Page 104 of Murder in Highbury

“Now who’s being ridiculous?”

She pointed to herself.

He briefly cupped her cheek. “Stay out of trouble, will you?”

“Always.”

A masculine snort was her only reply.

CHAPTER21

After seeing George off to Guildford the next morning, Emma accompanied her father on his daily turn about the gardens. He set a leisurely pace, giving her ample opportunity to ponder yesterday’s revelations.

“I cannot like this Constable Sharpe, Emma,” her father suddenly exclaimed, breaking into her thoughts. “He seems to go about arresting people without a care for anyone’s feelings.”

She glanced at him, surprised. “I would have thought you relieved that Miss Bates is no longer a suspect. You must admit our dinner party last night was all the better for it.”

Everyone had been thrilled to hear that Miss Bates was no longer a suspect, and the gathering had indeed taken on a celebratory nature. George, the dear man, had even made an extra effort to be polite to Frank, which had pleased Jane.

“Of course I am greatly relieved for my dear friend,” Emma’s father replied. “But Dick Curtis seems such a decent fellow. Whenever we passed him in the carriage, he was always so polite as to stop and raise his hat. For a common laborer, he has very nice manners.”

“George will get to the bottom of it, never fear.”

Her observation evoked a grimace from him. “But, Emma, to be forced to ride all the way to Guildford! Prisons are always so dreadfully damp, too. I fear poor George will catch a chill.”

“I’m sure he’ll take every precaution, dearest.”

“This is all Mr. Elton’s fault. He set Constable Sharpe on poor Miss Bates and now has done the same with Curtis. No wonder the fellow sent Mr. Elton a nasty note. I tell you, Emma, once George has seen that unfortunate man released from prison, I will be raising these issues with the vestry council.”

“George cannot . . . oh, never mind.”

She saw little point in trying to correct her father’s wildly askew understanding of the situation.

“Remember what Mr. Perry said,” she added. “You’re not to be upsetting your nerves. I promise you that George will take care of everything.”

“If anything is upsetting my nerves, it’s Mr. Elton. Everything was perfectly fine in Highbury until he became vicar and began to interfere in the affairs of others.”

Emma found that she couldn’t entirely disagree with her father, but voicing such would hardly be helpful. “But that’s rather the job of a vicar—interfering in the lives of parishioners in the hope of bettering them.”

“Then he has made a very bad job of it. And he has a very obsequious manner, which I have always found quite annoying.”

She almost gaped at him. “And yet he was always such a great favorite of yours, as was Mrs. Elton.”

“That is exactly my point, Emma. If Mr. Elton had attended more to his own business instead of interfering in the affairs of others, Mrs. Elton might still be alive.”

A hail from the house interrupted their bizarre conversation. With relief, she saw Frank Churchill coming out into the gardens.

“Good morning, Mr. Woodhouse, Mrs. Knightley,” Frank said as he joined them. “I hope I find you both well.”

“You do,” she replied. “How is everyone at Randalls? Has Jane recovered from last night’s exertions?”

“She has, and I am to thank you for a splendid evening. It was a most welcome occasion.”

“But you must be more careful, Frank,” Father said. “Jane is in a delicate state. I was quite dismayed to see her eat a piece of cake.”

Frank winked at Emma. “Do you hear that, Mrs. Knightley? No more cakes for Jane.”

“Very sensible, although I’m not sure Jane will agree. Now, are you simply passing by, or would you like to join us for tea?”