Free Brothers at Arms Page B

Joshua to explain their names, so you know who to expect.”
    Joshua tried to remember the last time he had seen his relations. It was ages ago. Linmore was not like other country houses because it did not have many visitors, and those who came rarely stayed long.
    The thought of having visitors was torture, because Joshua would have to pretend dutiful affection for his mother, whereas she made no such pretence. If he was lucky, she would ignore him, and he much preferred that to the acrimony to which she and Matthew usually subjected him.
    Wanting to be first to see who arrived, Joshua and Charlie stood by the sash window at the end of the nursery corridor, while Sophie found a footstool on which to stand. From there, they all had a clear view of the front drive.
    No sooner did they see a team of horses, drawing a carriage with big wheels, travelling at a thundering pace, than the lads hurtled down the back stairs to the lower floor, with Sophie running three steps behind.
    They dashed through the back door and around the corner of the courtyard, to arrive at the front door just as the equipage swept to a halt. They gasped in delight as a groom leapt down and ran to the horses’ heads.
    Seconds later, Roundthorn the butler emerged through the front door, followed by a couple of footmen to collect the luggage.
    “Who’s this?” Charlie’s voice was full of awe.
    “That’s my cousin, Moreton. He is the heir to Rushmore estate.”
    “Like Matthew Norbery?” Charlie asked.
    “Oh no,” said Joshua with a laugh. “Not like him at all.”
    They might share the position of being heir to their respective fathers’ estate, but Lord Cardington’s eldest son was everything Matthew was not.
    As Viscount Atcherly, Moreton Cardington belonged to the Corinthian set. He was a notable whip and excelled in all kinds of sporting activities. Known as a hard rider to hounds, he could shoot and fence with the best, and regularly sparred in Gentleman Jackson’s boxing club in London.
    Whereas Joshua’s brother was hard-pressed to drive a gig, his older cousin arrived at Linmore, in advance of the family party, driving his racing curricle with a team of four perfectly matched chestnut thoroughbreds, from the renowned Rushmore stables.
    As Joshua gazed at the driver, clad in the uniform of the Four-Horse Club, with a proliferation of shoulder capes on his drab-coloured driving coat, his pride overflowed, and knew that Charlie was similarly impressed. Then he sensed they were not alone. Intent on being first to greet their cousin, Matthew Norbery stood behind them.
    “Out of my way, you…”
    Joshua realised his position, but was too late to avoid a ringing slap to his head, which knocked him to his knees. When he scrambled to his feet, he realised Moreton Cardington was watching. More than that, this magnificent apparition had ignored his older brother’s overtures of welcome, and was speaking to them.
    “Come on, brats, the team looks better from up here,” he drawled, and reached down to help the two lads clamber up the steps. When Charlie and Joshua were proudly settled on the seat he gathered up the reins, preparatory to taking the curricle around the sweep of the drive towards the stables. Instead, he stopped. “Good God, what have we here?”
    He raised an eyebrow in surprise when he saw Sophie waiting expectantly with her foot on the first step. He took one look at her ferocious scowl, boomed out a laugh and took hold of the little hand she extended for help. With one deft hoist, she was on the platform at her brother’s feet.
    “All right, little missy,” he said. “If you insist, then it’s the floor for you, and no squawking about me driving too fast. If you do, I’ll put you out to walk.”
    If awe had a sound, then Sophie made it.
    Joshua had never before known such kindness, but he knew he would have to pay for taking attention from his brother. If Matthew did not make him suffer, his mother would.
    When the