PP Non-Canon AU General Regency

A Gentleman's Choice

Sequel to Making Peace

Guest: He is making effort to change and will continue to; he is simply wondering if it will be enough; and that is very human thing to wonder.

Previously:

"Can her own heart take the gossiping mouths? As you said, I set down Mrs. Philips something fierce." Thomas leaned forward. "And many people claim they have changed yet cannot see changes in others, will she see my humor may not have changed but that I am not aiming it at my family anymore? I can hold out the olive branch, but will she take a hold of it? You may be attempting to cross a bridge that is not even there." Thomas' questions were understandable as he was nowhere around Lydia. "Most of all, I am wondering -old as I am- will my efforts of change be enough for her."

"I dare say she would want to make peace with you just as much as you did with your late wife."

Hurst Meets Up with Duke Walton

Ch. 15

Duke Walton had meant to meet up with his uncle but had been called back to London by the same group of men who had got them looking into the matter in the first place. However, before he could meet up with anyone from Parliament, he ran into James Hurst. The two crossed paths near a fenced park, its wrought iron gates and manicured lawns a stark contrast to the bustling city around them. The Duke was heading south and James was heading north.

"I thought you were still in Wetherby or close to it." Horace was truly surprised to see his brother in London.

"I was." James shook his head. "No one seems to know anything; I hope you had more luck than I did."

"Yes and no. My uncle is going to talk to a gentleman who lives outside of that place. I have ordered him to talk to no one; not even anyone in Parliament. Told him to play the ignorant fool and that we would take care of things. I hope you understand what I did and why. Do I need to explain myself?"

"No. It is why two certain ex-lawmen are no longer even in the country and they have new names."

"So, you suspect the same thing as I do?"

"If it has anything to do with a certain particular older gentleman, then yes, I do; especially since I have now talked to half a dozen women, all divorced, all in hiding in one way or another. And none of them showed their faces to me. Does that tell you something?"

"More than enough. There is no way Lydia could go back home—even if she wanted to—is there?"

"Not at this moment. And that Lady Shaw? Plenty of people are vouching for her steering women to other places other than her own. However, my gut says our Lydia is there."

"You did not push the issue?"

"With what we have just said, did that question really just come out of your mouth?"

"What are we going to tell the others? We are to meet them soon?" The Duke ignored James's question, knowing how foolish his own had been.

"If who we suspect is there when we arrive…I do not know. We did not actually see the buttons, so I suggest we do not bring them up. If asked about them, we can simply say men claimed they saw them, but we doubt it because it was all talk. That the only evidence given to us was his signet ring. If he is absent, I will speak my mind."

As they continued their conversation, they walked along the cobblestone streets, the sounds of horse-drawn carriages and street vendors filling the air. The imposing silhouette of Parliament loomed in the distance, its gothic spires reaching towards the sky. The men walked with a steady pace, their footsteps echoing off the stone buildings that lined their path. The Thames River glistened under the midday sun, and the scent of the river mixed with the aromas of the city, creating a unique blend which shouted this was London and nowhere else. They were getting closer to their destination, but the weight of their conversation hung heavily between them, each step bringing them nearer to the answers they sought.

It was not long before the two brothers by the law climbed the steps up to Parliament, opened the doors, and walked into the foyer. Men were walking up and down stairs, in and out doors, but none of them approached either the Duke or Mr. Hurst, as they climbed up the nearest set of stairs.

"Hello, Duke Walton, Mr. Hurst." Mr. Vineyard met them at the top of the stairs. "Hope you do not mind just talking to me and a couple of other men; the rest of the men have either come down with influenza."

"Oh, just what we need right now. I hope we do not get it." The Duke did not relish that idea any more than James, who shared in his sentiments.

"Now, how about giving us an update?" Mr. Vineyard and about six other men, excluding Mr. Giles and another fellow who Mr. Hurst had kept his name to himself; both were among the ones who had come down with the flu, sat in the room.

