The relatives rose late, so Minerva performed her duties late too. She made the rounds of the chambers while the family dressed and prepared for the day.

Kevin visited Lady Dolores while her maid dressed her hair and Minerva built the fire.

“Sit,” Dolores ordered when he entered. “I summoned you because I surmise we may be allies. Agnes is going to press everyone to accept the provisions in the will as it stands. Half a loaf now, she says. Hardly half, I say. Surely you are not satisfied with what my brother did.”

“It is half a loaf, but worthless with the other half of the company going to someone who is ignorant. We will be bankrupt within two years, is my guess. If he had left that to my father, or one of the cousins—”

“I am speaking of the money, not that company.” A deep sigh. “That is the problem when men engage in trade. It becomes all they can think of. If we challenge the will and win, you will have enough to start ten companies if you want. Keep your eye on the main prize, Kevin.”

Silence chilled Minerva’s back. She made it a point to have difficulty lighting the fuel.

“Aunt Dolores, you may think of it as trade. I think of it as science, applied to the benefit of progress.”

“Yes, yes. All well and good. You still need an old-fashioned legacy, just like the rest of us. Where is your father, by the way? The brothers should be here. I know they were informed.”

“My father told me that Uncle Frederick had long ago informed his brothers that the portion they received from their mother, and the allowances over the years, had compensated his generation sufficiently.”

“Did he indeed? What nonsense. I trust he did not include Agnes and me in that assessment. It is different with unmarried sisters.”

“Perhaps you should ask my father directly for Uncle Frederick’s view of that.”

“I would, except he isn’t here.”

“He is in town. You could call on him and be back in time for the solicitor’s arrival.”

“I am asking you, Kevin. Stop being difficult.”

“The duke did include you and Aunt Agnes. He believed you both could have married but did not because your allowances were so handsome you considered marriage a step down. To his mind, you also had—how did my father say the duke put it?—fed at the trough long enough.”

“Fed at the—how dare they! He and Frederick were always too clever by half, and conceited about it as well. Two strange peas in a very odd pod.”