Page 105 of Murder in Highbury
“I’m going into Highbury to run an errand, so I thought to see if you had any need to go into the village. I should be happy to escort you.”
His offer was accompanied by a significant look she could easily decipher. Frank wished to speak with her privately.
Hiding her surprise behind a smile, she agreed. “Let me fetch my hat.”
It took but a few minutes to settle her father in the drawing room and then retrieve her hat. But by the time she rejoined Frank, he was clearly in a fever of impatience.
He took her arm and began to march her down the graveled drive.
“Goodness, Frank,” she exclaimed. “Why all the rush?”
He smiled sheepishly and slowed his pace. “Jane frequently scolds me for rushing about like a madman. Can’t think how she puts up with me.”
“I expect it has something to do with your large fortune.”
He burst into laughter. “Dear Emma, please never change.”
“Why would I? Now, what has you in such a fever?”
“It’s about Dick Curtis,” he said as they passed between Hartfield’s gates. “He’s been falsely accused.”
She shot him a sharp glance. “Truly? I rather suspected as much, but why doyouthink that?”
“Because of Sally Linden, a housemaid at Randalls. Do you know her?”
“Yes. I believe Mrs. Weston thinks very well of her.”
“She also happens to be Dick Curtis’s niece.”
When Emma came to a startled halt, Frank walked on a few paces before noticing and coming about.
“I didn’t know that,” she exclaimed.
He nodded. “Yes, and Sally swears that her uncle was nowhere near the church at the time of the murder, and there is a witness to prove it.”
He took her arm and began to walk her into the village high street.
“I assume we’re going to see that person now,” she wryly said.
“Yes. I intended to alert Mr. Knightley, but your footman says he’s away for the day.”
“He’s riding to Guildford to speak with Dick Curtis in the county gaol.”
Frank snorted. “Constable Sharpe strikes again.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Poor Sally is in tatters over it, so I thought if we could verify Dick’s whereabouts at the time of the murder, you could tell Mr. Knightley when he returns to Hartfield.”
“Why not go to Constable Sharpe with this information?”
“Sally went straight to the blasted man first thing this morning, but he’s convinced Dick is the killer. Wouldn’t even listen to the poor girl.”
Emma shook her head. “That man issucha nuisance. But what about Dr. Hughes?”
“He was apparently indisposed this morning and not taking callers.”
“How inconvenient. Perhaps he is still in mourning for his chickens.”