"We have not been able to verify that Ensign Wickham was meeting anyone from Parliament or the military." Duke Walton, seeing half the men were gone, opted to word his opinion a little differently than he would have if the whole group had been there. "Mr. Hurst found a signet ring that verified one of the men was indeed Ensign Wickham but nothing else was connected to him."

"Mr. Hurst, you found nothing else?" Mr. Vineyard's eyes grew wide. "I was led to believe there would be more attached to his body which would link him back to London."

"When I examined it at the undertaker's there was nothing that stood out, and no physical evidence was given to me which shouted the dead man had any business here. Yes, we heard talk about spy buttons which, as you know, points to either selling information or drug dealing. However, even then we could find no proof of said objects. After painstakingly searching anywhere those said buttons could be, and thoroughly interrogating those speaking about them… I have come to the conclusion it was just that…all talk. Personally, I think someone was trying to set up a dead man. I would think if he was guilty, I would have come up with at least one button on that body, in that body of water, or at least within close proximity of that cave." James stated a few other conclusions that sent the room reeling in shock.

"What about the hunters who found the body? I was informed there were two men who found those corpses." A gentleman sitting next to Mr. Vineyard spoke up; he was highly agitated.

"I have no idea where they are." Duke Walton spoke up. "I went to the law offices, and they were nowhere in sight. I did not ask James to go because he was busy at the time."

"Do not look at me. Last time I saw them they mentioned something about being in the wrong line of work, and walked away from me as I was turning to get a bite to eat."

It was true; he had been getting his lunch. However, what James thought it wisest not to admit to was it was after suggesting the two high-tail it out of England with new names. That was one bit of information that did not need to get back to a particular sick man right now.

Mr. Niles sat back. "I would appreciate it if you spent a little more time up there and see if you can figure out why he was under the impression George Ensign was such a threat."

"I am thinking we are looking at the wrong man." The Duke spoke up and turned to James. "Have you not either confirmed Bruce Kent, Charles Gibbons, and the ensign's status as alive or dead?"

"Yes."

"What about John Corby?"

"No one seems to know where he is at." James turned to the men present. "Seems to me, he is the one people need to be looking for. People are wasting time over the ensign. And, do not look at me like that. I only came to look into things because everyone was acting as if there was a possibility that George Wickham was a traitor to his country or something akin to it."

"In that case." Mr. Niles leaned back. "Your Grace, I suggest you stay here, you have duties to attend to. And…" The gentleman stood up. "Mr. Hurst, please take a walk with me." He could tell the man wanted to pull out of the investigation.

James stood up, said nothing, but his eyes shot out a few sarcastic remarks Horace's way; including "Oh, what joy, I am getting special treatment." The Duke bit his lip, as did the other men who saw the look.

Mr. Niles walked with his hands behind his back and his footsteps echoed off the floor as he and James walked down the corridor. No one bothered the two men as they descended a set of side stairs and exited a side door. The older gentleman had them sit on a bench before Duke bit his lip, as did the other men who saw the look.

Mr. Niles walked with his hands behind his back and his footsteps echoed off the floor as he and James walked down the corridor. No one bothered the two men as they descended a set of side stairs and exited a side door. The older gentleman had them sit on a bench before talking.

"I know you do not like working all over England. And I realize you have no interest in being a special agent, so, I am not even going to offer to make you one on any permanent basis." The gentleman sighed. "Truth is I desperately need you as one for this case only though."

"Why?

"Because while Ensign Wickham's case, by itself, is not...significant enough to draw attention... there have been others. All of the men were of the same age range, shared the similar...habits? And, until now, they all have been labeled as spies, or drug dealers. We were led to believe Wickam was the same...until you said you had found no sign and stated your conclusion, we had no reason to believe different."

"I really threw kink into things."

"Look, if all those other men were guilty and got caught in their own trap, I cannot say justice was not served. However, if something else is going on - we need to know about it.

"I know most men would not talk to their wives, but we have just married. Please, allow me to discuss things with my wife."

"Fair enough."