Page 21 of Murder in Highbury

Mrs. Weston stared at her in speechless horror.

“It was fine,” Emma hastened to reassure her friend. “I heard that person leave by the vestry door. So it was perfectly safe.”

“Emma Woodhouse, it was nothing of the sort,” Mrs. Weston exclaimed, reverting to her governess ways. “You could have been killed!”

“As I said, the person had already fled the vestry. Nevertheless, I armed myself with a candlestick from the altar, just in case.”

Mrs. Weston covered her eyes.

“And you needn’t scold me,” Emma added. “George has already made an adequate job of that.”

Last night, after they’d gone to bed, he’d given her another lecture about the need to observe caution and to avoid meddling. It had taken a concerted effort to distract him, although distract him she had, and to their mutual satisfaction.

“I certainly cannot blame the poor man,” Mrs. Weston said. “You must be more careful, Emma. Who knows what sort of madman could be about?”

“I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“And you’re not to walk here alone, either, at least for the time being. If Mr. Weston has not returned by the time you leave, I will send the kitchen boy along with you.”

Emma bit back a smile. “A very sensible precaution, to be sure.”

Mrs. Weston brushed an invisible wrinkle from her skirts and made an effort to compose herself. “Now, you said there was something you wished to ask me. I will make a wild guess and assume it’s about something you discovered in the church. Mr. Weston told me that the church was robbed, and that very likely poor Mrs. Elton surprised the thief during the act. Did you find something pertaining to the robbery?”

“Only Mrs. Elton was robbed and her necklace taken. The church’s silver and plate remained untouched.”

Mrs. Weston frowned. “How strange. If that was the case, why murder Mrs. Elton? Why not just take the necklace and flee?”

“That is a very pertinent question, although not one Dr. Hughes or Constable Sharpe seem particularly vexed about. Both assume that upon killing Mrs. Elton, the thief panicked and fled the scene. I suppose that’s possible, but given the cold-blooded way Mrs. Elton was murdered, one would think the killer not inclined to panic.”

Rather than panicking, the killer had taken the time to attempt to eliminate the evidence of his—or her—presence in the church.

Mrs. Weston studied her with consternation. “I hope you’re not intending to meddle in the investigation, my dear.”

Emma widened her eyes, trying to look innocent. “I cannot imagine why you would think I would. I’m merely curious, as any rational person would be. And . . . I’m also concerned.”

“About someone in particular? Someone we know, perhaps?” Mrs. Weston shrewdly asked.

“Yes.” She opened her reticule and drew out the mystery handkerchief. “I found this outside, by the lych-gate. Since it was clear to me that whoever was in the vestry had escaped using the side door, I went out to the churchyard to see if I could catch a glimpse of him. Or her.”

Mrs. Weston’s eyebrows shot up. “Her?”

Emma handed over the dainty piece of fabric. “This is what I found.”

Her friend examined it. “Anyone could have dropped this in the past few days. How do you know . . . ?” Her voice trailed off. As she glanced up, a dawning alarm collected in her light brown eyes.

“Yes, that is a bloodstain,” Emma confirmed.

Mrs. Weston held the piece of fabric gingerly, now looking slightly ill. “Mr. Knightley has seen this?”

“He wanted to take it to Dr. Hughes first thing this morning, but I told him I would do it.”

“Would it not be more appropriate for him to do so? I hate to think of you so involved in this matter, Emma.”

“I suggested that it made more sense if I took it. Dr. Hughes will wish to know why I didn’t tell him last night.” She shrugged. “It was because I simply forgot in all the excitement.”

“How could you forget about a bloodstained handkerchief?”

“I didn’t notice the blood at first.” She circled a finger. “Dead body inside the church, remember? It was only later that George and I saw the stain. I think we can all agree it would be a stupendous coincidence if the blood didnotbelong to Mrs. Elton.”