Page 86 of In the Midnight Hour

“What about your other testimony?” Cora asked Hypatia. “About Sir Radnor’s attacks on you and other women?”

“What’s this?” Drummond asked sharply, his dark gaze boring into Hypatia. “Sir Radnor attacked you?”

“Not attacked. He made advances,” Hypatia said. “Last Friday. It’s why I fled through the back.” She flushed, and North wanted to take her hand to give her strength and comfort. He did not.

Drummond glowered at her. “Why didn’t you tell us the truth?”

“I didn’t want people to know,” she said with an edge of defiance that almost made North smile. “When that happens to you, there’s a desperate need to protect yourself from scrutiny and judgment.”

“And there are other women?” Harry asked.

Hypatia nodded. “We’ve spoken to one of them, but there are others. Sir Radnor’s former housekeeper can testify to that.”

“She needs to come to Marlborough Street if you can fetch her in time.”

“She works in the house next door to mine,” North said. “We’ll bring her. Lady Cartwright shouldn’t have to testify. It’s bad enough these maids must expose the horrible things they endured in order to save themselves.”

“I don’t disagree, but the pattern of behavior by Sir Radnor would likely influence the magistrate toward setting them free.” Harry met Hypatia’s gaze. “Consider it. Please.” He then looked at North with a faint smirk. “It’s no wonder you were able to solve the crime. You knew all the facts.”

Drummond said it was time to go. Gemma started to cry again, and Cora encouraged her to be brave. Samuel walked beside Gemma as she clutched his arm.

“It will all turn out well,” Hypatia assured them. “We’ll see you soon.”

As Drummond escorted the servants from the drawing room, Harry moved toward North and Hypatia.

“It was not my intent to cause harm to the investigation,” Hypatia said to him, prompting him to stop. “It is a difficult thing to expose oneself with regard to a horrible, extremely vulnerable situation. You can’t understand how degrading it is.” Her tone held a fiery disdain.

Harry startled. “Actually, I can. Perhaps I need to do more to present myself as someone who does understand and will listen with sympathy and compassion.” His gaze moved to North. “Apparently, my brother is able to do that.”

Hypatia inclined her head. “He is.”

North was glad Hypatia felt she could trust him.

“I think it’s important to recognize that we can’t know what others have endured. Unfortunately, violence against women is far too common and has affected more people than we realize.” Harry could have been speaking in generalizations, but North knew he was not. There was an enigmatic certainty to what he said, and now North was curious. But he wouldn’t ask his brother. If Harry wanted to share something from his own experience on the matter, he would do so.

“Gather what witnesses you can,” Harry said. “And bring them to Marlborough Street as soon as possible. The magistrate won’t wait to decide on whether to commit them to trial.”

Harry left, and North felt Hypatia almost wilt beside him. She exhaled but then straightened once more. “We must speak with Mrs. Jennings,” she said.

“Since we don’t have much time, why don’t you go and talk with her,” North suggested. “I’ll call on Mrs. Nyburn, then wait for you so we can all go to Marlborough Street together.”

Hypatia smiled with relief. “That’s an excellent idea. Thank you.” She sobered quickly. “I’m worried our testimony won’t be enough and that their attempt to hide the murder will be their downfall.”

“Much depends on the magistrate. Let us hope for Pollard.”

They left the drawing room and went downstairs, where they encountered Maberly in the entrance hall. The butler was pale and worried, his features deeply creased. “I do hope they’ll all be home for dinner.”

“I don’t know how you didn’t deduce this was happening,” Hypatia said crossly. “How did you not notice housemaids leaving at regular intervals?”

The butler opened his mouth, then snapped it closed. He frowned. “It’s not unusual for housemaids to come and go. There didn’t seem to be an oddly high rate of departure.” He grimaced, and his cheeks flushed. “Usher will take this news very badly.”

Hypatia scoffed. “Usher likely knew and said nothing. He slept in a room adjoining Sir Radnor’s, and at least one woman was attacked there.”

“I suppose it’s possible he did,” Maberly said. “However, Sir Radnor was adamant that Usher never enter his room after he retired, and Usher followed that decree strictly.”

“And why do you think Sir Radnor made that demand?” Hypatia asked with considerable scorn.

The butler blinked. “It’s quite sinister now,” he said quietly. “Sometimes the truth is impossible to believe, even if it’s plainly in front of you.”