Page 81 of Murder in Highbury

Miss Bates turned pleading eyes on George. “That is not true, sir. The constable hardly gave me a chance to speak, and my mother was becoming upset.”

Emma’s anger stirred again. “Really, Mr. Sharpe, frightening two helpless women. I cannot imagine what you were thinking.”

“I’m thinking that I’m trying to catch a murderer,” he retorted.

“You’re not going to find him here!”

“Thank you, my dear,” George dryly put in. “Now, Miss Bates, can you tell us why you signed the promissory note with Mrs. Elton?”

“I’ll . . . I’ll try, Mr. Knightley, but everything has been so confusing. I can barely put two thoughts together.”

“I understand. So, let us start at the beginning. You signed the note approximately two months ago, for fifty pounds. Is that correct?”

“Yes. I thought it too much money, but Mrs. Elton insisted. She said that for her, it was just a trifle.”

It was anything but, unless one was either very rich or very careless.

“Miss Bates,” Emma said, “if you needed money, why didn’t you simply ask Jane or me? We are always happy to help you.”

The spinster looked woeful. “I didn’t truly need the money. That’s what I tried to tell Mrs. Elton, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

Emma and George exchanged a startled glance. Even Mr. Sharpe looked rather blank.

“Then why agree to borrow it?” George asked.

“But I didn’t borrow anything. In fact, IgaveMrs. Elton money, and then she insisted on loaning me the rest.”

Emma frowned. “Forgive me, ma’am. Why wouldyougive Mrs. Elton money, only to have her then turn about and loan you funds?”

Miss Bates fluttered a hand. “I’m afraid I don’t entirely understand it myself.”

“Can you tell me what prompted the discussion of money with Mrs. Elton in the first place?” George asked. “That would be most helpful.”

She made an effort to compose herself. “Mrs. Elton had come to visit because she knew we were expecting a letter from Jane. So very kind, you know, always interested to hear about Jane and Frank. Of course, I no longer need to read Jane’s letters to you, Mrs. Knightley, because you correspond with her quite regularly.”

After many months of misunderstandings and ill feelings, and once all secrets had been revealed, Emma and Jane had finally been able to strike up a true friendship. They wrote to each other twice a month, thus sparing Emma the obligation of listening to Miss Bates parse letters from her niece. She had truly come to value her friendship with Jane, but there could still be too much of a good thing.

“So, Mrs. Elton stopped by to hear you read Jane’s letter,” Emma prompted.

“Yes. And somehow . . . I’m not really sure . . . but somehow, we began to talk about money. I still cannot understand how the subject even arose. But Mrs. Elton was so easy to talk to, you know. There was never any lack of subjects to discuss.”

“What led to Mrs. Elton’s offer to loan you funds?” George asked.

“Let me think . . . Yes, it started with the letter. Jane always makes a point of asking if we need anything, perhaps a little extra money for Mother’s medicine, or if I might need a new pair of spectacles. That sort of thing.”

“Perfectly appropriate,” Emma said.

Miss Bates grimaced. “We hate that Jane and Frank feel they must take care of us, as if we are poor dependents. They give us more than we could possibly need.”

“What does that have to do with Mrs. Elton?” Constable Sharpe interjected.

Though George gave him a baleful glare, Miss Bates reacted calmly enough.

“I mentioned to her that I wished Jane didn’t feel so responsible for us. Mother and I have everything we need. So much so that I have . . . Ihadten pounds that I was able to put away over the past few years. I was determined not to spend it, so we’d have it for emergencies.”

Emma was surprised to hear Miss Bates was so adept at handling her money. For a woman in her position, ten pounds was a considerable sum.

“Then how did you find yourself accepting a loan from Mrs. Elton?” George gently asked.