] What do you all think? Possible? Or totally off the mark?

Don't make me suspect him! Don't make me!

Tori, you're absolutely right on all counts here - I've had a growing suspicion about Hurst's involvement in the back of my mind which I've endeavored to fight off. ;) I keep thinking that surely, SURELY he wouldn't stoop to endangering the Bingleys' lives just to preserve his fortune.

I was rereading the scene (Ch. 9) where you mentioned that Hurst is the one who volunteers himself and Louisa to follow them to Netherfield. I noticed that not only did he volunteer, he practically leapt to do so. Also, Parrish had just actively sought Hurst's opinion (when Hurst had not been participating in the conversation) on where Caroline ought to go to recover - did he, perhaps, have reason to believe Hurst would back him up? Hurst pretty seriously hedged the question.

Worse still, in Ch. 13 when Bingley and Jane are returned home after the carriage accident, Mrs. Hurst is fussing uselessly over her brother....and Mr. Hurst is nowhere to be found. Again, it's explained away by Elizabeth's estimation that he simply couldn't be bothered.

Elizabeth seems determined to suspect Mr. Kendall (and why not? He's loathsome.), and to dismiss all of Mr. Hurst's oddities to his lethargy. Is it possible that Kendall is simply an odious individual and no more? Is it possible that Hurst is capable of this kind of behavior to save his own fortune and reputation? I don't like to think so, but I don't think it's completely impossible, either.