“I uncovered a plot…” Hurst told his son about the plot he had revealed and how the former man who commanded the unit had ignored him. “That is why the King awarded us this estate, the house on Curzon Street, and a rather large amount of funds. Because of his refusal to act on my information for purely selfish reasons, Mr de Bourgh was stripped of his command, which was given to me. Also his knighthood was taken from him by the King. As a reward, His Majesty wanted to make me a peer but settled on a baronetcy. I convinced him that to maintain my persona, my elevation should not be announced. He agreed with me.”
“Father, you are Sir Ignatius, and Mother is Lady Hurst!” Harry exclaimed.
“That is true, but you understand why we will not use our titles as long as your father is in the service of the King, do you not?” Leticia verified.
“I do, Mother,” Harry confirmed. He turned to his father. “How do you gain information?”
“There are many ways, Son. To do this work, you need to become a player of parts, like those you see on the boards in the theatre, and your persona is the role you play. For instance, there are times I act as if I am in my cups andloseconsciousness.The less threatening you seem to those around you, the more they will speak in your company. The trick is to seem like you are imbibing great amounts without actually doing so. If you are truly foxed, you will not remember anything which is said in your presence,” Hurst explained.
“Is it something I could do one day?” Harry enquired excitedly.
“Possibly,” Hurst replied. He raised his hand to stop the excited utterances threatening to escape from his son. “You must complete your studies at Eton and at Cambridge first. Only then, will we see if you have the skills to join us.” He looked at his beloved wife. “Do not look at me in that way, Lettie. We knew that Harry here would react in this way. It will be close to a decade before we have to consider it.” Hurst turned back to his son. “You may mention that we purchased an estate, but no more than that. We have wealth, but it is imperative we act as we did before with regards to our money. One last thing, Holcomb is one of my men. He is a fully trained valet, but he will also protect you as he has a very particular set ofskills.” Hurst paused. “Do you have any questions?”
“No, Father, but if I think of any, I will inform you so that we may meet where no other will overhear,” Harry responded.
“That is my boy. That was a very good answer.” Hurst clapped his son’s back.
“Harold, alright,Harry, you may go and explore the estate until dinner. Your father and I need to speak,” Leticia said.
Once the door was closed, Leticia stood, arms akimbo, glaring at her husband.
“Now, Lettie, it is many years until Harry will be eligible, and even then, there is no guarantee he will still want to join us, or that he will be accepted. My position does not make his being one of us automatic,” Hurst stated to placate his beloved wife.
“I suppose I was placing the cart before the horse, was I not?” After some kisses, Leticia had calmed. “At least, you are with us until after Twelfth Night.”
After Hurst kissed his wife senseless, she forgave him completely.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On his return to Eton, if anyone noticed that Harry had a valet and he had not had one before the term break, none of them commented on the fact.
During the rest of the school year, Harry and Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam became even closer. The former was saddened when he said his farewells to the latter at the end of the school year because Hilldale would be attending Cambridge at the start of the next one. At least, they would be at Cambridge for one year together.
Over the next two years, the two wrote to one another occasionally and spent some months in the summer at Hilldale or Winsdale. If the viscount ever noticed that the Hursts’ estate was larger and more profitable than he had been led to believe, he never said anything to his friend about it. During Harry’s visit with his friend, Hilldale, in the summer of 1796, rather than at his estate, they were at Snowhaven, the Earl and Countess of Matlock’s primary estate in Derbyshire, where Harry met Richard Fitzwilliam and William Darcy. The former was Hilldale’s younger brother and the latter was a cousin to thebrothers. The two would commence their studies at Eton in the next school year, in Harry’s last year.
In his final year at Eton, Harry became close with Richard Fitzwilliam, though not as close as with Hilldale. He was also in the company of William Darcy, a reticent young man who, at times, bordered on being arrogant.
The younger Fitzwilliam brother was a friendly sort who was jovial about most things except when his ire was raised if speaking of theparasitehis uncle, Robert Darcy, the master of Pemberley, had as a godson. More than once, Fitzwilliam had mentioned how lucky Harry was to be leaving Eton before theparasite(he called Wicky) began at the school in the next school year.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Beginning with his last year at Eton, Holcomb had begun to train his master in ways to make himself unobtrusive. During his final year at Cambridge, Harold—he had elected to use his proper name when he began his second year at Cambridge—practised his method of giving the impression he was a drunken sot, often feigning sleep on a convenient sofa or chaise longue.
He was amazed by what he would hear fellow students discuss when they thought him dead to the world. He did what he could to practise when Fitzwilliam and Darcy were not present, but there were times they did see him.
In the six years of his education, Harold Hurst did just enough work to pass all the required classes. Father had told him that he did not want to stand out and be memorable; hence, he had purposely underperformed. Being a rather indolent man became part of his persona. Although he was fit and, thanks to his training with his father and Holcomb, could shoot and fencewith the best of them, he allowed himself to become a little portly as part of his persona.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After graduating—without honours or distinctions—in May of 1801, at the age of twenty, Harold Hurst was accepted for formal training to join the men who worked under his father.
For two years, he would remain at Winsdale, learning how to run the estate while Holcomb completed his young master’s training.
Harold knew his mother preferred he not follow in his father’s footsteps, but as much as he did not want his mother to worry about his safety, he had to follow his passion.
Even though Leticia Hurst could not love the fact her son would be doing the same work as her husband, she would not attempt to stand in his way. The years since the disclosure at Winsdale had not diminished her son’s desire to be of service; in fact, it had only been enhanced. At least, he would remain at the estate for two years. She thanked God for small mercies.
Chapter 1
