P & P

Hidden in Plain Sight

NOTE: PLEASE before you get the urge to start pounding away at the keyboard BEAR WITH ME on this story. I will admit this muse REALLY went on strange course RIGHT OFF THE BAT. And, for those not needing reminding, sorry, but -for now this will remain at the top of every chapter-at least for awhile- due to the type of guests reviews I have gotten in the past.

Second note: I am pushing Mr. Hurst's age into his early to mid-thirties for the sake of this storyline and, since the book never gave him a first name (least I never caught it), I am using the name of James)

Observations

Ch. 1

Things were quiet in the Bingley Parlor. Jane was working on an embroidery project, Charles was attempting to work out a problem in his ledger and James Hurst was sitting quietly in a chair next to one of the garden doors. His full head of dark hair neatly combed and side-burns neatly trimmed. Caroline was married and entrenched so deeply into London society nothing was going to get that lady out of it and Louisa was nowhere in sight. The poor lady had been killed by a bullet over two years ago; not excessively long before Charles and Jane had exchanged vows.

"Charles and I could postpone the wedding." Jane looked at Mr. Hurst who had walked through the door of Netherfield looking like something a wild animal had dragged in.

"No, life goes on and people need something to smile over."

And so, the wedding had gone on as planned. People had gathered at the church, watched Jane being walked down the aisle on Mr. Bennet's arm, thrown rice afterwards and a dinner had even been served at Netherfield. Now things were quiet once again and James hardly ever spoke two words.

"Some people dive into a bottle after their spouse dies and you would think Mr. Hurst would have." Whispered Jane to Kitty who had come to visit; her sister was now nineteen and the only sister not married. "But he tossed his into the trash. And people say he and Lousia were not even all that close."

"People grieve differently, you told me that yourself after mother passed away. As to Charles' brother? I would think quitting his drinking and refusing to sit down at games of chance would be a good thing."

"Drinking by itself yes. And him not sitting at a game of chance anymore is great. However, he is too quiet, even for him."

James still fished, hunted and went camping more than most; a fact Kitty pointed out but that was no crime and his time at the tracks was one of employment -not one as gambler. So, why was her sister so concerned? It seemed to her younger sister, whatever had changed was for the best.

James did not have to be within earshot, or ask the girls to speak louder, to figure out who the subject was; Jane had glanced his way more than once: Kitty had kept her eyes far more discreet. He kept back a hidden grin; it had been amazing to see the personal growth in that particular Bennet sister. How she had landed as much brains as she had was beyond anyone's comprehension consider her baby sister's lack there of; and he would not insult her departed mother by analyzing her. Doing so to Jane seemed rude as she was married to Charles, and he was not about to 'go there' with Elizabeth seeing as how there was no need, not to mention Mr. Darcy had been one of the few men on Jame's worst of days had always stood by him. And, when it came to Mr. Bennet, well, the gentleman may not have planned well for his family's future, and may have neglected his younger daughters and, yes, he had been quite insultive in his humor in the past but, from what he could tell, the gentleman had woken up after Lydia's stunt and had done wonders on making improvements. So, who was he to judge? It was not like he was a perfect saint. His mind turned back to Kitty and her level of intelligence and settling down.

'Helped to get that baby sister out of the picture, or at least that is what everyone is saying.' James mused as he stood up and walked out into the gardens even though it was late fall and there was a bite of cold air all around. 'I cannot help but think that Kitty Bennet would have snapped out of it on her own even if Lydia Bennet had stuck around; there is something different about her.' Leaving off thinking about someone he had no real business thinking of his mind turned to Louisa as he faced a newly constructed fountain.

'You had a mind of your own, far sharper than people gave you credit for. If they knew half the stuff I did, the deal we had, those around us would be knocked off their feet' Leaning his hands against the cement encasing the water, James half-way muttered low. "I am way too young to feel so old."

The gentleman was in his mid-thirties and had stayed on at Netherfield due to the coaxing of Charles. 'I really should have left. Talk about a some fast talking to a few other people Charles knows nothing about. But was I to say no to your brother, Louisa? I certainly could not, and will not go stay with sweet, dear Caro...that lady... a term I now use loosely...could not keep her mouth shut if you paid her to." The man looked up at Lousia's favorite tree and continued to talk silently in his head. "I suppose I should use her full name; however." The man slightly grinned. 'You have to admit there are worse names I could call her.'

"James, we are about to eat lunch. Do you want some?"

Jame shook his head no. 'Charles is amiable enough, but I cannot speak to him about certain things; he has no real backbone. And Jane? She is a sweetheart but, and I mean no insult, Louisa, but her powers of observation are not...they are not bad, but they are not exactly sharp either.'

James sighed. He knew what people were, basically, saying. Had he not after all only married Louisa for her money? The couple had not even been close. Yes, it was horrible that Louisa had been shot, but it was not as if Mr. Hurst had done it, or that he could have stopped it. Crumb, the gentleman had not even been anywhere near drinking, gambling, hunting or even fishing. He simply had been in one part of a town doing business and she in another.

'Do not blame yourself or feel guilty that a bullet found her instead of you? It was an accident; the man was drunk. He never should have had a weapon in the first place.' Those had been just one of the things which had been said. Some of others were things along the lines of what could Mr. Hurst possibly have seen that made him so moody. He had been nowhere around when Louisa was shot. Why did James, a man who drank, played games, fished and hunted even care at all? In fact, what he could ever have seen his whole life besides the back of his eyelids? Surely, two years was enough to get Mr. Hurst 'back into the game'.

"Ya, I wonder, what I could possibly have seen in my whole boring life." James muttered using a tone that- if some people had heard- would have raised serious eyebrows. He then turned back to the parlor only something caught his eye and he turned his head. Bending down he picked up a crumpled piece of paper. Opening it he began reading, the words in print about made him cuss. Jame shoved it into his pocket and went back inside.

Ignoring the invite by Charles to join the family, he went upstairs. Everyone went back to what they were doing having never seen what he had done, except for Kitty. She; however, kept her mouth shut as to that subject. Why should she when she felt that it was not up to her to mention seeing him pick up the paper, or the dark look on his face when he had read whatever was on it.

However, because of a comment made by Charles in regard to seeing if he could not get James to consent to come to a family dinner and what she'd just seen, Kitty suggested-politely- that, maybe, her brother should consider laying off.

"Perhaps it would be best to leave Mr. Hurst to his own devices if he does not wish to join us. I have observed that Father is much happier now that he is not being pressured to attend social gatherings. It makes me wonder if your brother might also find more joy if he were given the same consideration."

"You very well may be right." Jane replied softly. "It is simply..." Kitty's sister sighed. "We understand father not remarrying; he is older and you are nineteen, with no real need of a mother. However, Mr. Hurst is younger than father and has, shockingly, been holding down a job down at the tracks without any gambling involved, small as it may be. A wife could very well do him some good."

"Or be the worse thing for him if he feels pushed into it." Kitty stood up and gathered her things. "Besides, since when did you turn into the pushy one, I thought Charles younger sister fit that bill."

"I am not pushing him." Jane spoke softly. "I do not even bring it up to him; however, I must confess, with his changes, I do wonder about it."

"I would suggest you stop. The man's not blind. He had to have seen your glances while we were taking. Ten to one that he why he got up and left." Kittty then shrugged her shoulders. "But, then again, I am only nineteen, so, what do I know. And..." She gave her sister a hug. "I am not attempting to be rude either, I promise. May I have one of your footmen take me home in the carriagae as it is looking as if it is threatening to rain?"

"Of course."