Free 2 The Imposter by Mark Dawson Page B

related. The tone of their skin, the shape of their eyes, their noses and chins; they were evidently poured from the same mould.
    He took their offered hands. “Pleasure to meet you.”
    Sophia turned her hand over and held it before his lips so that he was left with no choice but to kiss it. “Where’s he been hiding you?”
    Joseph tutted. “Put him down.”
    Evie kissed Joseph on the cheek. “Bloody hell, you reek. Have you been drinking?”
    He grinned at her. “We were celebrating.”
    “What for?”
    “We’ve just been to Buckingham Palace. Edward has just seen the King.”
    “Give over.”
    “It’s true. Go on, Doc, show them.”
    Edward feigned modesty. The medal was still attached to his tunic. He slid his fingers beneath it and held it away from his breast.
    “Which one is it?”
    Joseph said, “The Victoria Cross.”
    Evie gawped. “It never is…”
    “What’d you have to do to get that?” Sophia asked.
    “Nothing much,” Edward said. He felt uncharacteristically shy. Sophia had a brash and loud personality and he felt a little cowed by it.
    “Don’t be coy,” Sophia urged with a grin that exposed the wide gap between her front teeth. “Tell us.”
    Joseph saw Edward was uncomfortable. “Leave it out,” he said. “Not everyone wants to crow about the things that they’ve done. All you need to know is that this man”––he clapped him on the back––“is a bloody hero.”
    Sophia took Edward’s hand again and squeezed it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Edward,” she said. She held her grip a little too long, and, as she gently released it, she trailed her fingertips against the back of his hand. He looked down at her, surprised, and she returned his expression with a cheeky wink.
    “Sophia,” Chiara chided in a tone of weary exasperation. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Fabian. My sister can be awfully embarrassing sometimes.”
    Edward knew that the flattery was not just for the benefit of his ego. Sophia and Evie enjoyed embarrassing their brother and they knew exactly how to do it. The more he protested, the more lascivious, and crude, they would become. Chiara did not get involved in their games; she stood silently to the side and observed, taking it all in.
    “Where’s Billy?” Sophia asked her brother.
    “He’s meeting us here. Go easy on him, alright?”
    “I don’t know what you mean,” Sophia said with mock outrage.
    “You know exactly what I mean. You give him the bloody vapours half the time and you know it. Speak of the devil––there he is.”
    His face broke out into a smile and Edward turned to see the reason for it: Billy was approaching them. “Billy and me are going to get the drinks. Edward––I’d leave you here but I’m not sure they’ll leave you in one piece.”
    “He’s perfectly safe,” Sophia said.
    “I doubt that. Edward?”
    “I’m fine,” he said.
    There were three pubs in the vicinity. The landlords had rolled barrels out onto the street and groups of happy drunks gathered around them to refill their tankards, a rowdy atmosphere already developing. Joseph led Billy to the Wordsworth and waved the landlord across.
    Chiara said, “You’re the doctor, aren’t you?”
    “That’s right. How do you know that?”
    “Joseph was talking about you.”
    “He was?”
    “He was happy you asked him to come today.”
    Edward smiled, pleased with himself. He felt very optimistic all of a sudden.
    “Have you met Billy yet?” Evie asked him.
    “Briefly. I don’t think he likes me much.”
    “He can be like that,” Sophia said. “He’s awkward around people he’s just met. I shouldn’t worry about it. He doesn’t mean it. His bark’s worse than his bite.”
    “You should know,” teased Evie.
    The remark was lost on Edward. “Are they good friends?” he asked.
    “They’ve known each other for years. His father and our father worked in the business so the two of them practically grew up together. He’s Greek. It used to be