Page 31 of In the Midnight Hour

“Instead, you have those in addition to twenty-five thousand pounds and another house. You’ll have the grandest house in the square if you combine the two.”

She shook her head again, this time in a disbelieving fashion. “I have no desire to own the grandest house in Pemberton Square. I’m quite comfortable with what my late husband left me.”

North wanted to ask her everything about her marriage but settled for one question. “How long were you married?”

“Nearly five years. And before you ask, no, we didn’t have any children.”

“I wasn’t going to ask.” That didn’t mean he hadn’t wanted to.

She rolled her eyes. “Everyone asks. So thank you for not.”

North was doubly glad he hadn’t asked more.

“I confess, I feel bad that Sir Radnor left the Clavertons out of his new will, despite what Miss Claverton said about me,” she said with a slight frown. “I’m considering offering the Clavertons a portion of the inheritance, perhaps ten thousand pounds.”

North sat forward in surprise. “What? No.”

She lifted her hands. “Why not? I don’t need that much money, nor do I necessarily want it.”

“Aside from the fact that I’m not sure they deserve your generosity after the way Miss Claverton verbally attacked you at the inquest, I think that’s too much money to give away. They may feel awkward, as if you think they’re a charity case. If you’re insistent, five thousand pounds would be better.” North wouldn’t have given them anything, but he was disinclined to care for them after they’d spoken so poorly of Lady Cartwright and, in his opinion, tried to make her appear guilty.

Others’ reactions to and treatment of her also rankled him quite soundly. Why?

He could say it was an interest in justice or, perhaps more accurately, his desire to protect someone who seemed to have little protection. That realization jolted through him like an electrical current. He shifted uneasily, his mind darting back in time nearly fifteen years to a similar situation at Oxford. North hadn’t cared enough to protect someone who needed it, at least not when it had truly mattered.

He never wanted to make that mistake again.

“Five thousand then,” Lady Cartwright said, drawing him back to the present. “That gives us a reason to call on them—not to search their house, but we could question them about the missing items.”

“We can try, but I doubt very much they’re just going to admit taking them, apologize, and hand them over.” He thrust his hands out as if he were making an offering to her. “Pardon us, Lady Cartwright. We didn’t mean to steal these,” he said in a high-pitched voice as if he were Augusta Claverton.

Lady Cartwright laughed. It was a singular moment in which North was captivated by the way her face illuminated and her eyes sparkled. And the sound…stirred him in a profoundly joyous way. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to spontaneously draft a poem.

“I only want to see their reactions when we ask about them. I’ll think of a way to broach the subject.” She surveyed him with a mild, contemplative frown. “They’ll find it odd that you accompanied me to speak with them. We should have a reasonable explanation.”

“Is your coach in good working order?” North asked.

She blinked. “Of course, why?”

He smiled. “It’s about to have a problem that requires you to accept my offer of transportation for your errand.”

“I see.” She almost smiled. “Very clever.”

“When shall we call on the Clavertons?”

She exhaled as she cast her gaze toward the ceiling briefly. “I can’t leave until Drummond and the constables are finished. I should go upstairs to check on their progress. Mrs. Goss, my housekeeper, is keeping a close watch over them.”

“It’s going to take them some time.” Unfortunately. North was eager to begin their investigation. “Do you want me to stay? I’m happy to keep you company.”

“That isn’t necessary, but thank you.” She rose, and he stood with her. “If the search doesn’t take all day, we could call on the Clavertons this afternoon.”

He nodded. “We can, but only if they don’t go to search the Clavertons’ house after this.”

“How will we know?” she asked.

“Never fear. I’ll find out what they have planned next.”

Doubt flashed in her eyes. “How will you do that?”