"Duncan, Dave - Paragon Lost v1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Duncan Dave)

shadier services: girl or boy companions in the rooms, sinister
conjurations not offered by honest elementaries, recovery of
recently stolen goods, collection of debts, or other forms of
assault. Today the taproom was as noisy as the kitchen, with a
dozen carpenters competing in hammering. Riots were
commonplace in GossipsТ Corner, but last weekТs had been
unusually vigorous, climaxing in a party of public-spirited Baelish
sailors attempting to burn the place down.

The KingТs Room was a cubicle for private conversation. Furnished
with a timber table and two benches, it was just as cramped and
pungent as the taproom outside, but the pebbly glass in its
diamond-pane windows let in a fair light. The solitary occupant rose
as she entered, an unexpected courtesy. A gentleman, certainly.
His hose, doublet, and skirted jerkin were of fine stuff and
beautifully tailoredЧnot quite in the latest mode sported by court
dandies, but quite acceptable on an older manЧand 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.

4 Dave Duncan

He bowed. УLady Beaumont? Good chance to you, my lady.Ф

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

He pursed his lips in disapproval. УThen 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?Ф

He would have paid dearly for the bottle of SniderТs best that stood
on the table with four goblets. Isabelle declined the wine, but she
did sit down, determined to get her moneyТs worth. The Sniders
would dock half her dayТs 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. УI need speak with your
husband, my lady. The matter is urgent.Ф

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