Brothers at Arms Page B

father would decide. The baby was ever so small, quite helpless, and from what he could see, it would not know how to feed itself.
    When he reached out to stroke the baby’s cheek, it brought a startling response. Two bright eyes opened, and a tiny hand grasped his finger.
    “Hey, look,” said Charlie. “He likes you. Be careful though, it might bite.”
    “Has it any teeth?” asked Joshua, touching the baby’s bottom lip. No, he could only see gums. The little mouth started to work around the tip of his finger. Its tongue tickled. “What’s the matter with it?”
    “It’s probably hungry,” said Charlie. “Your finger won’t satisfy it for long. Babies drink milk.”
    “Papa,” Joshua called. “Charlie thinks the baby is hungry.”
    That drew the grown-ups’ attention.
    “Yes,” his father said, “I expect it is. That settles the matter, Mrs Grimble. I think you had better take the child to your labourer’s wife to care for. Here is some money for her trouble.” He placed a handful of coins in her palm.
    “But sir, there is five guineas here. Peggy won’t expect that much,” the farmer’s wife said with certainty.
    “I will leave it with you to decide how best to distribute it.”
    “If I find some clothes for the baby, and give the woman a shilling every week, she can bring the little one when she comes to work at the farm. That way I’ll know she’s taking proper care of it.”
    “An excellent idea, ma’am,” said Squire Norbery. “Later, if the child thrives, she can be educated in the village school, and repay your good nature by working on your farm like the mother.”
    Relieved the matter was resolved; Tom dispensed a coin to the verger for his trouble, and climbed into the chaise. The boys settled back in their seats, with Sophie on the floor, apparently unconcerned by their absence.
    He’d had enough mediating for one day. It must be the season for abandoned children. First, it was Charlie and Sophie, now a newborn baby.
    Probably the mother was a country wench who found herself in trouble, and risked losing her home. There were always young men ready to sow wild oats. Tom hoped his eldest son was not the cause of this problem. It would not be the first time. He knew Matthew had faults aplenty, but did not think women featured prominently in his life – quite the reverse. He used them to be cruel.
    With his mind filled with the events of the afternoon, Tom turned the chaise around and headed out of the village along the drovers’ road that bordered the rear of Linmore estate. He glanced at Joshua sitting at his side, a look of deep concentration on his face. Eventually, he had to ask, “Is something bothering you, Joshua?”
    “Why did you say,
her
, Papa? We thought it would be a boy.”
    “Mrs Grimble said it was a little girl, and she should know.”
    “Mmm.” Joshua nodded his acceptance and turned to Charlie.
    On reaching the back drive to Linmore, Tom drove the chaise through the gates into the park, and headed for his sister-in-law’s woodland cottage, situated half a mile beyond the lodge.
    The children were talking amongst themselves, and he was glad they showed no ill effects from when he’d brought the chaise to a sudden stop. It was safe enough when Joshua and Charlie sat together on the seat beside him, but not with Sophie huddled on the floor between their feet.
    He had tried to insist that there was not enough room for all of them to sit in comfort, but she refused to stay behind. Truth to tell, she was no trouble when he let her do as she wished. She was definitely an original character, and Tom was growing accustomed to her quaint little ways. He wanted her to feel at home at Linmore.
    Almost before he had drawn the horses to a halt in front of the stone-built single-storey cottage, Joshua jumped down and dashed along the garden path to be first to relate the news. Charlie followed close behind. The front door opened immediately and Jane emerged.
    “Aunt