Page 61 of In the Midnight Hour

“He tried, though he wasn’t always successful.” Killingsworth scoffed. “I believe he obtained another manuscript with the same devilish tactics a few years ago.”

“That must have been the Chaucer,” Hypatia said. “Mr. Huxley is a friend of mine. He said you were at his house last Friday evening and there was discussion of Le Roman de la Rose.”

“There was,” Killingsworth said tightly. He glanced away from them, and North could see his unease. Was that because the others at the dinner prodded him about his loss, or because of what he’d perhaps done after leaving Huxley’s?

North decided he ought to provoke Killingsworth. They didn’t have time to dance around. “Huxley indicated you and Sir Radnor had a rather fierce rivalry, though looking around at your collection, I’d say you were the victor.” Hopefully flattering him would encourage him to speak freely.

“Sir Radnor was rather new to the game. Honestly, he missed out on the peak,” Killingsworth said smugly. “He’s tried to make up for it with his devious machinations. He may win a battle or two, but he will never be recognized as a respected collector!” The man’s voice had climbed, and his face had reddened. He appeared to have quite a temper.

“I should say not, since he’s dead,” North said plainly.

Killingsworth smoothed his hand over his front as he took a deep breath. “Of course.”

Hypatia sent the man a compassionate look. “I know how Sir Radnor could be. I imagine the discussion at dinner last Friday was frustrating for you.”

“Quite.” Killingsworth’s eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded her. “Why are you here exactly?”

North edged closer to Hypatia. He wasn’t sure why. He supposed he just wanted her to feel safe. Killingsworth seemed easily provoked. “Le Roman de la Rose and another manuscript went missing the night of that dinner, and Lady Cartwright would like them back.” From the corner of his eye, he caught Hypatia’s look of surprise and hoped she would quickly mask it. North was taking a risk, not the least of which was the fact that the manuscripts had already been recovered. But Killingsworth wouldn’t know that. “Where did you go after you left Mr. Huxley’s that night?”

Killingsworth flinched. His eyes narrowed further. “I went home. You can’t think to suggest that I stole the manuscripts? I am not the villain here. You must go.”

“We didn’t mean to cause you distress,” Hypatia said kindly.

“I’ve nothing more to say to you. My butler will show you out.” He spun on his heel and strode from the room.

North looked over at Hypatia. “That wasn’t suspicious.”

“Not at all. Do you think he really went home after the dinner?”

“Let’s ask his coachman.” North escorted her into the hall, where they encountered the butler. He showed them out.

North instructed Barlow to find Killingsworth’s mews. “We need to speak with the man’s coachman.”

Barlow was eager to assist. When North and Hypatia were ensconced in the coach, he drove through the square, then circled to the back of Killingsworth’s house. He parked the coach across from the row of mews. “I can find Killingsworth’s coachman, if you like,” he offered.

“Certainly,” North said. “Thank you.”

North climbed down and helped Hypatia to the pavement as the coachman took off to the other side of the narrow street. They watched as Barlow moved amongst the mews. At last, he waved at them.

“That must be it.” North escorted Hypatia across the street.

“This is Johnson, Mr. Killingsworth’s coachman,” Barlow said. “He’s a bit unsettled about answering questions.”

“I understand.” North withdrew a coin from his pocket and handed it to the other coachman. “We don’t wish to put you in a difficult position. Mr. Killingsworth will not know you spoke to us.”

It wasn’t a fib. If Johnson had information that would help the investigation, North would direct Drummond to speak with him. Though, if Killingsworth had killed Sir Radnor, Johnson needn’t worry that his employer would be upset with him.

Johnson pocketed the coin. “Thank you, my lord.”

North glanced at Hypatia, and she gave him a slight nod to continue. “Johnson, we wanted to ask you about Mr. Huxley’s dinner gathering last Friday. We understand Mr. Killingsworth left Mr. Huxley’s around midnight. Is that what you recall?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“And where did you take Mr. Killingsworth?” North asked.

“Nowhere at first,” the coachman replied. “He said he wanted to walk to clear the anger from his mind. It seemed a good idea to me, as he was fairly irate. He was also quite foxed, and sometimes he can be…difficult.” He seemed to mull what word to choose, and North sensed he’d settled for something gentler than the truth.

“Where did he walk?” Hypatia asked, which was North’s next question.