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Louisa escorted Caroline into the parlour as they discussed the best seat for Caroline to occupy.

When Mr Hurst signalled to the housekeeper to wait, he closed the parlour door long enough to instruct the woman to take both footmen above stairs and move his mother’s large dressing mirror into Louisa’s dressing room.

He insisted, “It is not to be moved to Miss Bingley’s room again. ”

While enjoying the tea and anticipating the arrival of Lord Campbell, Mr Hurst pried titbits of information from Caroline.

She met Lord Campbell when George Wickham introduced the gentleman to Caroline at the social salons held at Olive Street during winter.

When Louisa asked about other guests at Caroline’s salons, Mr Hurst noticed that the younger woman did not mention any other visitor with the title of Lord or Lady.

As the two sisters revised the events of the past winter, it appeared that Mrs Edith Young had been the perfect lady’s companion for Caroline.

The woman quietly followed Miss Bingley through the stores and salons in the new season.

But today was not the woman’s day off and her disappearance was unexpected.

When sent above stairs to check, the housekeeper reported that Mrs Young’s room remained untouched except that her bonnet, shawl, and sewing bag were missing.

When four of the clock passed without the appearance of Lord Campbell, Mr Hurst suggested that they send an inquiry to Lord Campbell’s home to determine if the man was well. Miss Bingley blushed when she admitted that she had no notion of Lord Campbell’s home.

And then Mrs Hurst asked, “Caroline, earlier you said that you had secured Lord Campbell’s intentions. What did you mean by that statement?”

Taking a moment to preen, Caroline finally explained, “Yesterday just after luncheon, I made an important investment that ensures I shall be Countess of Argyle.”

Now Mr Hurst asked, “An investment? What do you mean?”

“I am five-and-twenty years, a terrible thing for any maid to admit,” Caroline stated. “But the lawyers and bankers had to agree with my wishes to withdraw money from my dowry.”

Staring at his wife’s younger sister with growing concern, Geoffrey fell silent. However, Louisa pressed forward with another question, “Sister, please tell us what you…what investment did you make?”

“Before the dukes and earls could buy the shares in the next East India Company, I purchased shares in the New World Tea Company,” Caroline declared joyfully. “I shall be… my husband and I shall be as rich the Crown Prince.”

She smiled before continuing, “When I shared the news with Lord Campbell at tea yesterday, he grew excited. That is when we spoke of a honeymoon in Bath, and he asked for a private interview when he returns today.”

Mr Hurst asked, “Caroline, how did you purchase shares in this company? With what monies?”

“As I stated, I am five-and-twenty,” Caroline repeated.

“The bankers could not deny me access to my dowry. Mr Wickham offered the business opportunity to purchase a trading vessel – a ship of some sort. Mr Darcy thought to offer for half from his cousin’s estate.

I did not pay close attention to those matters but next year, I shall receive my share of the profits. ”

Louisa asked, “Did you buy shares in this company from Mr Darcy or Mr Wickham?”

“From Mr Wickham,” Caroline replied. “Remain here and I shall show you my stock certificates.”

Rising from her chair, the woman moved across the parlour and hurried above stairs. In the silent parlour, Louisa and Geoffrey exchanged worried looks. The man whispered, “We must send for Charles. I did not think he had released the funds to her hand.”

The sounds of the woman descending the stairs were louder as she stomped on each tread of the stairs. Hurst smirked and thought, ‘Caroline discovered that I had the mirror returned to my wife’s dressing room.’

Throwing open the parlour door herself, Caroline strode to a table beside the sofa and opened a valise she had carried in her arms. She drew out a sheaf of papers and allowed the Hurst couple to view one.

Across the top of the paper were the words ‘New World Tea Company.’ The illustrations on either side of the words were engravings of how Europeans thought the native peoples across the Atlantic Ocean dressed and appeared.

Each paper declared itself to be a certain number of shares in the company.

Along the bottom of the paper appeared the signature of George Wickham.

Geoffrey Hurst studied the paper for a moment, glanced at the sheaf of papers stacked on the table, and asked, “Caroline, how much money did you give Mr Wickham yesterday?”

She answered, “I paid him fifteen thousand pounds for half the shares in his new trading ship. Mr Darcy or his cousin bought the other shares.”

Hurst demanded to know, “And how did you give this money to Mr Wickham?”

Affronted by the man’s tone, Caroline replied acidly, “There were papers called cheques that the bank Charles uses provided me. Five pieces of paper that each declared they were worth three thousand pounds. I signed each one over to Mr Wickham.”

Without another word, Geoffrey ran from the parlour and left by the front door.

It took a moment for Louisa and Caroline to deal with the surprise of the man’s sudden departure.

After a moment, Caroline declared, “Mr Hurst has rushed away to find Mr Wickham and discover if any other shares remained to be purchased.”

Despite Caroline waiting in the parlour until seven of the clock, Lord Campbell never appeared at the door on Olive Street.

Neither woman had an appetite for supper and after Caroline retired to her bed chamber to change out of her expensive gown, Louisa spent an hour with her mending.

But her attention wandered from her stitches as she worried about her husband, and her sister’s future.

In her heart, Louisa prayed that Caroline did become Countess of Argyle so that her sister would never live under her roof again.

When Mr Hurst finally returned after eleven, the couple retired above stairs. They spoke only of inane subjects before sleeping.

~~~

The next morning, Mr Hurst left the house as soon as the sun was above the horizon.

Before he departed, Geoffrey said nothing to Louisa about his absent the last evening or his destination this morning.

However, the man returned to break his fast with his wife.

He assured Louisa that he loved her but did not want to burden her with his fears at this point in the situation.

When they rose from the table, Louisa asked, “Shall I encourage Caroline to join us in the parlour?”

Geoffrey sighed before he replied, “I prefer that your sister remain above stairs as late as she wants. You will not act as her messenger or maid.”

The entirety of the morning passed silently for the most part. Chambermaids went up and down stairs to clean the bedchambers and then at noon, a maid took a breakfast tray for Miss Bingley.

~~~