The Nobody: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) by Diane Farr Read Free Book Online Page B

wit, at least they are both pleasant and kind.”
    This puzzled Caitlin. “I don’t mean to sound vulgarly inquisitive, Serena, but why did your brother offer for Lady Elizabeth? Is it not a question of—well, of love?”
    Serena pulled a face. “With Miss Prunes and Prisms? Love! Certainly not.” Seeing Caitlin’s bewildered expression, Serena burst out laughing. “Oh, Caitlin! I wish you would pop on your bonnet and walk with me. I have been having the most
unchristian
thoughts about my future sister-in-law, and until today there was not a soul I could tell!”
    Caitlin assumed an air of exaggerated interest. “How excessively fortunate that she behaved scaly to me!”
    Serena’s eyes danced. “Yes, indeed! I can unburden myself to someone at last! But not here—I always have the most dreadful suspicion that Stubbs is listening at the door.”
    Soon the two girls were walking briskly down Half Moon Street. Caitlin, with a newborn appreciation for propriety, rather halfheartedly suggested that they ask Jane to follow in their wake, but Serena spurned this poor-spirited suggestion. So Caitlin allowed herself to be persuaded that such a precaution was unnecessary if the two girls walked only as far as the Green Park. The morning was sunny, but a spanking breeze rattled their bonnets as they walked.
    “Now then—where was I?” Serena demanded.
    Caitlin smiled. “You were about to explain why your brother offered for Lady Elizabeth, I believe.”
    Serena tucked a hand confidingly into Caitlin’s elbow. “Yes, but if you knew our family’s situation, you wouldn’t wonder at it. My unfortunate brother! He is Papa’s only son, you know, and must marry as soon as he may. Papa—” Serena hesitated, and her voice softened. “Papa isn’t well. I daresay you have wondered why Mama and I go alone to parties, but he insists we not deprive ourselves of pleasure merely because he isn’t strong enough to join us. Papa suffered an attack several years ago that almost carried him off. His health has been declining again of late, and Richard is determined to ease Papa’s mind by setting up his nursery as soon as possible. It will do poor Papa a world of good to see Richard safely married before he—well, before—”
    Caitlin nodded sympathetically, and Serena continued. “It is of the first importance to the family that the line continue through Richard, you see. And the sooner the better! The entire Selcroft fortune goes with the title, and as things stand if anything happened to Richard both the title and the fortune would go to Papa’s brother Oswald—a dreadful fellow, I promise you! He and Papa have been at odds for as long as I can remember, and it would be nothing short of a calamity to see Oswald Kilverton in Papa’s shoes. The more so because he has been so maddeningly sure it would come to him one day! He made ducks and drakes of his own fortune, I believe, thinking the family inheritance would eventually be his.”
    Caitlin raised an eyebrow. “An optimistic gentleman!” she observed. “It is natural to assume one will inherit a title from a parent, but from a brother—?”
    A spurt of laughter escaped Serena. “Oh! You must understand that Uncle Oswald is many years younger than Papa—he is the child of my grandpapa’s second wife. And Papa did marry rather late in life, you know, and then my parents were married years and years before Richard arrived. Papa had quite given up hope! So you see, all that time it seemed perfectly reasonable to suppose my father’s half brother would succeed to the title—and, of course, the fortune.”
    “Do you mean to tell me your uncle has lived his entire life eagerly anticipating your father’s demise?” Caitlin demanded, astonished. “He sounds positively ghoulish!”
    Serena gave a little skip, and pulled her hands free so she could clap them. “Excellent, Caitlin!
Ghoulish
is an extremely apt description of my deplorable Uncle Oswald! A