AU Non-Canon General Regency

PP

Sequel to Making Peace

Previously:

With a final glance at the now-burned note's ashes in the fireplace, the duke rose and made his way to the door. He had much to do and little time to waste. The truth awaited, and he hoped James could uncover it; however, he prayed it would not be at the cost of the man's life—or this Jocasta's.

Hurst at Lady Shaw's

Ch. 22

Once again, Mr. Thompson was back at Peyton Estate, only this time he was sitting in an upstairs library with Mr. Hurst, waiting for Lady Shaw to bring Jocasta to them. The library at Peyton Hall, perched on the upper floor of the grand estate, was a sanctuary to many of knowledge and quiet contemplation. The late fall air outside was crisp, with a hint of winter's chill. Its trees had shed most of their leaves, leaving plenty of gold and brown on the ground. Inside, the library was a haven of warmth from any dropping temperatures. The room was lined with shelves of dark, polished wood, not so dark as to be oppressive, but rich enough to convey a sense of refined dignity.

A large window dominated one wall, its panes slightly fogged from the contrast between the cold outside and the warmth within. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, adding to the room's inviting mood.

"As I stated coming over here, Mr. Hurst, what your eyes and English mind are going to tell you are not going to match up with the way the mistress of this house was raised. It is a… different. way of thinking. One that has now been transferred to her 'daughter'…" The gentleman's fingers bent as he spoke the word daughter. "So, if you care at all about the one you knew as Lydia, you will respect that way of thinking, or what you have come for will all be in vain and neither name will be heard in England ever again."

Mr. Thompson spoke his words to James as they sat at the only table in the room. His eyes, dark and intense, meaning every sentiment which had come out of his mouth. The fire crackled louder for a moment, as if punctuating the gravity of his warning. Outside, the wind picked up, rattling the windowpanes and sending a shiver through the room.

James went to make a reply only the door opened up and in walked Lady Shaw with who Mr. Hurst's senses all shouted was Lydia, but when the mistress of the house spoke he heard being introduced as 'My daughter, Jocasta Shaw'.

"I believe Jocasta can answer all your questions," Lady Shaw replied politely as she and her daughter sat down on a small sofa. "However, I am sure you understand why I will not be leaving her side?"

"Yes, everything considering I do." James then treaded cautiously and asked Jocasta, boy did that feel strange to be calling his wife's sister by a name that he -mentally- had never connected to her- to tell him anything she was comfortable telling him, and why he needed it.

"Where do I start?" She looked at Lady Shaw unsure what to say; then gave a faint smile when told from the start would be good. "George's gambling was no secret, but he started doing more… doing games behind others' backs… with men in power; I was not supposed to find out - as other wives were not supposed to know of their men's activities in London. And then there were the women. And all of it in London."

"London?"

"Yes, well, I would say ninety percent of it. John Corby, Bruce Kent, and Charles Gibson were in his group. The main ones, or should I say the worst ones. Bruce shaped up, got out. But Charles and George they - like other men - not only gambled and drank horribly bad; along with their fists swinging, but they could not stay faithful to their vows at all."

"You ran because of his fist?" Mr. Hurst was appalled at Wickham's actions.

"I should have, but no… but with my relationship with my father being so strained I would have continued staying. But the one night I heard words being shouted from outside our home that caused me to flee in the opposite direction. And, no, I did not wait for George to become sober."

"What did you hear?"

"You betrayed me and you owe me much, Wickham! And since you are not paying up, I will make get my money by taking you whore! And then I will hold her for ransom and make her father pay!"

Jocasta shuddered and added a few other things the man had implied. "Ensign Wickham's wife was foolish to be sure; however, she was no whore. And why should her father pay, faults he had for sure, but none worthy of death. No, he did not come out and say he would put my father or sister to death, but I guarantee you those implications were there. What did either one of them have to do with anything? And since Mother Shaw was nearby I ran to her. I was pretty sure I knew who the man was, and did not think I could get my divorce. However, her connection knew people in Parliament even more powerful - or should I say more well-liked, which ended up making it so he dared not oppose Lydia's divorce; He might have fought it if he had known it was Lady Shaw behind it all, but the man did not."

"So, that is why Lydia remains dead." Mr. Hurst wanted to throttle Mr. Niles's throat.

