A Fine Caprice - A Regency Romance Read Online Free

amount of clout in the business of running the country tha nks to the fact that he was involved with the newly created ministry that was dealing with the war against Bonaparte and other troublesome European issues . ‘Ravener, do you mean? Why should he take the place? He isn’t even a Merridew . ’
    ‘ I know. I thought it peculiar myself.’
    ‘Still, I daresay there is a reason he’s so interested .’
    ‘A fondness for our uncle?’
    Fenshaw gave a derisive snort. ‘ Hardly. Hadley Ravener has never struck me as the sentimental type.’
    Cass sat back in his chair a little and considered the man. ‘ How very well informed you seemed to be about my f amily’s business, Fenshaw,’ he marvelled. ‘I didn’t think dear Uncle Abel’s demise would prove to be so interesting. Lord knows, my family hasn’t found it particularly riveting.’
    ‘I like to keep up. And I’ve taken a keen interest in your Uncle Abel. Is Ravener seriously suggesting he take it off your hands ?’
    ‘ Does he ever seriously say anything? He’s a curious fellow , inclined to bouts of spurious folly . If it were in my power I’d probably give it to him for I have no real desire to take the place on . It’s a pity my uncle didn’t produce an heir. ’
    ‘It’s Merridew property, surely . It belongs with the family. ’
    ‘Yes, but if there was an heir I could have reasonab ly foisted it onto them without raising eyebrows. Hadley wrote and told me that he was keen to go down for the reading of the will. Apparently he is expecting some small bequest. He tells me he was very fond of Uncle Abel and feels he is the son he never had.’
    Fenshaw raised an eyebrow. ‘And was he?’
    ‘ Who can say what Abel Merridew ’s views were ? He was, even by my family’s standards, quite mad. As for Hadley … he isn’t fond of anybody but his tailor. But he is Uncle Abel ’s nephew as much as I am and it is entirely possible that my uncle bequeathed him some personal items, ’ Cass shrugged, wonder ing what Fenshaw wanted . And why he should care about the Merridew estates .
    ‘ Personal bequests. I daresay Ravener is hoping they are worth something . Desperate for m oney or that’s what I hear.’
    Cass had heard it too, that and a great deal more. Eloise Ravener had married Abel Merridew when both were considered to o old for the institution. They hadn’t produced any offspring and Eloise had died within six years of the marriage. Hadley Ravener was the only son of her brother Bentmore, as feckless and profligate a man as one was likely to find who had done his best to bankrupt the family fortunes, leaving his son hard up and living constantly in the red. The one thing the Bentmore had left his heir was a sad predisposition to reckless gambling, which had hardly helped the precarious nature of Hadley’s existence.
    Cass sighed inwardly, wishing that his uncle had not gone and died on him. They had cordially disliked each other and he had no t seen Uncle Abel in nearly seven years b ut his death meant that Cass must become embroiled with winding up the estate and dealing with the pernicious pest that was his cousin by marriage, Hadley Ravener.
    ‘It’s a damned nuisance.’
    Mr. Fenshaw grinned and sat down in the chair opposite. ‘When are you going down to Dorset?’
    Cass folded his paper and set it down. This promised to be a longer interchange than he had anticipated and he was beginning to suspect it was going to be an uncomfortable one into the bargain. Fenshaw was after something. He wasn’t in the habit of making idle chitchat with acquaintances.
    ‘In the next few days. May I ask why you’re interested?’
    ‘You may. What’s more, I might even tell you. Have you had luncheon?’
    ‘Not yet.’
    ‘Join me, won’t you? I have something of considerable import to discuss and it’s best done over a brace of braised pa rtridges and a side of mutton. Although n ow I come to think of it,’ he added, a twinkle in his