Page 36 of In the Midnight Hour

As they walked down the stairs to the courtyard, Hypatia glanced back at Northwood, who followed behind her. “I think they’re hiding something.”

“The missing items?” Northwood quipped. “I was relatively convinced Miss Claverton has the necklace, but I had a harder time reading her brother. He seemed irritated by our arrival. But then your generous gift quite lightened his mood. Then again, he’s a demonstrated liar.”

“People have many sides to their character. I found it interesting that both of them dropped their act of holding their great-uncle in high esteem.” They’d reached the ground floor, and Hypatia paused as Northwood moved abreast of her.

“I could tell.” His gaze fixed on her a moment. “You seemed almost taken aback by Claverton’s vitriol.”

Because she’d recognized it. Not that she was going to share that with her “partner.” “Weren’t you?” She swept outside into the courtyard before he could answer and encountered a friendly face. Hypatia smiled. “Mr. Parker, what a wonderful surprise.” She pivoted toward Northwood. “Lord Northwood, allow me to present Mr. Algernon Parker, my solicitor.”

Northwood’s gaze flickered with recognition and several other emotions Hypatia could not discern. “Parker, it’s been too long.”

“Indeed it has, my lord.” Mr. Parker was of an age with Northwood, though he was much shorter and smaller in every way. His light brown wavy hair never seemed to want to hold a style, but Hypatia found that part of his endearing charm. Mr. Parker was unfailingly polite, friendly, and, above all, a brilliant solicitor.

“You know each other?” Hypatia asked, looking from one to the other.

“We attended Oxford together,” Northwood replied.

Hypatia had known that Mr. Parker had been educated at Oxford, but if he knew Northwood, that meant he’d likely been admitted to the same college. That would have been a feat for someone such as Mr. Parker, as he hadn’t anywhere near the pedigree Northwood had.

“How splendid for you to meet again.” She looked at Northwood. “Mr. Parker has been my solicitor since I was widowed. He’s helped me immensely.” She turned her attention to Mr. Parker. “Did you receive my missive?”

He nodded. “I did, and I read about the inquest in the newspaper. I’m terribly sorry for the loss of your friend and the subsequent trouble you’re enduring.” He eyed her with genuine concern.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“I was going to respond to you this afternoon, in fact,” Parker said. “We’ve much to discuss, just as you said. My goodness, this inheritance is a shock. If it’s convenient, I could call on you next Monday afternoon, say two o’clock? I apologize it can’t be sooner.”

“That’s quite all right. I know you’re busy with a new babe in the house,” Hypatia replied warmly. “Next Monday is most agreeable.”

“You’re a father?” Northwood asked with surprise.

“No, no,” Mr. Parker replied quickly. “My sister has been blessed with a son.”

Northwood inclined his head. “That is a blessing.” His words did not quite match his expression, which Hypatia would describe as tense. Did he and Mr. Parker have some sort of history?

“Lord Northwood also lives in Pemberton Square now,” she said to Mr. Parker.

“Outgrew the Albany?” The solicitor seemed to know Northwood quite well since he was aware of his former address.

“My father thought I should seek a more mature residence,” Northwood replied with a bit of humor that was more like the man Hypatia had come to know.

“I imagine he hopes you’ll take a wife as Sheffield has done.” Mr. Parker knew Northwood’s brother as well then, which made sense.

Now, Northwood smiled. “I am a great disappointment. The heir and the last to wed.” He shrugged. “Is there a Mrs. Parker?”

“No, no,” he replied with a slight wave of his hand. “Too busy for that.”

Hypatia believed it. She knew of no harder working solicitor. It was one of the reasons she’d chosen him. He was busy and well-regarded, despite being in Barnard’s Inn instead of Gray’s Inn. That distinction had also appealed to Hypatia. She hadn’t wanted a prominent solicitor to handle her affairs. Her husband’s solicitor had been just such a man, and she’d wanted to be far away from anything or anyone to do with Sir Abel Cartwright.

“Well, I should get on,” Mr. Parker said. “And I don’t wish to keep you from whatever errand you’re on together.” His brow furrowed. “What a curious coincidence to meet you both like this, now that I think of it.” He turned to Northwood. “It’s good to see you. I hope it’s not too long before I do so again. Perhaps I’ll encounter you in Pemberton Square.”

“Perhaps.” Northwood inclined his head, and Mr. Parker departed, moving toward another building off the courtyard.

Hypatia eyed Northwood as they started across the courtyard toward the archway that would take them back out to the coach on Holborn. She expected him to mention the interlude with his old Oxford acquaintance.

When he didn’t, she decided it was her turn to be curious. “I am surprised that you and Mr. Parker attended the same college at Oxford.”

“Parker was there on a scholarship.” Northwood didn’t look at her as he responded.