Elizabeth woke up in her room in the Hurst townhouse. It was a comfortable room and she had slept soundly. More soundly than she would have thought possible. The room was obviously a guest room, attractive yet devoid of any personal touches. Despite that, she felt very much at home.
She did not know if that feeling would last. Her father was leaving for Longbourn that afternoon. Her mother was leaving for the Gardiners in a few days. She thought how perfect it would be if they could all be together while she accustomed herself to this new situation. Perfect and impractical and selfish. Four of her sisters were at Longbourn still. And they needed their parents at home as well. It was not right that she demand the attention of two sets of parents.
The day before had gone well, allaying some of her fears. The Bennets and the Hursts proved quite compatible. That pleased her almost as much as the connection she felt upon meeting her Hurst parents. Twice now memories had surfaced, she could only hope they were the first of many.
A maid came into the room, then. It was Chase, her mother's maid. "Miss Hurst, I understand you are an early riser. Would you like to prepare for the day, or shall I return later?" The woman had aided her last night. She was very kind, both knowledgeable of and deferential to Elizabeth's place in the family. Nonetheless, Elizabeth started at being called Miss Hurst. She chastised herself immediately. I must get used to it. It is who I am. Elizabeth Celia Bennet Hurst. When she had asked last night, she learned that the Hursts would put a notice in The Times of Elizabeth's recovery to the ton. It would include the addition to her birth name.
"Miss Hurst?" Elizabeth had been so lost in thought she had forgotten that Chase was present.
"I am sorry, Chase. I would be grateful for your help." After completing her preparations, Chase escorted her to the breakfast room. As it was still early, there were only the gentlemen present. Tessa and Henry were staying at the Michaels's townhouse several streets away and had not yet arrived for the day.
As Elizabeth settled into her seat with her breakfast selections, she noticed Mr. Hurst scrutinizing her plate. Both her Hurst parents had done the same thing the day before at tea and dinner. She realized they were noting her preferences. She smiled at the thought.
"Did I not tell you gentlemen? Elizabeth is incapable of whiling the morning away in slumber. If the location were more conducive, she would have arisen even earlier for a walk." Mr. Bennet had lost some of his formality from the night before. He seemed to be enjoying the companionship of the other men.
"Shall you tell all my secrets, Papa? They must discover some of them on their own," Elizabeth said mischievously. She quickly looked at her Mr. Hurst as her smile shifted to a small frown.
"You need not worry, Elizabeth. It does not pain me. As much as I wish you had no cause to call another man Papa, it is the reality of our situation. We must accustom ourselves to new habits, new names. We will all find our way. Do you mind if your mother and I continue to call you Zibby? It has been a part of us, of our prayers, for so long I do not think I can relinquish it."
"I would be pleased if you did. I do not mind Zibby. It has long been a part of me, too. I just did not properly understand it."
"The grands will most likely call you Zibby as well. But you need not worry about Tessa and me. If you remember the story I shared, we called you Lizzy before you created that ridiculous nickname." It was obvious from his light tone and the upturned corners of his mouth he was teasing.
Elizabeth's response was one word. "Bully."
David's mouth dropped open before it turned into an enormous grin. For the first time his eyes sparked as Elizabeth's often did and she could see how they resembled one another. "Baby." He was all the more delighted when Elizabeth playfully wrinkled her nose at him. He had seen her make that face to one her sisters while they were in Longbourn. It made him feel as though his sister was truly back.
Louisa walked into the breakfast room in time to witness the radiant expression on her husband's face. She had never seen him so delighted. Knowing Elizabeth was the cause, she felt both gratitude and jealously toward the younger woman. She knew instantly that such jealously was irrational and beneath her. In that moment she vowed to show the Hursts, including Elizabeth, that she was committed to her family and that, most certainly, did not include Caroline.
Towards the end of the meal, Mr. Hurst received a note from Darcy asking for an audience. During the last day and a half, Darcy had gained answers to some of the questions he had regarding the investigation of Elizabeth's disappearance. Unfortunately, Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bennet had appointments with their respective solicitors as they moved to address the legalities involved in Elizabeth's recovery. They would have to await Mr. Darcy's report until later that day.
~~IOAF~~
"I do not know why I am so apprehensive, considering I had no thought of any misconduct only two days ago," said David. "Perhaps, I should have gone with Father, or he could have postponed his meetings."
"Henry is with him. It will be well. Mr. Deuel was very kind to take his meeting at such short notice." Henry and Tessa had arrived earlier and now Tessa was left to wait with the others. "It is more important to take care of the present and look to the future. The past can wait, as odd as that may sound."
As David paced the room, the ladies were discussing this evening's dinner. Since Mr. Bennet's return to Longbourn would be delayed until the next day, the Gardiners would be joining them all for dinner. They had been shocked to learn of their niece's change of circumstances and were impatient to hear more.
When Darcy arrived, the other gentlemen had yet to return. Darcy had been to the home several times to visit Bingley, and he had visited only a few days earlier, but the atmosphere today was so very different. He glanced at Elizabeth where she sat between Tessa and Louisa. By her position, he wondered if she was trying not to show any preference between her mothers.
