Page 84 of Murder in Highbury

“Yes, I know. Bad Emma.” She hugged Miss Bates. “But, really, it’s utter nonsense.”

Sadly, Miss Bates did not seem to agree it was just nonsense, since she collapsed, weeping, into Emma’s arms.

Mrs. Bates started to struggle up from her seat. “Hetty, you’ll make yourself sick!”

George hastened to her. “Please sit, dear ma’am. Emma will take care of Miss Bates, and Mr. Perry will be here shortly.”

Hasty footfalls thankfully sounded just moments later. Patty burst into the room, followed by the rather winded apothecary.

“Sorry to be so long,” Patty gasped. “I had to run all the way to Abbey Mill Farm to fetch him.”

“And we all but ran back,” he gasped.

“Thank you, sir,” Emma said. “As you can see, Miss Bates is in a rather bad way.”

“What has caused her such distress?”

“Constable Sharpe threatened to arrest her.”

“That varlet will touch her over my dead body,” Mrs. Bates exclaimed.

They all blinked, stunned by such a vigorous defense. Even Miss Bates paused mid-hiccup to stare at her mother.

“Er, quite, Mrs. Bates,” said George. “But it will not come to that.”

The apothecary looked much concerned. “Miss Bates will need to lie down, and then I will attend to Mrs. Bates.”

The old woman waved a hand. “Do not worry about me, Mr. Perry. Just see to Hetty.”

Mr. Perry then helped Miss Bates to her feet and led her off, with Patty tut-tutting behind them.

Mrs. Bates breathed out a weary sigh. “Mr. Knightley, what is going to happen? What are we to do?”

In a calm, comforting voice, George assured her that no harm would come to her daughter.

“We all know Miss Bates had nothing to do with the murder, ma’am,” Emma added. “And Jane and Frank will be here very soon, and then you and Miss Bates will be comfortable again.”

She and George kept up their reassurances until Mr. Perry returned to inform them that Miss Bates was now resting comfortably and should be able to sleep. As his attention turned to Mrs. Bates, Emma and George took their leave. On their way out, they instructed Patty to send a note to Hartfield if either of the ladies needed assistance.

“Good God,” Emma said once down in the street. “I would like tokillthat awful constable.”

“I would suggest you not bandy about that particular sentiment, my dear. You might find yourself behind bars.”

“Along with Miss Bates. George, you simply cannot allow that to happen.”

“I won’t. As you so adroitly pointed out, there was obviously no need for Miss Bates to resort to murder over the loan. It was a superficial and ill-conceived conclusion on the constable’s part.”

“I do hope Dr. Hughes doesn’t behave as idiotically.”

“I suspect I can convince him to disregard Sharpe’s flawed reasoning. But I can certainly prevent either of them from doing anything rash.”

They walked in silence, deep in thought, as they turned their steps toward Hartfield.

“But what a strange story it is,” she finally said. “Mrs. Elton volunteering to invest her own money on Miss Bates’s behalf, only to then insist that she repay the loan a scant two months later. I cannot fathom it.”

“I could be in error, but I suspect that Mrs. Elton lost her investment in some failed scheme, along with the monies she put in on behalf of Miss Bates.”

Emma cast him a startled glance. “But Miss Bates said it was to be invested in a bank, not in any risky sort of undertaking.”