Brothers at Arms Read Free Book Online Page B

there was the ornate gold fob he wore at his waist, or the huge quizzing glass he waved about and through which he peered at people with a hideously magnified eye. It had frightened Joshua when he was a little lad, and he still had nightmares.
    Then he realised if Sophie went for things of little monetary value, she might have designs on the exquisite trim around the top of his brother’s brand new hessian boots, crafted by Mr Hoby.
    She must have guessed the mirror shine, which Matthew truly believed was the best his valet could achieve, came second only to the gold tassels that adorned them.
    They intrigued her so much that she often moved her head from side to side in time with the swaying tassels as Matthew paraded around the room. Eventually, he minced his way back, giving Sophie a wide berth, before sinking onto a seat with the foppish grace of a mannequin.
    The minute he settled, she sidled up to him and crouched down to take a closer look. Then she looked him in the face, and smiled.
    Immediately, he raised his open hand ready to strike, thinking to intimidate her.
    “Ugh, get away from me, you dirty little wretch,” he squawked. “Don’t you dare touch my boots…”
    His feeble demand was to no avail. Sophie was transfixed. It was as if she was waiting for something – and it came right on cue.
    “Leave my sister alone,” Charlie roared, hurtling forward with fists bunched.
    Matthew Norbery recoiled in horror, but his lack of attention gave Sophie the opportunity she needed to snatch one of the tassels from a boot, and toss it amongst the retriever gundogs in front of the fire. The largest black one, of solid build, gobbled it up and promptly spat it out again, drenched with spittle.
    While others in the room looked on in astonishment, Sophie darted back to Charlie’s side in triumph. She had made her point.
    Joshua started to giggle. He could not help himself. He had never seen his brother so enraged, or impotent. It was a joy to watch.
    Snatching up his cane, Matthew leapt from the chair and turned menacingly on him. “What are you smirking at, Norbery?” he snarled. “I’ll give you something else to think about.”
    “Matthew,” their father admonished, “if you cannot behave better than a spoiled child, then leave the room.”
    Caught out in his abuse, the bully dissolved. “It’s not fair,” he blubbered. “Look what that… that… beastly creature did to my boots. She’s ruined them.”
    “It does not excuse your behaviour. Stop the theatricals at once, and at least try to behave like a man.”
    His father’s icy tone sent Matthew scuttling off in a huff to complain to his mother, and leaving Joshua to hope the inevitable backlash would not rebound on him, as it usually did.
    Before he left the salon, Joshua looked for the missing tassel, but there was no sign of it anywhere. Then something caught his eye. He noticed Sophie slip her clenched fist into her coat pocket, and knew with a certainty Charlie was right about his sister. She did have magpie tendencies.
    After he dined, Tom retired to the library and sat at his desk. He was tired from travelling and wanted to sleep, but the firm chair helped to keep him awake as he leaned forward, propping his elbows on the desk and chin in his hands.
    He needed to think, and decide what to do about Matthew. No one could deny the provocation, but what shocked Tom was his eldest son’s lack of control, so reminiscent of Kate.
    He should not be surprised, because Jane told him about Matthew’s aggressive behaviour to Joshua. Now he had seen it for himself, and it was clear that the older boy had been unchecked for too long. He needed occupation.
    Kate was his next problem, for whatever decision he made, she would never agree. Irrespective of that, Tom knew it was better to wean them now with a year or two at university than wait for the extended period of a Grand Tour.
    Goodness knows how long that would last, or what the cost would be; he would