Page 46 of Murder at Donwell Abbey

This was certainly an unexpected twist. “That’s very kind of you, Miss Bates. However, I think it’s best that I speak with Mr. Barlowe alone.”

Miss Bates decisively shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of letting you take on such an unpleasant task by yourself, Mrs. Knightley. Besides, as the daughter of a vicar, I know just how to talk to curates. They tend to be rather skittish. Why, I even thought to marry one of my father’s curates at one point. But he was quite a nervous man and never worked up the fortitude to propose, even though I was very encouraging at the time.”

Emma and Mrs. Weston exchanged a dumbfounded glance at that astonishing glimpse into the spinster’s past.

Miss Bates all but jumped to her feet. “Shall we, Mrs. Knightley?”

It would seem that Emma had just acquired a highly unlikely partner in her inquiries.

CHAPTER10

The wind had kicked up and gray clouds scudded across the sky, playing hide-and-seek with the sun. Emma slid a glance at her companion marching by her side.

“Miss Bates, are you sure you wish to do this?” she asked.

“I would never abandon you to such an unpleasant task,” the spinster earnestly replied. “What would Mr. Knightley think?”

Emma had a fairly good idea how her husband would react to this excursion, and it would have little to do with Miss Bates.

“That’s very kind, ma’am, but I wonder if Mr. Barlowe might feel more comfortable talking to only one person about such a delicate matter. Since William’s unfortunate conduct occurred at Donwell, it makes sense that I raise the issue with him, particularly as I am the wife of the local magistrate.”

Emma hoped that pulling rank would produce the desired result on the impecunious curate. Besides, as accomplices went, Miss Bates left somethingto be desired. She tended to rattle on about inconsequential matters, which would surely confuse the situation.

Her companion seemed struck by Emma’s comments. “I see your point entirely, Mrs. Knightley. Your position in Highbury is second to none, as mistress of both HartfieldandDonwell Abbey. Mr. Barlowe will no doubt wish to give you as much assistance as he can.”

Emma rewarded her with a smile. “Excellent. Then I suggest—”

Miss Bates held up a gloved hand. “But Mr. Barlowe is shy, and I suspect he’ll find your presence intimidating. Not thatyouare an intimidating person, Mrs. Knightley. Quite the opposite, in fact. No one could be kinder than you. But as I mentioned over tea—and such an excellent tea it was, I must say—I have a great deal of experience in dealing with timid curates. Mr. Barlowe is quite comfortable with me, you know. He calls on us once a week for tea and to hear the latest news from Jane and Frank. His interest is rather remarkable, I must say. Always so attentive to everything Jane has to say in her letters.”

Emma rather suspected that Mr. Barlowe’s interest in Jane had more to do the fact that her uncle-in-law was a wealthy landowner who held the patronage of a tidy church on his estate.

“I’m sure you and Mr. Barlowe get along splendidly,” Emma started. “However—”

Miss Bates rested a gentle hand on Emma’s arm.

“Mrs. Knightley, I know I can be a dreadful nuisance sometimes, and you are so very kind to put up with me, especially given that Mother and I will soon be foisting ourselves on you at Hartfield. But I do want to help you in any way I can.Pleaselet me help.”

The spinster gazed up her with a terribly earnest expression, her bespectacled gaze silently pleading. And, yes, the sweet, odd little woman could be rather a nuisance at times, which might be more a reflection on Emma’s lack of patience and charity than anything else.

Besides, Miss Bateswasgoing to marry her father, so they would soon be on equal footing—a rather alarming concept Emma had yet to fully grapple with. George would rightly tell her that it was time to accept reality and act accordingly.

Emma pressed the gloved hand on her arm. “I shall be glad of your help. I simply didn’t wish to put you in an awkward position.”

While not quite the truth, it sounded reasonable.

Miss Bates shrugged. “I don’t imagine it will be any less awkward for you than it will be for me. Goodness, what isn’t awkward about this situation, starting with Prudence falling out of the window? I cannot imagine anything more awkward in my life.”

It took Emma a moment to recover from that observation. “Indeed, ma’am.”

“And I do feel a sense of responsibility to the poor girl. After all, I was the first person to find her in that terrible state. You will think me foolish, but there it is.”

“Actually, I felt the same way about Mrs. Elton after Harriet and I stumbled upon her lying dead in the church,” Emma admitted.

Miss Bates beamed at her. “I knew you would understand, Mrs. Knightley. You’re so clever about these things.” Her gaze darted off to the side, and she suddenly looked shy. “I count myself so very fortunate that I will soon be a member of your family.”

And wasn’t that a dagger to the heart? Here she was trying to bull the poor woman out of her way, when all Miss Bates wished to do was help her.

Emma gave her a wry smile. “Then don’t you think it’s time you began referring to me by my given name? After all, you’re going to be my stepmother.”