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A bland phrase in case they were being overheard.

“It has been quiet for the last two weeks. Mr. Darcy has been out of town.”

Caroline said nothing else but the reticence did not fool Carlisle. She left that matter alone. For now.

“What about the shabby affair from last autumn?”

“Oh you mean that country strumpet from Hertfordshire, Eliza Bennet? I remembered the name of the uncle. He lives in Cheapside somewhere. I blackened her name well and truly at some lower tier events, while mentioning she was staying with the uncle. Later, I learned that my words had an impact on the uncle’s business and so he threw her out. I have heard nothing since.”

There was genuine admiration from Miss Carlisle at this level of vicious ruthlessness. From quiet rural comfort to the oldest profession. Quite the fall. But then the admiration turned to care. Caroline Bingley had shown herself to be utterly ruthless, and Francis Carlisle knew that she would be stabbed in the back by her ‘friend’ if the opportunity presented itself. Caroline Bingley did not need to benefit from it, she just liked exercised power.

What Miss Carlisle did not realise was that she had been marked as a confidante of Miss Bingley. That was a mistake from which she was not going to recover. However quietly she talked.

--

David Hurst met his father at their club. After the extended greetings had been concluded with all the various members who had stopped by, they took themselves off to a private room. Daniel Hurst knew there was a serious issue when his son would not look him in the eye.

“What have you done? Tell me at once!”

It took several minutes of hemming and hawing before he got the story out of his son.

“Cards! A debt of £2,500! There is no need to guess how this came about. You are as bad as your grandfather was. Drunk and foolish! What do you expect me to do about it?”

“I was hoping that you could advance me the money to pay this off.”

“You were hoping were you? Well let me tell you right now that will not be happening. Your mother and I live a modest lifestyle and the estate produces only £1,500 of surplus every year.”

“What about the money from Louisa’s dowry. Is that land not contributing?”

“There was a reason so many acres were going cheap. The money has been invested in the acreage itself and in the improvements to the land. There is but £300 left of the money.”

“You have spent it all?”

Daniel Hurst scowled at his son.

“Do not take that tone with me. You were there and fully participated in all the decisions. I have the documents with your signature on them. The land will pay for itself and more over the next decade.”

“But I need money now!”

“I suggest you talk to your brother-in-law then. I do not have the ready cash to bail you out, and as you know the estate is entailed. I am unable to help you.”

Hurst slumped down in his chair.

“Do you have any news that I can take back to your mother? Is your wife with child yet? You are not getting any younger and you need to produce an heir.”

To produce an heir meant lying with his wife. Something that had been denied to Hurst for the last six months. She still had not forgiven him for trying to enter the bedchamber of Eliza Bennet. But he could hardly mention that to his father.

--

“What security can you offer?”

Bingley knew there was nothing Hurst could offer until he became Master of the estate.

“You know there is nothing I can offer. I am not pleased that I am having to throw myself on the mercy of my brother through marriage.”

“What is the value of the estate?”

Hurst rounded up.