Free Gideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer

The long curved drive cut through a great park, well stocked with stately elms and home to perhaps a thousand sheep.

"This is my school!" she exclaimed softly into Peter's ear. "This is where I go to school! I can't believe it!"

The coach crunched to a standstill in front of a flight of steps leading to a pair of imposing gilded doors. "Wow," said Kate to Peter under her breath. "It doesn't look this good now."

"It won't look this good," corrected Peter.

"You will get very annoying if you carry on like that," she whispered back.
    * * *
    As they all clambered down from the carriage, a small blond-haired boy in a velvet suit came careering around the corner of the house and skidded to a halt on the gravel of the drive. His mouth opened into a small O shape of surprise, and he let the misshapen leather ball he had been chasing roll toward Peter and Kate.

"We have visitors, Master Jack," Hannah called out. "Will you come and bid them welcome?"

The little fellow stood and stared at the strangers and began to walk backward, retracing his steps behind the corner.

"Hello," said Kate, kneeling down so that she was at the same height. "My name's Kate and this is Peter."

Peter walked toward the child's ball.

"Can I borrow your ball for a moment?"

He threw off his cloak, picked up the ball, and carefully placed it on the top of his right foot. Holding out his arms for balance, Peter kicked the ball to eye level then kept it in the air for a couple of minutes or more, first with his foot, then with his knee, and then he finally flicked the ball behind him, bent forward with his arms outstretched, and caught it deftly on the back of his neck. Master Jack was rooted to the spot, entranced; he had never seen such skill with a ball before. Kate was impressed too, although she couldn't quite bring herself to say so.

Jack ran forward and snatched the ball from Peter's neck.

"I like your game," he said. "I want to play it now." He smiled up at Peter, and dimples appeared in his chubby cheeks. Then his attention was drawn to Peter's anorak and he reached out to touch it.

"What is this?" he asked in wonderment, stroking the orange nylon and running his thumbnail up and down the fascinating metal zip.

"Where are your manners, Jack?" a refined woman's voice inquired. "Our guests have been attacked by a highwayman who has stolen all their good clothes."

"You poor souls," said Jack earnestly, and then added, breaking into a grin, "I should like to meet a highwayman."

"Hush, Jack," the woman's voice replied. "Do not wish for such a thing!"

Peter stood up to see who was speaking. He saw two women walking toward them: a handsome, dignified woman in a magnificent blue silk dress, and following her, a nurse carrying a baby swaddled in a lace shawl. The width of the lady's dress was nothing less than startling. It must weigh a ton, thought Peter. If she'd been standing on a sidewalk, there wouldn't have been room for anyone else. Peter started to get nervous. This must be Gideon's employer, the Honorable Mrs. Byng. What was he going to say to this grand lady? How was he supposed to behave? Thankfully, Gideon and Kate joined him, and all three of them stood to attention in a little row.

"Bow!" hissed Gideon. Peter did a bow of sorts, though he did not know what to do with his arms and legs. If she noticed, Mrs. Byng had enough tact not to show that she had. Kate fared better with a curtsy, as her legs were hidden under her long cloak and she merely bent both knees before bobbing up again.

"Welcome to Baslow Hall," said the Honorable Mrs. Byng. "I am sorry that the master of the house, Colonel Byng, is unable to greet you. He is recently left for America, where he is to join his regiment. An uncivilized land, but he must needs do his duty for England and King George, and we must do without him as best we can. Come, Mr. Seymour, introduce me to our guests."

"May I present Mistress Kate and Master Peter Schock," said Gideon. "Alas the