His tone suggested that it was the first sensible thing she’d done during the entire episode.
Emma spent the next few minutes recounting the rest of what had transpired—sans the detail of Mr. Elton throwing himself into her arms. There was no need to embarrass the poor man.
“Thank you, Mrs. Knightley,” Dr. Hughes said. “Your testimony has been most clarifying.”
Assuming he was finished, and grateful for the opportunity to escape, she had begun to rise when he held up a restraining hand.
“Not quite yet, madam,” he said.
Rats.He was going to ask her about that wretched handkerchief, after all.
“I would like to return to the matter of the handkerchief,” he confirmed.
Emma fixed a placid expression to her face. In order to help Miss Bates, she had to remain calm.
The doctor raised a finger. “You stated that you put the handkerchief away and did not remember it until later that evening.”
“Correct.”
Then he spread his hands wide. “Mrs. Knightley, how could you forget something that turned out to be so vitally important?”
“Dr. Hughes, people go through the lych-gate into the churchyard all the time. Anyone could have dropped it.”
“Really?” he replied with blatant skepticism.
She gave him a sweet smile. “Many of Highbury’s residents like to visit the resting places of their departed loved ones. For instance, I visit the grave of my own dear mother on a regular basis.”
Her answer flustered him, forcing him to take a moment to recover his composure. “So, when did you discover that it was, in fact, avitalclue in the investigation?”
“Since it belongs to Miss Bates, I hardly think it’s a vital clue, sir. She simply dropped it when hurrying from the church in her quite understandable fright.”
“I will be the judge of what is and is not a vital clue, Mrs. Knightley. Now, please answer the question.”
She had to repress a scowl. “When my husband and I noticed the small stain of blood on it, we realized the handkerchief could have some relevance to the circumstances.”
Mr. Elton’s head jerked up, and he peered at her, as if perplexed or even befuddled.
“Mrs. Knightley, did you recognize whom the item belonged to?” asked Dr. Hughes.
Emma drew her attention away from Mr. Elton and back to the doctor. “Not immediately.”
“But you did conclude that the handkerchief with the bloodstain belongs to Miss Bates, did you not?”
“Eventually, yes,” she reluctantly replied.
When excited buzz went through the crowd, her heart sank further.
“And why did you not bring this to my attention first thing the next morning?” Dr. Hughes asked in a stern tone.
“Simply because I wasn’t sure at that point if it did belong to Miss Bates. I wished to ascertain that for myself before approaching you with the matter.”
He let out an indignant little huff. “A most irregular course of action, Mrs. Knightley. As I am sure your husband will agree.”
“And you will certainly have the opportunity to ask him that yourself.”
George cleared his throat—covering up a laugh, she had no doubt.
“In any event,” she added, “I did not wish to risk presenting you with false or misleading evidence.”
