Page 64 of In the Midnight Hour

He dispelled his murderous thoughts and brought himself back into the light. He didn’t want to contribute to Hypatia’s turmoil. “You really must call me North. Everyone does.”

“Does that include your retainers?” she asked pertly.

“Not them.” He gave her a sardonic look. “Everyone else.”

“It’s too familiar.” Her eyes narrowed briefly with faint reproof. “And don’t think I don’t realize you’re asking so you can justify calling me Hypatia. That is also too familiar.”

“I’m not, actually,” he replied defensively. “I shall await your approval before I do so again. Still, you may call me North. If you like.”

Hypatia was quiet several moments. North could see she was thinking deeply, and he didn’t want to interrupt her. Finally, she blinked. “We need proof of Sir Radnor’s behavior. I am proof, as are the several ‘infatuations’ or ‘fixations’ he’s had with women like me over who knows how many years.”

“Mrs. Jennings,” North blurted.

Hypatia snapped her gaze to his. “What did you say?”

“Mrs. Jennings,” he repeated. “Usher said she’d visited his room the night Sir Radnor was murdered. I thought he’d just mistaken your name because he’d been referring to you. Mrs. Jennings was apparently someone who lived in the square at some point.”

“Yes, she moved away,” Hypatia said. “I met her yesterday across the street from Sir Radnor’s house when I left the funeral gathering.”

North leaned forward over the table. “Mrs. Jennings is real and you met her?”

“It was an odd encounter.” Hypatia told him how the woman had been looking at her across the street, so she’d gone to speak with her. “I also saw her at the church service. She was not terribly keen to talk about Sir Radnor. I had a strange feeling about her yesterday, and now I think I know why.”

Mrs. Goss entered with the tea tray at last. As she set it on the table, Hypatia looked up at her.

“Mrs. Goss, did you know Mrs. Jennings when she lived at number sixteen?”

“I did indeed,” the housekeeper replied. “Her housekeeper and I were good friends. We still are, actually.”

“You can make friends with a wolf,” Hypatia said with the hint of a smile. “What do you remember about Mrs. Jennings? I met her yesterday.”

Mrs. Goss nodded. “I thought I saw her at the church, but I didn’t have a chance to speak with her as I had to hurry to return to Sir Radnor’s to prepare for the gathering. I wasn’t surprised to see her there. She and Sir Radnor were friendly.”

“That’s it!” Hypatia said triumphantly.

“I’m not sure what that’s about, but I need to tell you some rather distressing news, I’m afraid.” Mrs. Goss’s expression had turned grim.

Hypatia turned her head to look out the window, and North did the same. There wasn’t a coach, so the news wasn’t that Drummond had arrived.

Mrs. Goss went on. “Someone in Sir Radnor’s household reported to Mr. Drummond that you were seen in the corridor outside Sir Radnor’s bedchamber around half after one on the night he was killed.”

The room seemed to close in around Hypatia as her vision tunneled. Was she about to be arrested?

“Lady Cartwright! Hypatia!”

Northwood’s agitated voice broke through her panic. She blinked, and the room came back into focus. She worked to take a deep breath to slow the frantic racing of her heart.

“Are you all right, my lady?” Mrs. Goss looked most distressed. Her brown eyes were particularly dark, indicating her concern.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Hypatia assured her. “That was just a shock to hear.” She looked over at Northwood. “Do you suppose Mr. Drummond is on his way to arrest me?”

“He bloody better not be,” Northwood said sharply. He appeared on the verge of anger. Or perhaps he was already there.

Hypatia turned her head back toward Mrs. Goss. “Where did you hear this?”

“From Trigg,” she replied. “He heard it from Orson.”

“Who?” Northwood asked.