Heiress for Hire (Duke's Heiress #1) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,22

all, so not half a pittance soon. He was rich as Croesus, from the talk of it. I say we hear what the solicitor has determined about the potential amount left to us when all is said and done, and convince him to release as much as possible.”

Douglas nodded obediently. Douglas never spoke much. Even as a boy he had been an observer of the world, not a true participant. As he had married a woman who talked a lot, the expectations placed on him for good conversation had decreased overnight. Chase guessed Claudine led the way in other things too, but Douglas did not seem to mind.

Over in a corner the eldest of the cousins, Douglas’s older brother, Walter, bided his time while he helped himself to some brandy from a decanter set on a table against another of those panels, one that also rested ajar. Chase mused at how they all managed to remain predictable in this least predictable situation. Walter had always thought his position as the eldest gave him more authority than Nicholas, even though Nicholas was the son of the second oldest uncle, and thus heir presumptive to the title. Even when they were all boys, Walter would try to issue commands and make decisions that no one paid attention to.

Now, glass in hand, he went to stand beside his beautiful blond wife, Felicity. She looked up at him adoringly, like a nymph to a god. They cut a handsome couple, with Felicity’s ethereal beauty and Walter’s darkly handsome face. Walter waited for the others to have their say.

“We will wait for the solicitor to explain what he can tomorrow,” Nicholas said. “I merely lay out the choices now, so that everyone understands that if even one of you issues a challenge, everyone will be affected.”

Walter stepped forward. “We will wait to hear what the solicitor has to say before any of us decide anything.”

Kevin smirked. “That is what Nicholas just said, Walter.”

“Now I am saying it.”

“How useful,” Agnes said, sardonically.

“Thank you for agreeing with me,” Nicholas said.

“I have concluded it is the right thing to do,” Walter said.

“I want the damned money,” Phillip said.

“Why? It is not likely to pay off your debts even by half,” Dolores said. “You will squander it before a single hatter gets his due.”

“At least I have the style to squander well, unlike the rest of you.”

“Like father like son,” Agnes said. “All style, no substance. Your father would be off in Naples during this crisis, spending money he does not have. He probably doesn’t even know his brother has died.”

“He knows, Aunt Agnes,” Nicholas said. “Even in Naples the word spreads when an English duke passes.”

“Then he should be here, doing his duty to the family. All of my brothers should be.”

“They knew there would be nothing for them in the will,” Nicholas said. “They may be angry for their sons, but not for themselves. This is not their battle.”

“You mean they should be here complaining like the rest?” Kevin asked Agnes.

“I don’t see you accepting the will as it stands,” Phillip said.

“I have a reason to be angry. My expectations were not built out of air and greed.”

“I insist everyone set this topic aside until tomorrow,” Nicholas said, loudly. “We will go down to dinner and not mention it there. Talk about the theater, or fashion, or gossip about your neighbors, but not one word at the table about the will.”

“These arguments will give us all indigestion,” Walter said, as if Nicholas had not spoken. “None of this down there. Do you hear me, Phillip? Kevin?”

They lined up in a parade of negligible hierarchy. Chase waited until all were in place, then stepped next to Phillip. He gripped Phillip’s arm, hard, and bent his head low to his ear. “If I learn that you again interfered with any woman in this house, in any way, I will thrash you within an inch of your life.”

Phillip colored, but recovered and smirked at him. Chase left and took his own spot, with Douglas behind him. He could see Aunt Agnes bending Nicholas’s ear as they began the march.

“So, do you know who did it?” Walter addressed him despite standing in front of him.

“At this point, I am not sure it was even done.”

“I thought you were good at this. If a man takes to trade, he should endeavor to be the best at it.”

“I am not conducting a formal inquiry, Walter. Do you want me to? I can discuss