Page 76 of In the Midnight Hour

“How lovely to have callers,” Mr. White said as he strolled into the library. He smiled, and Hypatia was reminded of his easy charm. He had once been a good friend of Beau Brummell, and though Brummell was long gone from England, Mr. White was still recognized as an arbiter of sartorial taste. His well-cut, exceptionally fashionable coat and trousers made that quite clear.

“This is not really a social call, I’m afraid,” Northwood said apologetically. “We are actually hoping to speak with your housekeeper, Mrs. Nyburn.”

Mr. White’s light gray eyes flickered with surprise. “Indeed? How peculiar. What could you wish to speak with her for? Unless you’re trying to poach her—I know you don’t have a housekeeper yet—in which case, I must protest.” He spoke rather good-naturedly, but there was a glint in his gaze that said he was, in fact, serious.

Northwood chuckled. “I’m not here to woo her away from you. But don’t doubt that I could,” he added with a sardonic grin. “I haven’t decided if I need a housekeeper.”

“Well, keep your sights off Mrs. Nyburn. She is exceptional.” He lowered his voice. “I am not one to keep you from trying to entice her. In truth, I persuaded her to leave Sir Radnor five years or so ago when I found myself in need of a housekeeper. Though, it didn’t end up being difficult, as it happened.”

“She was eager to leave?” Hypatia asked.

“Much to my good fortune, yes. Sir Radnor used to host the occasional soiree. They were quite enjoyable, and everything was always perfectly arranged and decorated. One night, I complimented him, and he said it was all due to Mrs. Nyburn. At the next soiree, I offered to increase her wages by ten percent, and she accepted.” Mr. White smiled broadly. “Sir Radnor no longer invited me to his soirees after that. Now that I think on it, he may have stopped having them altogether. Perhaps because I stole the person who executed them so beautifully. Pity.” He shrugged and didn’t look the least upset about how things had worked out.

Hypatia exchanged a look with Northwood. Did that mean her departure from Sir Radnor’s had nothing to do with his licentious behavior?

“What do you wish to speak with her about?” Mr. White asked.

“Lady Cartwright and I are investigating Sir Radnor’s murder,” Northwood explained. “We hope Mrs. Nyburn can answer our questions about some things that happened whilst she worked for him.”

Hypatia thought that was an excellent way to put it.

Mr. White’s eyes gleamed with interest. “You’re investigating? How fascinating. What does your brother, Mr. Sheffield, think of that?” he asked Northwood.

“He has appreciated the help.”

“I should hope so. Do you mind if I listen to your interrogation?” Mr. White asked eagerly.

“It’s not an interrogation.” Hypatia sent a faintly nervous glance at Northwood. What would they do if Mr. White insisted on staying? “I think it might be better if we speak with Mrs. Nyburn alone. A few of the questions are a bit…sensitive.” She didn’t know how else to say it.

Northwood took a step toward Mr. White and spoke in a low tone. “We’re interested in finding out more about Sir Radnor’s romantic endeavors.”

“I see. Well, let me have Henderson fetch her for you.” Mr. White started to turn, then paused. “Perhaps the details will show up in the Observer. Whoever writes that seems to be privy to all manner of information. I was glad to read the special edition this week with the latest news of the murder investigation, but I daresay I would appreciate daily updates. Don’t you agree?” It was apparently a rhetorical question as he didn’t wait for a response before striding from the library.

“It didn’t occur to me that he might want to listen to us speak with his housekeeper,” Hypatia said.

“Nor me, but your response was excellent. I only added to it in case he was persistent.”

Hypatia frowned briefly at Northwood. “It doesn’t sound as though Mrs. Nyburn was prompted to leave Sir Radnor’s by anything that happened there. Rather, it was Mr. White poaching her.”

“Let’s not assume that was the only reason,” Northwood said.

“You’re right.” Hypatia was too nervous. If Mrs. Nyburn couldn’t help them, she didn’t know what they would do next, short of begging the servants at Sir Radnor’s to tell them the truth and confess to murder.

Unless it wasn’t any of them.

Mrs. Nyburn entered the sitting room. She was in her late forties with golden-brown hair pinned up, and she wore a stiff white apron over her dark maroon gown.

“Thank you for coming to speak with us,” Hypatia said as warmly as possible and with a smile that was perhaps too bright. “Shall we sit?”

“If you’d like.” Mrs. Nyburn waited for them to sit before she sat and rested her hands on her lap, one on top of the other. “Mr. White said you wished to speak with me about the time I worked for Sir Radnor.”

“We would,” Northwood said. “We greatly appreciate you agreeing to do so.”

“Mr. White said you’re investigating Sir Radnor’s death.” Her brow briefly creased. “I don’t know how I can help you with that.”

“We just have a few questions about when you worked for Sir Radnor,” Hypatia said, hoping the housekeeper would be forthcoming—and that she knew things that could help them. “How long did you work for him?”

“Only about three years,” she replied easily. “He hired me when his previous housekeeper retired from service. I left nearly five years ago.”