Page 35 of In the Midnight Hour

“Whenever the probate is settled,” Hypatia replied. “Since your brother is a solicitor, I imagine he’ll be tracking it through the court. Good day, Miss Claverton.” She turned and walked from the room with Northwood following.

The housekeeper wasn’t in the entrance hall, so he moved ahead of her and opened the door. Hypatia preceded Northwood from the house. When they reached his coach, he directed the driver to Barnard’s Inn.

Once they were in the coach, he shook his head. “Why on earth did you offer her ten thousand pounds? I’m sure you regret that after her rudeness—or you’ll come to.”

“I might, but I won’t change my mind.” She set her reticule on the seat beside her. “You saw how they live. Why should I deprive them of their family’s wealth?”

“You aren’t depriving them. Sir Radnor did. You’re making a noble gesture.”

That was, indeed, her intent. “I won’t regret it,” she said quietly. Not when it would almost certainly help her navigate this horrible mess without her ending up living in disgrace in a cottage in the wilds of some far-flung place.

They were quiet for several moments, and Hypatia realized he was studying her.

“What did you think about the missing diamond necklace?” he asked.

Hypatia was glad to focus on the investigation. “I found Miss Claverton’s recollection to be rather specific given she saw it once twenty years ago.”

“I made the same observation.” He smiled. “We make a most excellent partnership.”

Hypatia couldn’t disagree, but neither did she want to encourage him. She needed his help, but that was all.

They soon arrived at Barnard’s Inn and found Mr. Claverton’s chamber on the third floor of one of the buildings. He worked with a few other solicitors in tight quarters, and a pair of clerks worked diligently in an outer office, their fingertips stained with ink.

One of the clerks directed them to Mr. Claverton’s office, which was not much larger than the most spacious cupboard in Hypatia’s house. Surprised, and perhaps annoyed, to see them, he stood as they entered and did not invite them to sit.

“I only have a few minutes to speak with you,” Mr. Claverton said sharply, his blue eyes flashing. “I’m very busy.”

“That isn’t the warmest welcome, Mr. Claverton.” Northwood used a jovial tone, but, again, his eyes expressed another emotion, likely irritation. “Once you hear what Lady Cartwright has to say, I think you’ll be glad we called.”

Claverton looked at him as if he had two noses. “Why are you here with Lady Cartwright?”

Northwood repeated the story he’d concocted about Hypatia’s coach having a problem. Claverton turned to Hypatia. “What have you come to say?”

“We just called on your sister, so I’ve already told her. I was most distressed to learn Sir Radnor had disinherited you both—well, not quite, as he did leave your sister that diamond necklace and you were to have his walking stick. It wasn’t well done of him, and I wanted to make amends. I’d like to give you both ten thousand pounds from the inheritance he left me.”

Mr. Claverton goggled at her. His cheeks flushed, and he stammered a moment. “I—I’m overwhelmed by your generosity. This is most kind of you.”

Hypatia relaxed. His reaction was much better than his sister’s had been. “I’m happy to do it. It’s not right that you don’t receive anything, especially since the necklace and walking stick are missing. Was the stick dear to you in some way as the necklace was to your sister?”

“Yes.” He eyed her cautiously, and she wondered if her question made him anxious. “My great-grandfather had it made—the eagle is from the Fieldstone family crest. I’d admired it as a child, and my grandmother said she’d make sure it would be mine. But then when she died, Uncle Radnor kept it. He said it would be mine when he was finished with it.”

His tone didn’t hold the same level of bitterness as his sister’s, but Hypatia thought they both had plenty of motive to steal the items, at least those two. But they had to have taken the other pieces too. It didn’t make sense for there to be separate thefts.

“I hope you won’t find me intrusive, but may I ask why Sir Radnor cut you and your sister out?” She was curious to hear their perspective. At the inquest, they made Sir Radnor out to be a beloved great-uncle, but how could they when he’d withheld things from them that had been promised? “He seemed to take excellent care of his retainers. Goodness, he kept Usher on long after anyone else would have sent him off to retirement because he knew that’s what the valet wanted.”

Mr. Claverton’s thin upper lip curled. “There was a side to Uncle Radnor you apparently didn’t see, which doesn’t surprise me. He rarely showed it to anyone. He wasn’t good or kind. He was selfish and craven.”

Selfish and craven.

The words burrowed into Hypatia like an echo. She might not have believed that about him before his lewd advances, but now she had no trouble seeing him in that light. He was not at all the person she’d thought. The revelation stung particularly because she ought to have known better due to her husband’s behavior. Some people—some men—were not always what they seemed.

“At the inquest, you said you got on well with him, and that you felt it important to maintain a close relationship,” Northwood said. “Now, you reveal the truth, that you didn’t care for him. I don’t think the coroner will appreciate hearing you lied.”

Blanching, Mr. Claverton held up his hands. “I didn’t lie, exactly. We did get on well enough, and I think families are obligated to stay together, especially when they’re dwindling as ours was. Uncle Radnor was all Augusta and I had. Our parents and grandparents are all gone. We have one living aunt, but she resides in a convent.” He glanced at his pocket watch. “You must go. As I said, I’m very busy.” He met Hypatia’s gaze briefly. “Thank you again for your generosity.”

“I’m sorry your precious items are missing,” she said. “I hope they’ll be found soon.”

“I hope so too,” he said offhandedly as he looked at his watch again. “Thank you for coming.” He opened the door and ushered them back to the outer office.