Page 5 of In the Midnight Hour

“No, I’d heard he died in the night. I came to fetch a tray that Mrs. Babcock left. She said you wouldn’t allow her to remove the decanter and tumbler.” She glanced toward the bedside table.

“Not until after the coroner arrives.” Harry would know precisely what to do.

“May I fetch the tray?” Her gaze moved to a table near the hearth upon which sat a silver tray.

“Of course.” North realized he still held the book from Lady Cartwright and set it back on the bedside table. He took a few steps toward the door, meeting the maid before she departed. “I understand Lady Cartwright was here last night. Can you tell me why?”

“She often comes for dinner.” The maid clasped her hands before her. “She and Sir Radnor discuss books.”

That explained the gift and the inscription. “Thank you.” North wanted to address the maid by her name. “What are you called?”

“Cora, my lord.”

“Cora, do you know what time Lady Cartwright departed?” North asked.

She shook her head. “Not for certain. I know she and Sir Radnor dined and drank port in the library downstairs. Sometimes, she’s here quite late. Maberly will likely know when she left.”

Quite late. A widow and an aging baronet who regularly discussed books and drank port. And shared an affection.

“I shall ask the butler. Thank you again, Cora.” North inclined his head toward the maid, and she dipped a curtsy before leaving with the tray.

North considered visiting Lady Cartwright despite the hour. Something was off, no matter how much Sir Radnor’s death might appear to be an accident.

What if it was murder?

Harry would know what to do.

North only hoped he’d share what was learned from interviewing everyone, particularly Lady Cartwright. Whatever her connection to Sir Radnor, she was one of the last people to see him alive.

Chapter 2

Maberly returned to Sir Radnor’s bedchamber with a gentleman of middle age who looked as though he’d rushed his toilet. His cravat was crooked, and the dark whiskers shading his jaw indicated he was in need of a shave.

The man’s gaze landed on North. “Lord Northwood, I presume?”

North nodded. “Dr. Ellingham?”

“Yes, it’s most kind of you to help Sir Radnor’s household in this difficult time.” The physician looked to the body on the carpet and frowned. “This is terribly unfortunate.” He glanced toward Maberly. “Please set my case down next to Sir Radnor.”

Dr. Ellingham knelt on the side of Sir Radnor where he was facing and looked up at Maberly. “Did you say you listened for his heartbeat?”

“I didn’t, but Mrs. Babcock and I could tell he wasn’t breathing,” Maberly explained. “Nevertheless, I shook his shoulder and tried to wake him. He didn’t so much as twitch. His coloring is also quite…poor.”

“I’m going to turn him over.” Dr. Ellingham pushed at Sir Radnor’s shoulder, but he didn’t move.

“Allow me to help,” North said, moving to Sir Radnor’s bare feet.

“Thank you.” Dr. Ellingham positioned himself above Sir Radnor’s head and, together, they rotated him to his back. “Ah, I see the wound. His head was split clean open.”

The room fell eerily silent for a moment as Dr. Ellingham regarded Sir Radnor. He put his hand on Sir Radnor’s cheek. “Cool, but not as cold as he will be in the coming hours.” Then he pressed into the man’s flesh. “Lividity has started, and rigor has set in. He died a few hours ago, perhaps a little more, I’d say.”

“Sometime in the middle of the night then,” North said. “The retainers think he fell and hit his head on the finial.”

Dr. Ellingham turned his head to look at the bedpost. “I see the blood. That’s a sharp enough point on the finial to cause a wound like this.” He returned his attention back to Sir Radnor and leaned close to examine the man’s injured temple. Gently, he smoothed Sir Radnor’s white hair away from the wound and inspected it more closely. With his thumb, he pressed into the damaged flesh.

After a few moments of exploration, he removed his hands from Sir Radnor. “A cloth to clean my hands, if you please, Maberly.”

The butler hurried to the washstand.