Page 37 of In the Midnight Hour

“Were you friends?” Hypatia didn’t think so, but she’d sensed a warmth from Mr. Parker. However, she wasn’t sure Northwood reciprocated it.

“No. I’m glad to see he’s doing well.” Northwood’s jaw appeared clenched. There was more to his connection with the solicitor, but it didn’t seem he wanted to share it. Hypatia would not press him.

“We aren’t any closer to finding the missing items,” she said. “Though I am even more convinced they have them—because of our interview with Miss Claverton.”

“I agree.” He relaxed slightly. At least, his features were looser. “I think we should interview Sir Radnor’s servants about the Clavertons.”

“That’s a good idea, though it’s getting late,” Hypatia said. “Shall we call at number twenty-four tomorrow?”

“I’d be delighted.” He helped her into the coach, then climbed in after her.

After they’d traveled for several minutes, Northwood regarded her with slightly narrowed eyes. “I find myself thinking of this other manuscript collector. It would be good to learn his name at least.”

Hypatia nodded. “Yes, we should.”

He studied her a moment, seeming to hesitate before finally speaking. “I do find it curious you’re offering the Clavertons money even whilst believing they’re guilty of theft and murder. They will not need your money if they hang.”

“No, they won’t,” she said quietly. “I suppose I didn’t want to think of that happening.” Or perhaps she’d been too focused on how her generosity might save her reputation. That was an uncomfortable thought.

“I can understand that. I suppose it’s also possible your theory isn’t what happened.” He leaned toward her and lowered his voice to a volume that made her shiver—and not in a good way. “Have you lied at all, Lady Cartwright?” His piercing gaze made her uneasy.

She had lied—by omission. But not about the murder. She swallowed. “I have not.”

Northwood settled back against the seat, and she couldn’t help feeling something had shifted between them.

“Have you stopped believing in my innocence?” she asked, caring far more than she wanted to.

“No. But I have the sense you’re hiding something. I hope you’ll tell me. I can’t help you if I don’t know the truth.”

Hypatia had the sense he was hiding something too—with regard to Mr. Parker. Alas, that had nothing to do with their efforts to vindicate Hypatia.

Northwood gave her a pointed look. “My brother is the smartest man I know, and he’s investigating this murder too. You’d do best to remember that.”

That sounded like a warning.

Chapter 9

After dropping Hypatia at home, North had retired to his study to look over correspondence. Nothing kept his attention, however. It was difficult to carry on as usual when he’d pushed his brother to hold an inquest which had found that Sir Radnor was murdered, and an innocent woman was a prime suspect.

It may not be his fault that Hypatia—he couldn’t help first-naming her in his mind—was being investigated, but he felt a certain responsibility. He’d sought justice for Sir Radnor, and he’d do the same for her.

Did he still believe she was innocent?

The question chilled him, but he couldn’t ignore it. She hadn’t denied that she was keeping something secret. Even so, he didn’t think it was murder or even theft. He still believed her to be innocent of those crimes.

She seemed slow to trust, or at least to accept anything more than their working partnership. Perhaps she simply needed more time. North was afraid she wouldn’t have it. Bow Street’s investigation into Sir Radnor’s murder and the suspects, which included her, would continue apace.

Hypatia was not the only reason he was brooding. The encounter with Parker had shaken him. North hadn’t seen him in several years, though he’d known the man was a practicing solicitor.

That was because Parker hadn’t been invited to the bar despite his keen intelligence and overwhelming qualifications. Parker lacked status. Even worse, he’d earned the hatred of a very powerful man in Society, the Duke of Eastleigh, who’d gone to great lengths to ensure Parker never advanced in the law. Both North and Harry had done their best to advocate for Parker, but it hadn’t been enough to overcome the duke’s slander.

How North wished he could go back fifteen years—to their time at Oxford—and erase his cowardly behavior. He should have protected Parker and stood up to Eastleigh. Harry had done that. It hadn’t mattered in the end, but perhaps if North had joined him—and convinced others in his obnoxious set of fellow peers and heirs—Parker might be the successful barrister or even MP that he deserved to be.

Instead, North had thought it more important to preserve his place in that set, to be the vaunted heir to the Earl of Aylesbury that his father expected him to be. He’d been young, arrogant, and incredibly selfish, whilst Harry had displayed courage and integrity.

Sitting here in his study brooding over Hypatia and fifteen-year-old mistakes wouldn’t accomplish anything. It would, however, draw the notice of his retainers, a few of whom had noted that he hadn’t gone to his club since Sir Radnor’s death. He ought to distract himself from the investigation. And from Hypatia.

North stood just as Rook stepped over the threshold. “My lord, Mr. Sheffield is here to see you.”