Page 126 of Murder in Highbury

“Are you trying to annoy me?”

“The opposite, my Emma. You’ve had a trying time of it these past few days, and I do not wish you to fret unduly. I assure you that I will do everything in my power to see that justice is done.”

Her flashed of irritation evaporated. “I know you will, dearest. I have complete faith in you.”

They walked up the short path to the vicarage door, but when Emma reached for the knocker, George stopped her.

“If Sharpe’s account of this morning’s events is accurate, Mr. Elton will likely be in a poor state,” he said. “You should prepare yourself and try to temper any shock you may feel.”

“Oh dear. Of course you’re right. It would be upsetting for poor Mr. Elton if I displayed too great a degree of distress.”

“I do not wishyouto be unduly distressed, either. If the situation proves too much for you, please find a way to communicate that to me.”

She went up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I will be fine, dearest. I promise.”

He looked skeptical but reached for the door knocker.

George had barely rapped before the door was yanked open by a rather disheveled-looking footman.

“Mr. Knightley, Mrs. Knightley,” he exclaimed.

When he continued to peer at them, as if mystified by their presence, Emma and George exchanged a glance.

“Is Mr. Elton at home?” George finally asked.

The footman roused himself. “Begging your pardon, sir, but we wasn’t expecting visitors today, to tell you the truth.”

Emma eyed the nasty bruise on the young man’s right cheek. “I’m sure it’s been a terribly difficult day.”

“Indeed, ma’am. I never thought to see the like.” He grimaced. “First, Mr. Suckling murders poor Mrs. Elton, and then he attacks Mr. Elton, then me, then poor Joseph. A body hardly knows what—”

“That will be all, Percy,” snapped an imperious voice.

As if summoned by a wizard, Mrs. Wright appeared out of nowhere—a talent she seemed to possess in abundance.

In his haste to scuttle back from the door, Percy almost tripped over his feet. “Yes, Mrs. Wright. I was just telling Mr. and Mrs. Knightley—”

“So I heard,” she coldly interrupted. “Please keep your attention on your work instead of gossiping about matters that are none of your business.”

When the poor fellow turned a bright pink, Emma leveled a disapproving frown at the housekeeper. But the woman, impervious to that sort of thing, ignored her to run a contemptuous eye over the footman instead.

“Go to your room and make yourself presentable,” Mrs. Wright said. “Immediately.”

When Percy bobbed his head, clearly mortified, Emma couldn’t help but bristle. She’d always considered it the height of rudeness to embarrass a servant in front of guests.

“Thank you, Percy,” she called after him as he hurried away.

He flashed a grateful smile over his shoulder before disappearing into the back hall.

Mrs. Wright dipped into a shallow curtsy. “I beg pardon for any offense, Mr. Knightley. We were not expecting visitors.”

“There was no offense taken,” he replied. “A degree of disruption is not to be wondered at, given the events of the day.”

“You are very kind, but there can be no excuse for slipshod behavior.”

Emma could barely refrain from rolling her eyes. “It’s not every day that one stumbles upon a murderer, who then tries to throttle the master of the house. That would be bound to upset even the most experienced servant.”

When the housekeeper transferred her stony gaze to Emma, George stepped into the breach.