Breakfast at Bailston Subject: A discussion at Breakfast, some days after the Hunt Where: Bailston Abbey Who: Lord Tobias Hurst Warnings: none Open to: Charles Hurst
"The play was very good." Lord Hurst said at breakfast, as one of the servants poured the tea, and Lord Hurst picked up the cup and added sugar and milk. "Very good. I was very proud of you." He added. In truth, it had taken him this last few days to appreciate the play as a piece of Theatre, rather than be too uncomfortable, too aware that some of those actors he knew on a more than intimate basis. He had worried that Charles has deliberately picked Mr Fisher's troupe, trying to embarrass and shame his father in front of his society friends. At first Lord Hurst was sure, sure that Charles' avoidance of him, sure that his son's silence proved he knew about his father's secret acquiescences, but know he knew that wasn't the case. There were not all that many theatre troupes in London that would come all the way to Devon for a single evening, and Mr. Fisher's troupe must have been the only one that agreed. It was as simple as all that.
Now, therefore, he had the courage to discuss the play with Charles, and perhaps another important matter as well. "I didn't believe that you would complete your duties as well as you did. And Miss Abigail was pleased with her poem, I am told. Perhaps it is about time I gave you more responsibilities, Charles."