"Dave Duncan - Tales of King's Blades 6 - Paragon Lost" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

manтАФand his knee-length cloak was a magnificent gold brocade, trimmed with a collar of soft brown fur
that tapered all the way down the edges. Yet he was clean-shaven, in defiance of current fashion, and the
silver hair visible below his halo bonnet seemed clumsily cut. He bore his years well, standing straight and
tall.


4Dave Duncan

He bowed. тАЬLady Beaumont? Good chance to you, my lady.тАЭ

Isabelle shut the door. тАЬI am Mistress Cookson, may it please your lordship.тАЭ People who claimed a
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rank above their station could land in the stocks. Was he one of the KingтАЩs spies?

He pursed his lips in disapproval. тАЬThen pray be seated, mistress. I do believe we have business to
discuss. And if you are to be Mistress Cookson, then I shall remain Master Harvest for the nonce. May I
offer you some wine, or order some other refreshment?тАЭ

He would have paid dearly for the bottle of SniderтАЩs best that stood on the table with four goblets.
Isabelle declined the wine, but she did sit down, determined to get her moneyтАЩs worth. The Sniders
would dock half her dayтАЩs pay for allowing her a few minutes to meet with this man under their roof,
despite having charged him for the use of the room.

The man not-named-Harvest returned to his bench and studied her with coal-dark eyes that age had not
dulled. тАЬI need speak with your husband, my lady. The matter is urgent.тАЭ

тАЬIt is about lessons?тАЭ He was too old to fence, but he might have grandsons.

A smile flickered and was gone. From his pocket came a paper that she recognized instantly as one of
BeauтАЩs handbills. She had helped him design it and was still furious that Master SniderтАЩs printer had
ruined it by settingAvailable At GossipsтАЩ Cornerin the largest type. The visitor spread it on the table and
her suspicion flamed higher.

тАЬThat is outdated, my lord. We have a newer version. I can fetch one.тАЭ She began to rise.

тАЬPray do not trouble. I have seen that, also. The only difference is that Sir BeaumontтАЩs name was
changed to тАШNed Cookson.тАЩ Will you tell me why?тАЭ


5Paragon Lost

Long-smoldering anger made her blurt out the truth. тАЬHe was ordered not to claim to be a gentleman,
my lord.тАЭ

тАЬOrdered by whom?тАЭ