Page 116 of Murder at Donwell Abbey

“William, make a proper bow to Mrs. Knightley and Miss Bates and then come sit down,” ordered Mrs. Cox.

The young man somewhat recovered, making a bow and then taking a seat as far from Emma as possible. He gave every appearance of preparing to bolt from the room at the first sign of trouble.

She made no immediate attempt to break the silence, instead perusing the young man with a calm gaze. He began to fidget, taking up a napkin from the table and beginning to pleat it. A steady silence could be unnerving, a trick she’d learned from observing George over the years.

William Cox was decidedly unnerved.

Mrs. Cox glanced between Emma and her son, looking puzzled. “Mrs. Knightley, I do not wish to be rude, but do you have something you wish to discuss with William?”

Emma kept her gaze on the young man. “Mr. Cox, you seemed taken aback when you first saw me. Why is that?”

He crumpled the napkin in his fist. “Did I? Gosh, I … I suppose it’s because you’ve never called on us before. Yes, that’s it. I was quite surprised to see you here.”

“That’s very true,” said Anne with a dismissive sniff. “I don’t know why Mrs. Knightley never thought to do so before. It’s not as if we’re farmers or that low sort of people.”

Emma had to refrain from scoffing, since Anne had been in hot pursuit of Robert Martin, a farmer, before Harriet married him.

Mrs. Cox glared at her daughter. “Anne, hold your tongue.” Then she looked at Emma. “Ma’am, is there some reasonwhymy son should be discomposed to see you, other than your presence in our parlor?”

Emma pulled the trigger. “Yes, there is. I believe William is now or at least has been involved with the smuggling gang operating in the vicinity of Highbury. I’m guessing your son’s reaction has something to do with that.”

Mrs. Cox gaped at her, stunned into silence. Sadly, her daughters were not.

“Mrs. Knightley, how could you say such an awful thing?” Anne hotly declared. “He would never do anything so stupid and vulgar.”

Susan nodded so vigorously her curls danced. “Anne’s right. William would never do anything so dreadful.”

“I’ll bet that Harriet Martin is the cause of all this,” Anne said with a sneer. “She’s always been jealous of me, so she decided to get back at me by telling fibs about William.”

Really, Anne wasthemost annoying girl. “It may be difficult for you to believe, Miss Cox, but this isn’t about you. Not unless you’ve been helping your brother with his smuggling activities.”

Anne’s only response was to bluster, while Susan simply burst into tears.

“Oh dear,” said Miss Bates. She extracted a handkerchief from her reticule and handed it to Susan.

Mrs. Cox regained her voice. “Mrs. Knightley, I’m incredulous that you would make such an accusation against my son. Please remember that my husband is a solicitor and an officer of the court.”

“I mean no disrespect to you or your husband, ma’am,” Emma replied. “Believe me, I wouldn’t level such a charge if I didn’t think it absolutely necessary.”

“I’m certain my son has nothing to do with smuggling. I cannot imagine where you would get such a notion.”

Emma nodded at William who, at the moment, looked like a rabbit cornered by a fox, paralyzed with fear. “Look at your son, ma’am. And please remember that youhavebeen concerned for him as of late.”

Mrs. Cox gazed at her son. His only response was to duck his head to avoid her searching eye.

“But William’s been ever so much better since he started courting Miss Nash,” Susan pleaded. “He would never do anything to displease her.”

At the mention of his sweetheart, William turned a stricken gaze on Emma. “Please don’t tell Miss Nash what I’ve done, or my father. He’ll disown me if he finds out.”

“Finds out that you’ve been involved with the smuggling ring?” Emma gently asked.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

Mrs. Cox rose from her seat and crossed to him. “William, tell me the truth. Is what Mrs. Knightley saying true?”

He opened his eyes and gazed miserably up at his mother. “Yes, but I stopped doing it months ago. And I didn’t go on many runs in the first place, I swear. It was all just a lark, Mama. Really!”

Mrs. Cox fixed him with an astounded stare for several excruciating moments. Then her arm flashed up and she boxed her son’s ears.