“I share your opinion, sir. No apology is necessary.”
“I surely hope you can help Dick,” he earnestly said. “He’s a good man, even if he sometimes can’t get himself out of his own way.”
“Mr. Knightley will do everything he can to help him,” Emma assured him. “Thank you, sir, and please give my best to Mrs. Mitchell.”
“I will, ma’am, and I’ll have that cheddar sent round by the end of the afternoon.”
As they set off down the lane, Frank looked thoughtful. “So, Dick Curtis should be in the clear. Unfortunately, poor Aunt Hetty may now again fall under suspicion.”
Emma sighed. “Yes, I have little doubt that Mr. Sharpe will now pester Miss Bates again.”
Frank made a small growling noise. “I think it’s time the constable and I have a word about this harassment of Aunt Hetty.”
“Given his temperament, that will not help. But George and Dr. Hughes will manage him, never fear.”
“For now,” he grimly replied.
She pulled him to a halt. “No one in Highbury believes that Miss Bates is responsible for Mrs. Elton’s murder except for silly Constable Sharpe. Surely you know that?”
“And are you entirely sure that’s so?” he challenged.
It took her a moment to understand. “Mr. Elton? No, he doesn’t believe it, either. He simply thought he was doing the right thing by bringing the promissory note to George’s attention.”
“Always so dutiful, our vicar,” Frank sarcastically replied. “In this case, I wish he’d exercised more judgment than duty.”
“Yes, but he truly regrets it now.”
“No doubt because he is exiled from both Hartfield and Randalls. My father is furious with Mr. Elton, which is an unusual state for him, as you know. He won’t let the bounder set foot on the grounds.”
“My father feels the same. I’ve never seen him so vexed about anything.”
“Bless the dear fellow. He’s been quite the champion on Aunt Hetty’s behalf.”
“Well, I look forward to the day when this dreadful mess is behind us. Then Father can go back to insisting that we all eat Serle’s hideous gruel, and Miss Bates can fuss about Jane’s letters or her mother’s spectacles.”
He flashed a quick smile that bordered on a smirk. “Spectacles. I’m very good at repairing them, as you know.”
Despite her worries, Emma couldn’t help but laugh. Whilst secretly betrothed to Jane, Frank had used every excuse to spend time with her, but in a seemingly innocent fashion. He had offered to sit with Mrs. Bates and even once had repaired her spectacles.
“It was too bad of you, Frank. I’m sure you were laughing at all of us behind our backs.”
As they turned into the high street, his features fell into serious lines. “Sometimes, but I also caused my dearest Jane a great deal of distress. And now to see her in distress again . . .” He struck a fist against his palm. “We must put an end to this. The true killer must be run to ground.”
“Please know that George truly is doing everything possible. We all are, Frank. You must be patient and reassure Jane as best you can. It would be a terrible thing if her health were to take an adverse turn because of this.”
“If there’s more of this, I can assure you that Sharpe’s health will be adversely affected, too.”
Alarmed by his tone, Emma did her best to turn his thoughts toward more cheerful channels. She enquired after his uncle and the estate in Yorkshire and wondered if he and Jane would be visiting London. Such harmless chitchat, along with a few encounters with locals as they walked through the village, seemed to restore his peace of mind.
“Will you come in for tea?” she asked when they reached Hartfield. “Father would be so pleased to see you.”
“Gladly, although I don’t imagine Mr. Knightley will have returned yet.”
“Not for another hour or so, I would imagine.”
She couldn’t help thinking it might be better if Frank was safely returned to Randalls before George returned to Hartfield. While her husband had been the soul of courtesy last night, she had no wish to try his patience further.
Her father, ensconced in the drawing room, hailed their appearance with relief. “Thank goodness you’ve returned. It’s much too hot for all this walking about. Where did you go?”