"Yes. And dead she shall remain, at least for the time being... maybe, forever." Lady Shaw spoke up and asked Jocasta if she could go on, or if she wished to leave. Taking a deep breath, the younger lady thought she could manage and intertwined her fingers.

"It would help if I had Matthew over here though." Her words made Mr. Thompson smile, as it did Lady Shaw; Mr. Hurst would have been surprised only he had figured this one out a long time ago. "So, what else do you want to know?"

"How does John Corby fit into this?"

"He used to be 'that' man's puppet. No, he was not the one to actually deliver any final sentence. Someone else always did that. But he confessed to me when I stumbled onto him one night that he would put jackets onto them which had spy buttons on them, or some other evidence that would shout they were traitors to their country. And sometimes, he would plant drugs onto them."

"Used to be?"

"I do not know what got him started doing it, nor why he stopped. I just know he stopped and is now in hiding out of fear of Mr. Niles. And, I did meet Mr. Niles once; which is why I am pretty sure it he who called out to George the night I ran."

"Do you know where John Corby is? I really do need to talk to him."

"How is Kitty?"

James instinctively knew, no matter how bad John Corby needed to be talked to; Ly… Jocasta emotionally was still tied to her sister and needed her answer before his own could be given; therefore, he gave her an honest answer. "Happy with her husband, but extremely concerned about her sister. Perhaps, there is some small way I can let her know although there has been a change, there could still - when this thing settles - be some sort of new ties?"

"Mr. Bennet?"

"To be honest, I have been so busy trying to figure this case out, I have not talked to him of late. However, he has made his own changes. He is far more responsible then in the past, better at handling his money, has turned his humor away from mocking his family." James then told her the other things Mr. Bennet had told Mr. Walton.

"I can understand all that." Jocasta spoke softly.

"Would I have permission to send him a coded letter? He is not a stupid man. I am sure Mr. Bennet would easily figure things out. And -given what you have just told me- I do not think he would be unwilling to work with either one of us."

As the conversation continued, it became increasingly clear that Jocasta was no longer the same Lydia who had once been married to George. Her demeanor was far more guarded, her words carefully chosen. The transformation was evident not just in her name but in her entire bearing. She had adopted a new identity, one that was shaped by the experiences and traumas she had gone through. The woman sitting before him was definitely far less reckless, far more concerned about the choices she made, and definitely determined to protect herself and those she cared about. And, as much as Jocasta considered her actions before doing them, it was clear the two people she would always need were Matthew Thompson and 'Mother' Shaw.

Lady Shaw watched her daughter with a mixture of love and concern. She knew the journey Jocasta had undertaken to reach this point, and she was determined to support her every step of the way. The bond between them had grown stronger than the lady had thought possible. It had been forged through common trials of life and a mutual understanding of the dangers they faced if Mr. Niles found out where the young lady was and who had helped her out.

Mr. Hurst took note of the subtle changes in Jocasta's demeanor. He realized also what he would write in the letter back to Longbourn would not be what the Bennet family would expect. Nonetheless, it would need to be written. However, not before he had talked to Lady Shaw first. He resolved to proceed with caution, respecting the boundaries Jocasta.

The fire in the hearth continued to crackle softly, providing a comforting backdrop to the intense discussion. Outside, the wind howled, a reminder of the harsh world beyond the walls of Peyton Hall. Inside, however, the library remained a sanctuary, a place where plans could be made and secrets could be shared.

As the evening wore on, the conversation shifted to more practical matters. They discussed the logistics of contacting Mr. Bennet and the best way to ensure that any messages sent would remain secure. Lady Shaw provided valuable insights into the network of contacts she had established, offering suggestions on how to navigate the complex web of alliances and enmities that defined her world.

By the time the meeting concluded, it was clear that he had made significant progress. Lady Shaw' s willingness to share her knowledge and experiences had provided them with crucial information. However, it was also evident that much work remained to be done.

As Mr. Hurst and Mr. Thompson prepared to leave, James expressed his gratitude to Lady Shaw and Jocasta. The two women had taken great risks in coming forward, and their bravery was not lost James. He promised to keep them informed of any developments and to do everything in his power to ensure their safety.

"Lady Shaw, may I speak to you, privately before I leave? I promise it is nothing that would harm your daughter." James spoke politely and Lady Shaw walked out with him to the carriage as Jocasta bid good-bye to Mr. Thompson.