“We confirmed that Barlowe is not a suspect, nor is Mrs. Stokes.”
“I’m not sure how that helps.”
George glanced down at her. “Does it not strike you as interesting that we have a smuggling gang in the vicinity of Highbury, and yet they’ve made no attempt in the past six years to enlist the help of the only innkeeper in the village? One would think that would be a natural partnership for any self-respecting smuggling gang.”
Emma frowned, her pace involuntarily slowing. “Because they knew there would be no point.”
George smiled. “Exactly.”
“Dearest, of course! Because it’s the same gang as six years ago!”
“Or at least one involving some of the same people.”
She squeezed his arm. “George, that’s very good.”
“I have my moments,” he wryly replied.
“You have many good moments. You’re quite the smartest man in Surrey. That’s why I married you.”
He cast her a knowing glance. “That’s theonlyreason?”
Emma felt her cheeks grow hot. “Hush, George. We’re out in public.”
He chuckled.
“You realize what this means,” she said.
“Yes, but I’d like your thoughts on the matter.”
“It means that the smugglers know a great deal about Highbury and those who live here.”
“Yes, they are quite familiar with us, as we had begun to suspect.”
Emma’s spurt of elation faded as the full implications of that sank in. Someone, perhaps even a local, had a very close eye on Highbury and the people who lived there.
And whoever that was, they weren’t afraid to kill to achieve their aims.
CHAPTER26
“How tiresome that you must return to London so soon,” Emma said as she poured herself another cup of tea. “You’re gone so often these days I fear you’ll forget what I look like.”
George eyed her from across the breakfast table. “Did I forget what you looked like last night?”
She widened her eyes in mock innocence. “Since the lights were out, I cannot say.”
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Then next time, I suggest we leave a lamp lit. That way you can be sure I haven’t forgotten what you look like.”
Despite herself, Emma felt a blush rise to her cheeks. “What a thing to say, George. I’m terribly shocked.”
He returned to slicing his ham. “You didn’t seem shocked last night, my dear. The opposite in fact.”
While that was certainly true, it wasquiteanother thing to discuss it over the breakfast table.
Fortunately, Henry entered the dining room, sparing Emma the need to take her husband to task.
“Good morning,” she said to the boy. “I hope you slept well.”
“Yes, thank you. I always sleep well at Donwell. It’s ever so much quieter than Hartfield, and I even get my own bed.”
