Page 109 of Murder at Donwell Abbey

“You must call the carriage,” Father protested. “It is too long a walk, and Miss Bates should not be out in such weather.”

“There is no need for that, sir,” George replied. “The night is quite mild, and there is no wind.”

When Father looked ready to argue, the distant sound of a knock on the front door forestalled his objections.

Emma frowned. “Who would be calling at this time of night?”

“It might be Mr. Weston,” said George. “He wished to speak to me after the inquest, but we never found the opportunity.”

The drawing room door opened to admit Simon. “Mr. Knightley, it’s Mr. Clarke. He’d like to speak to you.”

“That’s odd,” said Emma.

“There’s only one way to find out,” said George. “Simon, have him—”

“Show Mr. Clarke into the drawing room, please,” she hastily intervened.

When George raised his eyebrows, Emma shrugged. “You’ll have to tell me anyway, so you might as well let me hear it firsthand.”

He made a scoffing noise, but nodded at Simon to follow her instruction.

Emma beamed at her husband. “Thank you, dearest, that’s very considerate of you.”

“As if I had a choice,” he dryly replied.

“Oh dear!” exclaimed Miss Bates, all in a flutter. “Should I leave? Mr. Clarke won’t wish to discuss his business in front of strangers.”

“You cannot leave without George to escort you,” Father fretfully said. “Emma, tell Miss Bates to stay.”

When Mr. Clarke appeared, he looked slightly taken aback at the presence of a small audience but recovered quickly. He greeted them with quiet decorum, and offered a perfectly respectable bow to Emma and Miss Bates.

“I beg your pardon for disturbing your evening, Mr. Knightley,” he said.

“I hope there’s nothing urgent that brings you to Hartfield this evening,” George replied.

Mr. Clarke shook his head. “I’m off to Guildford tomorrow, and then I’ll be returning to Leatherhead for a few days to follow up on my investigations. I thought it best to apprise you of my actions beforehand.”

George gave him an affable nod. “I appreciate the courtesy.”

By which comment Emma deduced that prevention officers weren’t obligated to report to local magistrates.

“I take it you’re going to visit Mr. Larkins tomorrow,” she said. “May I ask why?”

Mr. Clarke cast her an odd look, as if wondering why the lady of the house would ask such a question. Emma was used to that reaction. Women in general—and ladies in particular— did not involve themselves in criminal investigations. Experience had taught her, however, that the so-called weaker sex was just as likely to arrive at the proper conclusions as a man. Call it what you like, but Emma trusted her instincts, and certainly more than she trusted either the instincts or capacities of Constable Sharpe or Dr. Hughes.

“Yes, ma’am. I intend to question Mr. Larkins about his possible role in the smuggling gang that’s at large in your district,” the officer replied.

Miss Bates let out a little shriek. “Gracious! One cannot possibly imagine Mr. Larkins as a smuggler. He’s the most honest person one could hope to meet. Why, he’s been nothing but helpful to Mother and me. Just last month he brought us a lovely ham from Donwell Abbey. Of course, we owe so much to the generosity of our dear Mr. Knightley, but I know for afactthat Mr. Larkins always makes sure we get the best of everything.”

“Very true,” Father concurred. “Larkins is an excellent fellow. I do not approve of people besmirching his name in so hasty a manner. One should resist the temptation to jump to conclusions, like that dreadful Sharpe person did at the inquest.”

Mr. Clarke eyed the pair on the sofa with a slight air of consternation, not that Emma could blame him. If one had never encountered the eccentricities of her father or Miss Bates, one couldn’t help but feel a degree of bewilderment.

“I’m sure Mr. Clarke will avoid any temptation to make hasty conclusions,” George tactfully intervened. “He’s simply performing the required duties of his office.”

The prevention officer nodded. “My only interest is in discovering the truth and bringing the guilty to justice.”

“Then the only thing you’ll discover with Larkins is his innocence,” said Emma. “He should never have been detained in the first place.”