Page 34 of In the Midnight Hour

Because Hypatia understood what it felt like to be a woman who didn’t think she had any control over her own fate. Furthermore, it didn’t cost Hypatia anything. It was a benevolent thing to do, and it might just help preserve her reputation.

Finally, after nearly a quarter hour, Miss Claverton walked sedately into the room. Her pale blond hair was pulled severely into a knot with a black ribbon curled around it. She also wore a black ribbon at her throat, and a wide black armband encircled her upper arm, both of which she’d worn yesterday, along with the same dark brown gown that was likely from four or five years ago.

She went to the chair with its faded green damask covering and sat, her features carved into a mournful expression. “You are the last people I expected to receive. In fact, I rarely receive anyone.”

“I wanted to express my most sincere condolences to you and your brother,” Hypatia said with genuine concern.

“You could have done that yesterday at the inquest.” Miss Claverton’s brown eyes held Hypatia’s with an irritated glower.

Hypatia was prepared for the woman to be difficult after how she’d behaved yesterday. “I preferred to do so in a more private setting.”

Miss Claverton glanced at Northwood. “Why have you come? I didn’t realize the two of you were acquainted.” She shot a look at Hypatia. “You certainly didn’t wait long before moving on.”

Open hostility was not something Hypatia had anticipated. Before she could respond, however, Northwood spoke.

“We are recently acquainted,” he said breezily. “As it happens, Lady Cartwright’s coach suffered a mishap and wasn’t able to make the journey to Islington. I was on my way out and offered to convey her. Wasn’t that a lucky happenstance?” He smiled, but this was different from his dazzling grins full of charm and allure. This expression held an undercurrent of spite.

Hypatia decided in that moment that she was glad not to be on Northwood’s bad side.

Miss Claverton pursed her lips and turned her focus back to Hypatia. “My housekeeper said you had something particular to speak with me about.”

Hypatia scooted forward on the settee. “I do, in fact. I’d like to give you and your brother part of the inheritance your great-uncle left me. Ten thousand pounds.” She heard Northwood suck in his breath but didn’t look at him.

Eyes rounding as large as the coal hole in the pavement in front of the house, Miss Claverton opened her mouth. Nothing came out for a moment. “Why?”

“Seeing you yesterday, I felt very bad that Sir Radnor had recently made a new will and hadn’t told you of it. It doesn’t seem right that he should have left you, his kin, out.”

“This is most unexpected,” Miss Claverton declared in a rather high-pitched, agitated tone. “Why would you let such a sum go? But then, I suppose you’re keeping more than half, in addition to the house. You’re also wealthy already.”

Hypatia considered increasing the amount, but Northwood spoke again. “You should be grateful for her generosity. She doesn’t have to give you anything.”

Now, Hypatia sent him a stern look. He arched his brows at her but said nothing.

Miss Claverton narrowed her gaze at Hypatia. “What do you expect in return?”

Hypatia hadn’t anticipated that question. But she saw a way in which her response could lead to what she was hoping to learn in return—whether they’d stolen the missing items from Sir Radnor’s house. “Nothing at all. I hated that you wouldn’t receive anything since the items you were supposed to inherit have disappeared.”

Their hostess sniffed. “I’ve been very upset about my grandmother’s necklace. My mother delighted in telling me when I was a child that the family’s most prized jewels would one day be mine.” Her expression softened briefly. “The diamonds, increasing in size from the smallest at the back to the largest at the middle, are incomparably beautiful.” She touched her neck as she spoke. “They’re set in individual silver collets.”

Miss Claverton’s detailed description and use of the present tense drew Hypatia’s notice, but she was looking for any sort of clue. “Your mother wore it often?” Hypatia thought that might explain the detail with which Miss Claverton spoke of the necklace.

Miss Claverton shook her head. “Never. She died before my grandmother and never inherited it. I saw my grandmother wear it once when I was eight or nine. When she died, she left everything to her younger brother—Uncle Radnor—to distribute.”

“And he didn’t give it to you then?” Hypatia found that rather awful. Why not give a family heirloom to a direct female relative?

“No, he wanted it for his wife.” She said this with more than a hint of derision.

Hypatia wondered if Sir Radnor had truly been “very dear” to Miss Claverton, as she’d stated at the inquest. “The necklace sounds lovely.” Hypatia doubted the woman had only seen it the one time. “Hopefully, it will be returned to you soon. I promise you, I didn’t take it.”

“I would hope not, but I confess I don’t entirely trust your motives.” Miss Claverton eyed her skeptically. “Perhaps you’re offering us the money to appease your guilt over taking the other items—and usurping our rightful place as Uncle Radnor’s heirs.”

“I did neither of those things.” Hypatia wasn’t going to change her mind about giving them part of the inheritance, despite Miss Claverton doing her best to push her in that direction.

“Miss Claverton, I urge you to accept Lady Cartwright’s generosity with as much grace as possible,” Northwood said. His tone was even, but when Hypatia glanced at him, she was fairly certain anger simmered in his eyes. “There is nothing to be suspicious or guarded about. If you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way.”

Hypatia stood, glad for his interruption. She’d learned as much as she probably could about the missing items without pointedly asking for more information that would only increase Miss Claverton’s distrust.

“When will you give us the money?” Miss Claverton asked, rising from her chair.