Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price

Author:Tirzah Price
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

In Which Fanny Finds Herself Caught between Two Impulses

“YOU SCARED ME TO death!”

Fanny was glad to have Edmund’s arms around her, for she felt unsteady on her feet. Adrenaline pounded in her veins, demanding release, and it was easier to channel it into outrage.

“What on earth were you thinking?” she demanded. “You nearly tackled me!”

“I thought you were . . . Fanny, I’m so sorry. Hold on, let me . . .” Edmund fumbled in the dark and found the flint and another candle. “What are you doing here?”

The light was a welcome relief, but Fanny still felt shivery at the sight of those leaping shadows. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be performing with Mary?”

“Not for a while yet,” he said. “I saw you give Aunt Norris the slip. It took me a little while to figure out where you’d gone, but I should have known you’d be here. Did you get it?”

“Get what?” Fanny asked, heart skipping a beat. How did he know about her uncle’s hiding spot?

“Your painting, of course. Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“Oh.”

Her replication of the Millbrook painting. It felt like an age since she’d hidden it away in that nook upstairs, and even longer since she’d actually thought about it. She’d been distracted as of late, to say the least. She wasn’t sure if she should feel happy that Edmund had thought of her painting or annoyed that he seemed to have forgotten his promise to help her find their uncle’s killer.

“No,” Fanny finally said, her chin jutting out a little. “I was actually searching for evidence.”

Even in the flickering light, Fanny could see the surprise on Edmund’s face. “Really? But I thought . . .”

“You thought that I’d what? Given up? No, actually. While you’ve been entertaining Miss Crawford, I’ve been looking for clues.”

Edmund rubbed at his temples. “Fanny, I know you’re upset about Uncle, but what good will come of this? Do you actually want to be sent away?”

“Of course not! But . . .” She tried to find the words that matched her complicated roil of feelings. “They might send me away anyway, Edmund. If they do, I want to have at least discovered the truth. And if I can solve this mystery, then perhaps whoever is left standing will . . .”

She wasn’t quite sure how to finish that sentence.

“Be so grateful that they’ll keep you on?” Edmund asked, and the sarcasm in his tone stung. “Fanny, you’re being far too idealistic! The family wants nothing more than to move on. If there was foul play, one of them is probably responsible and I doubt the others would relish you inviting scandal to Mansfield by bringing this all to light.”

“But don’t you care about the truth?”

“I can’t help you if I have no money!”

Fanny’s anger evaporated, leaving her feeling deflated. “Of course. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

Edmund shook his head. She’d never seen him so frustrated. “I’m sorry, too. It’s not that I don’t care . . . I just care a little bit more about the future than I do the past.

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