Page 32 of In the Midnight Hour

He waggled his brows at her in a way that was probably too flirtatious. “I have my ways.”

“You are a man of many talents, it seems,” she murmured.

“Thank you.” He touched his hand to his chest. “It means a great deal to me that you would say that. I wasn’t sure you even liked me.”

One of her dark honey-brown brows arched. “I don’t recall saying I did.”

He held his breath. “Does that mean you don’t like me?”

“Nor do I recall saying I didn’t,” she said pertly. “We are partners in this investigation, as you stated. Liking one another isn’t required.”

“You wound me. I’d hoped we were flirting.”

“Absolutely not,” she answered far too quickly. “I only accepted your help because I’d be a fool not to.”

North was a bit deflated, but he wasn’t crushed. Not yet anyway. A partnership gave them plenty of time to become acquainted. “This may be the start of a wonderful friendship.”

“A partnership,” she corrected. “We are some ways from becoming friends, Lord Northwood.”

“Then I’ve something to look forward to. And it’s North, if you please. Whether we’re bosom friends or bitter enemies, everyone calls me North.”

She moved toward the doorway to the entrance hall. “I’ll send word when I’m ready to depart.”

He followed her. “I look forward to it, Lady Cartwright.”

Pausing, she turned to face him, and he bowed.

“I don’t suppose you’d share your given name?” he asked. “Not that I mean to address you in such a familiar fashion. I only wanted to know.”

She hesitated, and he feared she wouldn’t answer. After all, they were a long way from being friends, apparently.

“Hypatia.”

“For the scholar?”

“My father chose it.” Her tone was flat, and North wasn’t sure if that was to do with mentioning her father or that she didn’t like her name. Pity, for he found it lovely.

“It suits you. And now, I shall be on my way.” He sobered and met her gaze earnestly. “Will you send for me if you need help whilst Drummond and the constables are still here? I’m but a shout away.”

“I’m not going to shout for you, but yes, I will send someone to fetch you if I require assistance. Thank you.” She looked at him with bemusement.

“Happy to be of service.” He bowed to her, then departed, opening the door himself since the butler was not about. Perhaps he too was overseeing the search. North hoped Drummond and the others weren’t making a terrible mess.

Outside, North walked to the hack Drummond had arrived in and engaged the driver in conversation. Ten minutes later, he knew the man was conveying them back to Marlborough Street. They would not be going to the Clavertons. Which meant North and Lady Cartwright—Hypatia—were free to proceed with their investigative partnership.

North loitered near the hack for a few minutes to see what else he could learn. He saw Mrs. Lambton and Miss Selby walking near the end of the square where Sterling and Elizabeth Streets met. Mrs. Lambton was looking in this direction.

Another flare of anger spiked through him. He didn’t like seeing Hypatia at the center of gossip and innuendo. He was going to do everything in his power to ensure she emerged from this scrutiny unscathed.

Chapter 8

Hypatia sat on the forward-facing seat of Lord Northwood’s exceptionally well-sprung coach. He’d told her that he’d just purchased it a few weeks ago, saying he needed a new vehicle to go along with his new house. She was glad for the comfort since the Clavertons lived in Islington, which was not the shortest of journeys.

Lord Northwood had talked nearly non-stop from his perch on the rear-facing seat, first telling her about the coach and then about moving into his house. The prior owner, Mr. Lawton Parfitt, had died at the splendid age of ninety-one. Dozens of furnishings and personal items had been left in the house, and Lord Northwood’s servants had consolidated everything to a storeroom on the lower ground floor.

“What will you do with it all?” Hypatia asked. She was glad for the distraction from having her house ransacked. The search hadn’t been that bad, but the maids and housekeeper would be working to put everything back to rights for some time.

In the end, Drummond hadn’t found what they were looking for, of course. It had been a wasted endeavor, and Hypatia hadn’t been able to keep herself from pointing that out. Drummond hadn’t seemed to appreciate her comment.