The Highbury Murders_A Mystery Set in the Village of Jane Austen's Emma by Victoria Grossack

Author:Victoria Grossack [Grossack, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery
ISBN: 9781482627459
Google: SCG2mQEACAAJ
Amazon: 1482627450
Goodreads: 17557952
Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub
Published: 2013-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

14 death of a spinster

“No!” Emma cried. “What happened?”

“I will tell you all I know. Fetch the brandy and then join me in the parlor.”

Emma went to the dining room, and hastily prepared a tray with the brandy and three glasses, then joined her husband and their guest in the parlor. Mr. Knightley had pulled up a footstool and had seated himself on it, while Jane blinked sleepily, and then with alarm at the expressions on her hosts’ faces.

“What is it? Tell me – tell me at once,” she implored.

“You were right to be worried,” he said gently. “Miss Bates was found – dead – lying on top of the graves of your grandparents.”

Emma quickly poured a glass of brandy and passed it to Jane, then poured two more, one for her husband and another for herself. “Drink this – please. Mr. Knightley, is it certain? Has Mr. Perry been called?”

“Mr. Perry has been called, but I am afraid it is certain,” Mr. Knightley said. “Your aunt was certainly not breathing, and she was as cold as the earth beneath her.”

“Can you tell me anything more?” asked Jane. “Is anything more known about how she died?”

“Jane – Mrs. Churchill – I think it would be better if you first got a full night’s sleep, and we discussed the details when we know more, in the light of day.”

“I have had a room prepared,” Emma said. “I know you said you would rather go home, but in the circumstances—”

Jane glanced briefly at Emma, nodded, and then turned back to Mr. Knightley. “You know something more,” she said. “I want to know what it is.”

Mr. Knightley sipped his brandy, then spoke slowly. “Very well. You have a right to know. Miss Bates’s head was bashed in.”

Jane closed her eyes and slumped in her seat, while Emma was stunned. “I don’t understand,” Emma asked. “Did that happen when she fell? Or—” and the horror sank in.

“She was killed by someone,” Mr. Knightley said bluntly.

Emma shivered. “That is terrible,” she whispered. “Absolutely terrible.”

“Do you know anything more? What has happened with – her body?” asked Jane.

“Mr. Perry is taking your aunt’s body to the undertaker,” said Mr. Knightley. “I have asked him to come here later, partly because I was afraid you might need his services. Miss Bates told us you were not feeling well, and this cannot help.”

“I am not ill,” Jane assured them, and sighed.

“What more can you tell us, Mr. Knightley?” asked Emma. “What did you do?”

Mr. Knightley asked that more tea be prepared – it would be a long night – and then he settled back to give them all the details of his evening. He had gone first, naturally, to the Eltons – but they explained that Miss Bates had left hours ago – certainly in sufficient time to reach home before dark.

Mr. Elton had volunteered to accompany him in the search for Miss Bates, and Mr. Knightley accepted the offer. Mr. Knightley suggested that they walk from the

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