“For what it is worth, I agree,” Mr. Willoughby said. “He will think it odd that I have kept away from him today, and it has been apparent for days now that all of you are working together to discover the identity of the murderer. He may already fear he is found out, and I do not wish to give him the chance to act.”
Mr. Willoughby glanced skeptically at Sir Edward. “My uncle said that there was something he wished to speak to you about?”
“He spoke to me about the raft – he feared our companions would need some convincing, but Bertram and Parker were quite keen,” Sir Edward said.
“I cannot think why,” Elizabeth said, shuddering at the thought of the murky expanse of water that surrounded them.
Emma scrunched up her face with distaste. “I should not traverse that cold, stinking water for all the world!”
Mr. Willoughby laughed indulgently. “My dear, he has killed six people; floating across some icy muck is the least of his worries.”
“I should thinkweare his greatest worry,” Cathy said. “We are about to be his biggest problem.”
Mr. Tilney rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Shall we go get him?”
“We must go about it properly,” Mr. Darcy said. “No squabbling between us; we must present a unified front. We must act quickly and decisively to prevent him from harming anybody else once he is exposed.”
“I think we ought to explain it all to the others,” Mr. Tilney said. We can call everyone to dinner; if I send word to Mrs. Penny now it will be a late meal, but manageable.”
Mr. Willoughby gave a ponderous nod. “Seated at the table would be an easy way to catch him unawares. We could overpower him and tie him up.”
“We can plant the rope in the room in advance, and arrange the seating strategically,” Sir Edward added.
“And perhaps we can warn the others ahead of time, tell them what to expect,” Elizabeth said. “If we do not, I should be surprised if anyone would be willing to leave their rooms again!”
“My uncle may be suspicious,” Mr. Willoughby mused. “I cannot guess what he may be thinking of me spending the day with you all.”
“Tell him you acted on his advice,” Emma said. “Tell him that I accepted you proposal, and turn the table on the odious man – gethimdrunk!”
“My clever bride!” Mr. Willoughby brought Emma’s hand to his lips, then winked at Harriet. “Have you any clever advice, Cousin?"
Harriet pondered for a moment. “It may be some time before dinner can be arranged, and all of us prepared. For how long can you stall him?”
“An hour, perhaps longer if you would permit me to distract him with thewholetruth.”
Harriet and Emma exchanged a look and a nod. “Yes,” Emma said. “If you must. He is soon to be hanged for his crimes, anyhow.”
Lady Allen tittered nervously. “Perhaps you might also distract him and put him off his guard if you tell him that we mean to reveal the identity of the killer. You know, throw him off the scent.”
“That is clever, Margaret,” Sir Edward said. “Perhaps say that we are convinced it is somebody else, Crawford and the widow Rushworth are suspicious enough.”
“I daresay he may be tempted to watch someone else take the falls for his crimes,” Emma sniffed.
“I can speak to Mrs. Rushworth, I believe we esteem one another, though I should hardly call us friends,” Elizabeth said. “She has offered twice to be of assistance.”
“I will accompany you for safety,” Mr. Darcy said. “We cannot know where Sir Elliot may be lurking.”
“No, I will go,” Emma said. “Mrs. Rushworth is sharing a suite with my aunt.”
“We wish to be useful, too – do we not, girls?” Lady Allen smiled indulgently at her daughters.
“Oh, yes,” Cathy cried. “Maybe we could go and speak with Miss Denham and Mr. Parker? If everybody is aware of the plan, there will be less squabbling and accusing one another at dinner, and we can proceed directly in explaining what we have discovered about Sir Walter.”
Harriet smiled brightly as she thought of another contribution to the plan. “We should bring all our evidence to dinner to present. Cousin, could you obtain a sample of Sir Walter’s writing, like you said?”
He nodded. “The book he loaned me, I shall say Miss Woodhouse wishes to read it and discuss it with me.”
Harriet giggled. “Prepare yourself for something very dreadful, Mr. Willoughby. Emma and I have made extensive and ambitious reading lists, and have often sat down to read together, but I am sure we never get three pages before we decide we have improved ourselves enough, and seek some other occupation!”
