"Dave Duncan - A Man Of His Word 1 - Magic Casement" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)
out the door on the far side. She was very tempted-at least she would be able to
dispose of the silk-but the way was cluttered by all those ladies on the edges
of their gilt and rosewood chairs, by Kel the footman with a serving trolley
laden with Aunt Kade's finest china and her magnificent, enormous, silver tea um
giving out its usual disgusting odor of burning whale oil... And then Aunt Kade
had risen, and all the others did so also, and it was too late.
Aunt Kade's plump face was turning pink and assuming that fretted look that Inos
so often provoked these days. Whether to welcome or scold... She was probably
also chewing over problems of protocol and the dowdy brown worsted. Then she
made her decision.
She beamed. "Inosolan, my dear! How nice that you can join us! May I present
these ladies? Mistress Jiolinsod, Mistress Ofazi..."
Feeling as if her head had come off and floated out through a window, Inos
forced a smile on a face not there. Tucking the silk behind her in her left
hand, she offered her right to each of the simpering matrons. To be invited to
one of Princess Kadolan's tea parties in the palace was a screaming social
success, and to meet Princess Inosolan as well was probably a stupid honor.
Especially, she realized, when the princess was wearing her dowdy brown worsted,
regally emblazoned-at least on the right sleeve-with silver cobwebs. Oh,
horrors! There were probably cobwebs on her hair and face, also, while the
society ladies were all dressed in their best gowns and bonnets, and loaded with
file:///G|/rah/Dave%20Duncan%20-%20A%20Man%20Of%20His%20Word%201%20-%20Magic%20Casement.txt
every piece of jewelry they owned or, likely, had been able to borrow. Boots on
the stairs! With a wail, Inos jumped loose from the fourth introduction and
started backing away from the door.
Her aunt spluttered at such gaucherie. "Inos!"
And then the door flew wide and a man appeared in the doorway-an elderly man,
tall and stooped. He folded his arms and straightened, and his gaze swept the
room. Inos had never seen him before, she was certain, yet he had known what she
looked like. He had a gaunt face, with a hooked nose like an eagle's beak and
fierce blue eyes. Deep clefts ran down at the sides of his mouth, emphasizing
the nose and the strong chin. Wisps of white hair showed under the brown hood of
his cloak. His gown bore traces of cobwebs.
"Doctor Sagorn! " Aunt Kade exclaimed in delight. "How nice that you are able to
join us! May I..." Her voice tailed away as she saw how the newcomer was staring
ferociously at her niece, as that niece continued to edge backward.
Inos was fighting a spring tide of panic, drowning in rising terror before that
deadly glare. Her hips touched the trolley and she could back away no farther.
Where was her father? Why had he not come, also?
And how in the world had this sinister old man come down the stairs so quickly?
He must have outrun her and her father both, yet he was not even panting. She
was.
"Inosolan?" Aunt Kade sounded vexed. "What are you holding behind your back,
dear?"
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