Page 45 of In the Midnight Hour

Samuel entered the library. Tall and wide-chested, he possessed a serious but earnest demeanor, his brown eyes bright and his dark brown hair combed neatly back from his forehead. North estimated him to be in his early twenties.

“Mr. Maberly said you wished to ask me some questions about the day after Sir Radnor…died.” His brow furrowed as he said the last word.

“Yes, thank you for coming,” North said. “I know it’s a busy day. I’m Lord Northwood, and I believe you know Lady Cartwright.”

Samuel nodded. “How are you, my lady? I imagine you’re distressed over Sir Radnor’s passing.”

“Probably just as much as all of you,” Hypatia said kindly. “We won’t trouble you too long. You answered the door when Mr. and Miss Claverton came last Saturday?”

“I did.”

“And you showed them up to the drawing room?” she asked.

Samuel nodded. “I did, but I believe Miss Claverton might have gone up to Sir Radnor’s chamber. She’d asked if she could see him. I told her I wasn’t sure.”

“You left them alone in the drawing room, but you’ve no idea if they remained because you did not?” North clarified.

“That’s correct.” His eyes flashed with alarm. “Perhaps I should have.”

“I don’t think you did anything wrong, Samuel,” North assured him. “Are you aware of where Sir Radnor kept the key to the locked bookcase there?” He pointed at the case with the empty shelves where the manuscripts ought to be.

“No, that would be the maids. They do the dusting and tidying.”

“We appreciate your time, Samuel,” North said. “We’re going up to the drawing room now. Would you mind asking Mrs. Babcock to meet us there?”

“Not at all. Can’t say I blame you for moving upstairs.” The footman shot a look toward the morning room before he turned and left.

North faced Hypatia. “The Clavertons were not supervised for some amount of time, during which they were supposedly in the drawing room. Miss Claverton could have gone upstairs to take the items from Sir Radnor’s dressing chamber, whilst Mr. Claverton came down here to take the manuscripts. He could easily have found the key to the bookcase.”

“That means they had the opportunity to take them as well as having a motive.” Hypatia frowned, dampening North’s spirits just as he was thinking things were progressing well. “Why would they wait to steal these items on Saturday if they’d come to kill Sir Radnor in the middle of the night? Wouldn’t they have just taken them then?”

“If we consider your theory that Sir Radnor’s murder was actually a theft gone wrong, it’s possible the Clavertons were interrupted and panicked,” North proposed. “One of them struck their great-uncle and they fled without doing what they’d come to do. Hence, they returned Saturday to steal the items.”

She smiled, which restored North’s enthusiasm that they were making progress. “That makes sense, actually.”

They made their way up to the drawing room, which dominated the first floor. Tall windows looked out over Pemberton Square at the front. At the back, there were wide doors, but they were closed.

North gestured toward them. “Do you know what’s through there?”

“The back drawing room.” Hypatia moved to open one of the doors. “I don’t think Sir Radnor used it much. In fact, it doesn’t look as if it’s been cleaned recently.” She went to a table and brushed her gloved fingertip across the dust coating the top.

“You left a path through the carpet,” North said, following her. “This needs a good beating.” He chuckled.

Hypatia turned from the table she was standing at. “What is it?”

“The disruption of the dust confirms that someone walked across the carpet.” He gestured toward a closed door in front of which were two distinct footprints. “Where does that lead?”

“The study.” She smiled again—how he loved to see her do that, especially in the midst of this incredibly stressful situation. “I’d say Maberly’s supposition that the Clavertons eavesdropped is accurate.”

“That means they lied at the inquest when they said they didn’t know,” North said. “Harry won’t like that they did that.”

“My lord? My lady?”

They both turned at hearing Mrs. Babcock’s voice and made their way back to the drawing room. The housekeeper stood near the windows. “I understand you’re helping the coroner with this investigation?”

“In a way, yes,” North replied.

Mrs. Babcock looked at Hypatia. “You’re worried you’ll be charged with Sir Radnor’s murder, aren’t you?”