“Yet if we accept even half a pittance, we have accepted the bequests as written,” Kevin said. “Anyone who takes the money has given up the first choice. How good of Uncle to include a bribe in his will. For most of you it should hold appeal, since he owed you nothing.”

“He owed you nothing too,” Nicholas said, kindly.

Kevin’s tight expression revealed his reaction to that.

“I say we take what we can get while we are still young enough to enjoy it.” Claudine, wife of Cousin Douglas, spoke with emotional emphasis. “We have expenses now, and I don’t think it will be a pittance at 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.