
"No. Though, perhaps it would have been easier if we had some evil to blame. It was just a mistake. A stupid, horrible mistake. And because of that mistake she was lost to us and never found. Until now."
"My God! I had no idea. I find I am wishing to offer my condolences and congratulations at the same time." Darcy was shaken to learn of the loss to the Hurst family. Bingley had never said a word. He could not imagine losing Georgiana. What must that do to a family? It made him reconsider everything he knew about Hurst. Poor sod. "How may I be of assistance?"
"As I said, I believe my sister to be found. I know you have no comparable experience, but then few would. We are an exclusive club." He smiled grimly. "I would be very grateful if you could listen and tell me if I am mad or not. I fear I am addle-brained at the moment. Also, you know some of the parties involved better than I. You may be able to help me steer the course more easily."
Darcy put the pieces together quickly. "You were asking about Longbourn. You believe one of the Bennet daughters to be your sister." It was a statement not a question. "Who? How?"
Hurst told Darcy everything of the last week - Caroline's comment, the resemblance to his other sister, Tessa, the nickname Zibby. Everything that contributed in shifting belief to fact in his mind. "If you can be patient, the greater part of the story will be revealed when we speak to Mr. Bennet, if we speak to Mr. Bennet. You will come with me, will you not? Or shall you shuttle me off at Bedlam?"
"Elizabeth Bennet." Darcy could not be more astonished. "Hurst, I do not know what to say. I know you want this to be true, but I have never heard of Miss Elizabeth being anything other than a Bennet. People would have noticed the introduction of a two-year-old into the household. It could not be kept secret."
"That is true. However, even if it is widely known, is it something that would be bandied about to newcomers in the community? This is not London where people scramble for any advantage."
Darcy was thoughtful. "You may have a point there. And Miss Elizabeth is well-thought of. Repeating gossip of long ago would serve no purpose."
"You believe me, then?"
"I believe you have cause enough to visit Mr. Bennet. I do not wish to discourage you but that may be all you can wish for at this point. It may come of nothing. You must prepare yourself for disappointment."
"No worries. Disappointment and I are old friends."