The spinster, unfortunately, caught the exchange of glances.
“You mustn’t worry about me, Mrs. Weston,” Miss Bates earnestly said. “If Mrs. Knightley wishes this information to be confidential, I assure you that my lips will be sealed—as well sealed as any of the letters I send to Jane. And I put agreatdeal of sealing wax on them, you know.”
“Of course, but I’m also not fond of keeping secrets from my husband,” Mrs. Weston said.
“I trust you understand that necessity, however,” Emma wryly replied.
Her friend huffed out a breath. “Very well. What, precisely, are you worried about?”
“Prudence’s manner of death, for one thing. I don’t know if you’re aware that the casement windows on that floor are quite narrow.”
“How observant of you,” Miss Bates said with admiration. “Of course, one is simply struck by the general beauty of Donwell, not necessarily the particulars.”
Mrs. Weston frowned. “Now that you mention it, I am aware that they’re long but narrow.”
“It wouldn’t be easy to fall out of one,” Emma said. “Even if someone was … unwell.”
Mrs. Weston looked blank for a few seconds and then let out a gasp. “Are you suggesting someone was in the room with Prudence?”
“Heavens!” cried Miss Bates.
Emma held up her hands again. “I’m not entirely sure what I’m suggesting. But it has come to my attention that someone was bothering Prudence that evening. In fact, behaving quite inappropriately.”
“How did you acquire this information?” Mrs. Weston asked.
“From Mrs. Hodges and Harry. It was clear to me that they were concerned about something but were reluctant to speak in front of Constable Sharpe and Dr. Hughes.”
Miss Bates crinkled her face, making her spectacles go lopsided. “I can certainly sympathize. Constable Sharpe can be quite intimidating.”
“For a nincompoop,” Emma couldn’t help but add.
Mrs. Weston tsked at her.
“In any event,” Emma continued, “this person was very forward with Prudence, which caused her to be quite upset. He was inebriated as well.”
“Are you referring to William Cox?” asked Miss Bates.
Emma blinked. “How did you know?”
“Mrs. Goddard told me.” She frowned. “I don’t quite remember when, although I do know it was before I went to sit with Mr. Woodhouse.”
Nowthatwas interesting. “What did Mrs. Goddard tell you?”
“She said William had consumed a copious amount of ale and was making a nuisance of himself in the great hall. Mrs. Goddard was quite shocked because he was apparently flirting with one of her teachers.”
That was an unexpected revelation. “Do you know which one?”
Miss Bates shook her head. “No, but I’m sure she’d tell me if I asked.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Mrs. Weston dubiously noted.
“But if William was flirting with someone else, why did he then pursue Prudence?” Emma murmured, mostly to herself.
“Mrs. Goddard was very displeased with him,” Miss Bates added. “She gave William a sharp scold and frightened him quite off.”
“That doesn’t seem to have stopped him, if he then went on to make himself a nuisance with Prudence,” said Mrs. Weston.
Rather more than a nuisance, but how to prove it?
