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It’s a real mansion and no mistake, with acres and acres of gardens and parkland.”
    Tom was glad Mary explained. He could not have worded it better.
    Charlie looked on with awe. “Is it really that big, sir? Do you have hundreds of servants as well?”
    “Not hundreds,” Tom said with a smile, “it’s more like a few dozen, counting the ones who work in the gardens and stables.”
    “Don’t forget the farm labourers, sir.” Mary Kilcot added her mite.
    Tom had not accounted for the many folk who owed their living to him. There were probably several hundred around the estate, if he included the servants in the agent’s house as well.
    After that, the children settled down to rest. Charlie asked a question or two along the way, but Tom sensed he was waiting to see the outcome of the story. That was only half the truth about life at Linmore. The rest would have to wait until they arrived.
    Halfway through the third day, when Charlie posed the question again, Tom took his gold timepiece from his pocket, looked out through the window and said, “We should be there within a couple of hours, Charlie. The groom will tell us as soon as we are within sight of Linmore Hill.”
    At his words, Mary Kilcot started to fidget. She craned her neck to peer through the window on one side of the coach. Charlie did the same on the other, while Sophie dozed on, oblivious of her surroundings. Minutes later, the big girl grinned broadly and pointed.
    “There it is, young sir. Linmore is the big hill in the middle distance. Give us half an hour and I reckon we’ll be in the village.”
    Tom smiled at the maid’s confident assertion. Travelling had broadened her horizons. He caught Charlie’s eye and nodded agreement to the boy’s unspoken question.
    The nursemaid was almost right. The terrain became more familiar once they passed over the bridge from the eastern side of the River Linmore, near to Norcott. Half a mile further on, they joined the post road to Westbridge, but they still had six miles to travel before reaching the turn to Middlebrook, and Linmore village was a mile and a half beyond.
    A few minutes later, the driver stopped the coach and the groom appeared to announce the same message.
    “I saw it first,” Mary said, grinning at her brother.
    Tom chuckled at her enthusiasm, and guessed she would be glad to be home. They all would. Then he realised Sophie was watching him. He beckoned, and she unexpectedly slid off the seat to stand at his side.
    “That’s the hill that overlooks Linmore Estate, Sophie,” he said, pointing through the window. “It won’t be long until we’re home.”
    “You needn’t think you can escape me, brat.” A voice rasped through the half-open door of the morning room. “I know you’re there… somewhere.”
    Even before he heard the sound, Joshua recognised the ominous clicking of raised heels on his brother’s Hessian boots, crossing from the marble tiled hallway to oak floorboards in the corridor, which meant he had a few seconds of freedom before his brother found him. Just long enough to hide in the full folds of the curtains lining the bay window.
    Having gone there to avoid confrontation, Joshua froze, not daring to breathe. He closed his eyes; hoping the curtains of the enclosure would shield him from discovery.
    “Mama said you’re to take your daily punishment,” Matthew Norbery’s voice taunted, and then added with malice, “you might as well get it over. Father won’t be back for hours yet.”
    Joshua gritted his teeth, promising himself that one day he’d take revenge on his brother for all the insults he endured. Yet knowing he was too small to make a difference. Somewhere in the background, he heard a door opening, a swish of skirts and a soft tread approaching.
    “Matthew,” Aunt Jane called from the corridor. Her tone was not quite a reproof, more a question. “What are you doing in the morning room? I asked you to tell your mother I am awaiting your