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What were you thinking about?”
          “That’s a woman smile,” Alex said thoughtfully. “Have you a woman in your life, Finn?”
      “Don’t be ridiculous. I was thinking of my morning ride. A young person was doing tricks on the back of a horse.” It wasn’t a lie, she was a young person.
    “Really! I would have loved to see that. We’ve decided to go to The Royal Amphitheatre one night, haven’t we Ben?”
    “Indeed, then we thought to practice a few—”
    “I forbid it,” Finn interrupted before Ben could finish his sentence. “The last time you two attempted to stand on a horse’s back Alex was in bed with broken fingers and a bruised head for days.” The twins gave him a smile which told Finn they had been doing what they did best, trying to get a rise out of him.
          “We need new clothes, Finn, if we are to be seen about town.”
          Finn picked up his newspaper and opened it. “Do you, Alex?”
          “Yes, because while you have perfected the mourning look, we feel it is not right for us. Therefore, we thought to go shopping today if that would suit you?”
          “And am I to fund this venture?” Finn left the mourning comment untouched, remembering Phoebe had said the same thing last night. Really, it was lucky his ego could withstand this constant battering or he’d be a gibbering wreck.  
          “Well, I have only made one investment, as you very well know, and Alex the same, although it’s my belief he has a bit of blunt tucked away and is not sharing it.” Ben glared at his brother.
    “I’m simply doing as Finn suggested we do, Benjamin, and looking to reinvest.” Ben didn’t care for his brother’s lofty tone and lobbed a piece of toast at him.
    “Cease at once!” Finn roared, knowing exactly where that action would lead.
          Throwing his brother a look that suggested retribution was only on hold, Alex said. “We are merely poor young men finding our way in the world, whereas you, on the other hand, have far more money than—”
          “I would leave the rest of that sentence in your head were I you, Alexander,” Finn said. “We shall leave in an hour and I shall accompany you to make sure you don’t bankrupt me.”
          The twins moaned but fell silent when he lifted his paper and blocked them from his view, thereby signaling the end to the conversation.
          “I have to meet someone first, then will catch up to you after, if that is alright. And if we are being honest, it is Ben who needs the new clothes. Actually, what he needs is a lesson in style. However, as he will not take it from me, perhaps you could guide him, Finn. He has your coloring, so muddy brown and soot black should be just the ticket.”
          Finn waited for the explosion behind his paper, but to his surprise it never came.  
          “Can we take out your new grays, Finn?” Ben said instead, for once ignoring his brother’s taunts.        
    “No.”
          “Perhaps we should go to Tattersall’s as well, Finn, as Ben and I are both in need of new mounts?”
          Finn didn’t see his brothers nudging each other but he knew what they were up to. They both worked on the theory that if they asked for a few things at once then Finn would give in and relent to at least two.  
          “If you are going to pay for the said new equine purchases, I am more than happy to look them over before you buy.”
          “You’re a terrible nip-farthing,” Alex moaned.
          “It will look badly on you, Finn, if we are not turned out just so,” Ben added.
          “I shall try to bear up under the strain.” Finn still had his paper up as he attempted to read the same line for the third time.
          “I’ll not be like that with my children, Alex. I will make sure they are turned out impeccably every season.”
          “And I shall come and