Regardless, she looked content, though her usual liveliness seemed a bit subdued. He thought while both her mother and sister were handsome women, Elizabeth's beauty far eclipsed theirs. His examination of Elizabeth did not go unnoticed. Tessa glanced at her brother who was seated next to Darcy and raised an eyebrow in question. David mouthed, 'Later,' and flashed a knowing smile.
Finally, the other gentlemen returned. The rest of the party waited patiently as everyone found a seat and tea was called for. Mr. Hurst assured them all that they had completed their tasks at the offices of their solicitors and notices regarding Elizabeth would appear in tomorrow's Times as well as the Gazette.
Attention then turned to Darcy. "Mr. Darcy, thank you for your efforts on our behalf. You have news for us, I believe." Mr. Hurst was just as anxious as the others.
"I do. The Bow Street Runners have an excellent reputation and have had great success in the past. It is quite understandable that you put your faith in them. However, as the need for Runners has increased, the men have been stretched thin. They take very few provincial cases every year. As it happens, Townsend at Bow Street took on your case in sympathy, having recently experienced the loss of his wife and son in childbirth. He assigned it to the junior man who you worked with, Mr. Rush. I am afraid Mr. Rush has a less than stellar character among his colleagues."
"I would not think the Runners eager to disclose such failings among their ranks." Henry knew of the force's reputation, but he also knew corruption was rife even in the most venerable of organizations.
"Ah, this is where it comes in handy to be the nephew of an earl and cousin of a viscount and a distinguished colonel. A letter of introduction and a carefully dropped name can open most doors." Darcy was matter of fact; such was the truth of his situation in life. "Mr. Rush has had a number of triumphs, which is why he is still employed, but his colleagues deem him sloppy, lazy, and greedy. From what I can gather, he did the bare minimum on your case. He scribbled off a quick report every month and collected what he considered his due. Yours was not a case which would result in large bonuses or acclaim, so his attention was lax. It is a careless deceit that is all the more heartbreaking."
"What of the investigator to whom he referred us? Kahl?" David wanted to scream. That fate had not only taken Elizabeth from them but had also left them in the hands of such a man seemed unthinkable. How could someone exploit their vulnerability in such a manner?
"The investigator you were referred to, Mr. Kahl, is actually a man by the name of Lloyd Hall. He is based in Epsom, thus I journeyed into Surrey yesterday. I had my man ply some locals with a round or two and much was revealed. The general sentiment is the man enjoys a drink or two himself. Several times a day. He is well known in the community and a fixture at the local inn. His contemporaries cannot remember a time he has left Epsom these past twenty years. He has no discernable income. Many believe he has been living off an annuity of some sort and scoffed at even the suggestion that the man was an investigator.
"My meeting with the man himself was also full of revelations. Primary among them is the fact that Hall was married to Rush's sister. It seems Rush frequently refers people to him for his 'investigative services.' I apologize for the hurt that this will cause but Hall is not an investigator. He has no skills or background in this vocation. He has a venal nature, an excellent library of maps and county histories, and the imagination to craft reports to his numerous 'clients' and make them sound plausible. It seems he and Rush split the profits from his exorbitant fees.
"I should also say that Hall did not confess to these crimes. While I was at his home, his inebriation left him somewhat unaware of his surroundings and company. I was able to survey the room, perusing the bookshelves, as one does. And I may have seen a few letters upon his desk from his brother-in-law reviewing their current 'cases'. I did not see letters specific to your case, but I was able to infer from what I read.
"It is up to you if you would like to pursue further investigation or fraud charges against either man. I could not act in your stead in that matter. Upon my return, I met again with the Runners and suggested they might wish to relieve Rush of his duties. Beyond that I can do no more. I am sorry."
"Blast! I have never before wanted to run a man through in my life. Until today. And I would do so with great alacrity. Both Hall and Rush are lucky you were present rather than I, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Hurst's face was red with anger. "I beg the ladies in the room will pardon my outburst."
"Only if you promise me that should we ever meet these schemesters I may borrow your sword so I may skewer them myself once you are done." Mrs. Hurst's expression mirrored her husband's.
"Of course, my dear. If the situation arises, we shall slake our bloodthirst together." He raised her hand to his lips for a kiss, only half joking.
Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth were trying not to look at each other. The incongruity of the discussion and the tender action in this genteel sitting room left them both stifling a laugh. In the end, it was Louisa's laughter that bubbled forth unexpectedly. She raised a hand to cover her mouth and blushed.
It seemed Louisa shared the same thought and that after trying so hard to make a better impression on the Hursts, she was embarrassed by the lapse. Oddly, it made Elizabeth think that there was hope for her yet. She leaned toward Louisa and bumped her shoulder with her own in a show of unity. "Why did you not tell me I would be entering into such a ferocious clan?"
This had the desired effect of breaking the tension and settling everyone. "I cannot apologize for the emotions expressed but I suppose I should leave the punishment to the magistrate and the courts. But I will pursue this to the extent I can. So I must ask, might I borrow your uncle, the earl, Mr. Darcy?"