Page 86 of Murder in Highbury

Thankfully, Dr. Hughes had chosen to support George rather than the constable. Although still disturbed by Miss Bates’s actions on the day of the murder, the coroner was old-fashioned enough to be repelled by the notion of placing a gentlewoman under arrest. He’d also agreed that the existence of the promissory note should be repressed for now in order to keep gossip about the case to a minimum.

“Speaking of Mr. Elton,” Harriet said with some hesitation, “I ran into him at the top of Vicarage Lane. He guessed that I was coming to Hartfield, and asked that I convey his best wishes to you, along with his hopes that everyone at Hartfield was in good health.”

Emma sighed. “How did he seem?”

“Very cast down. I wish I could have been more of a comfort to him, but he wasn’t inclined to talk.”

“Breaking the news to him about Hartfield was the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had. And that, as you know, is saying quite a lot.”

After hearing that Constable Sharpe had tried to arrest Miss Bates, Emma’s father had lost his temper with quite astonishing vigor. He’d insisted that she write to Mr. Elton immediately and forbid him to step foot onto Hartfield’s grounds. No amount of persuasion had been sufficient to change Father’s mind, and Emma supposed she couldn’t blame him.

She’d known immediately that Mr. Elton would be upset by the prohibition. He had always valued his connection with Hartfield—regardless of any past feelings toward its mistress—and would be sensitive to its loss.

Instead of writing, she’d summoned the courage to deliver the unpleasant news in person. Although she’d known he’d be distressed, she hadn’t anticipated how deeply the vicar would be affected. So downcast was he that she’d feared he would burst into tears and once more fall upon her bosom, as he’d done that hideous day in the church. As greatly as she pitied the poor man, she had no desire to reprisethatparticular episode.

Needless to say, she’d fled the vicarage as soon as she could.

“Poor Mrs. Knightley,” Harriet said with ready sympathy. “I wish I could help, either with Mr. Elton or dear Mr. Woodhouse.”

“I’m hopeful that the situation will improve when Jane and Frank arrive. Their presence will give Mrs. and Miss Bates a great deal of comfort and serve as a welcome distraction for everyone.”

“When are they expected?”

“They should arrive at Randalls tomorrow afternoon. Frank insisted that Jane rest for a few days at Leamington Spa, but she is now feeling stronger. There should be no more delays.”

“That is good news indeed.”

“Yes. Now, let’s sit and be comfortable, and you can tell me why you needed to rush over here.”

“Oh, yes!” Harriet exclaimed as she took a seat. “I’d almost forgotten, but I think it could beterriblyimportant. To the investigation, I mean.”

Emma perked up. “Do tell.”

“While Mama and I were at Ford’s, Miss Nash stepped in. We fell to talking, and she told me the strangest thing. And you know Miss Nash is not inclined to gossip, so I think we must take it seriously.”

Miss Nash, the head teacher at Mrs. Goddard’s, had been a good friend to Harriet when she was a parlor boarder at the school. But as far as Emma could ascertain, the young woman delighted in gossip as much as the next person. After all, she had once told Harriet that Anne Cox would have been happy to marry Robert Martin.

Although, in that case, her idle chatter had proved accurate.

“What did she tell you?”

Harriet leaned closer, almost whispering. “A few days before her murder, Mrs. Elton visited the school to speak to Mrs. Goddard. Miss Nash overheard Mrs. Elton say to the maid that she needed to speak to Mrs. Goddard on an urgent matter.” She paused dramatically and cast a glance over her shoulder. Apparently, all this murder business had created a burgeoning sense of the dramatic in Emma’s friend.

“We are quite alone, dear,” Emma said. “No one can hear us.”

Harriet looked slightly abashed. “Sorry. Anyway, Miss Nash said that Mrs. Elton and Mrs. Goddard had aterribleargument, which could be heard out in the hall. Mrs. Elton was doing the yelling, and she soundedveryangry.”

Now thatwasinteresting. “I take it Miss Nash was out in the hall?”

Harriet nodded.

“Did she have any idea what the argument was about?” Emma asked.

“She couldn’t make that out.”

“Did Miss Nash have anything else to report?”

“Yes. After a few minutes, Mrs. Elton came storming out of Mrs. Goddard’s office. She marched right past Miss Nash and was very snappy with the maid as she opened the door for her.”