A Fine Caprice - A Regency Romance by Kate Harper Page B

neither had departed again, instead going off in se arch of the most agreeable rooms to be found . It was all very curious for he could not imagine a more unlikely setting for the beautiful Maria von Kassel , while his cousin had always professed a distaste for Abb ey Cross and was a creature far more comfortable sitting i n the bow window of White’s than in the wilds of Dorset.
    Since their arriva l, Cass had caught them tapping at wal ls in the various rooms . Ravener had been extremely disconcerted to discover that Cass had taken his uncle’s bedchamber for his own. It must, Cass thought with some amusement, be irksome when one wanted to make a thorough search of a place to be hampered by the presence of an inconvenient occupant. Hadley had been so annoyed that he h ad lost his usual suave .
    ‘ You didn’t waste any time claiming our uncle’s bed,’ he had snapped, having found it occupied (and therefor unable to be claimed by him).
    Cass had shrugged. ‘It was the mos t tolerable one in the house a lthough I had to change the sheets. Dear Uncle Abel wasn’t too fastidious about the finer aspects of housekeeping, apparently. And I had not realized you were joining me, Hadley. Naturally, if I had known you were gracing me with your presence I would ha ve consulted with you on the matter . ’
    Ravener had scowled , although this was inarguable as he had clearly arrived after his cousin . ‘Well I call it bad form , sleeping in a dead man’s bed before he is even cold .’
    ‘After two weeks, I rather think Uncle Abel will be very cold indeed.’
    Ravener had ground his teeth together. ‘You know what I mean!’
    ‘I’m afraid I don’t. Would you care to explain ? Even allowing for your very natural… ah… grief , I find your attitude curious. Would sleeping in Uncle’s bed grant you some kind of spiritual union with him? I had not thought you so moribund. ’
    ‘ Don’t be ridiculous! I merely mean t that, as Uncle Abel ’s favorite, he would have wanted me to have his bedchamber.’
    ‘A delicious sentiment. Personally I find the room quite disagreeable, but then, that’s just me I suppose. What do you like about it the most? The view? The ambiance? I know you’re sensitive. Perhaps,’ Cass suggested softly, ‘it’s the fond memories. Tell you what; next time you c ome for a visit I’ll find somewhere else to bunk down .’
    This was not at all what his cousin had in mind but as Hadley could hardly say why he wanted his uncle’s room so desperately, he was forced to produce something to explain his annoyance. Sensibly, he had opted for the most believable. ‘ Unnecessary as, after this I daresay I shall never set foot in the wretched place again. As you’ve already pointed out … it is the most comfortable mattress in the house . You know I have a delicate back.’

‘I didn’t, actually. But you do have my sympathy.’ At his cousin’s arch look, he shook his head. ‘My sympathy. Not my bed.’
    Now, before regaining the bed in question , Cass turned the key in the lock. He was not convinced that it would keep anybody out who might wish to get in for Abbey Cross was well known for its secret passageways, a relic fro m its smuggling history where nocturnal business kept people busy during the wee small hours . B ut he saw no point in making it easy for anybody who might wish to ensure he never enjoyed his inheritance. He was n o t absolutely convinced that anybody want ed him dead but then, a potential victim probably never was so taking some basic steps to ensure his continued good health seemed a sensible idea . Especially when a sizeable chunk of stone had fallen from the casements the afternoon before when he had been walking below in the gardens . It had missed him by a good five feet but it was awfully hard to hit a moving target with a heavy object. Ravener? He had been considering the possibility that his cousin had developed a murderous streak . It s eemed a bold move but it