"Esther M. Friesner - A Beltaine And Suspenders" - читать интересную книгу автора (Friesner Esther M)

"What rumors?"



"Speculations, rather.Staddle -upon-Truss is a fine village for their

cultivation. Unless you've got her pretty well hidden, mules are a rarity."



"At the risk of disrespect to the cloth, you're blithering. Why would I want to
hide a mule?"



"Why would you want to be one?" he replied. "Perhaps it's that men aren't to

your taste, and in that case there have been the normal conjectures as to who

might be your Sapphic counterpart."



Olivia stiffened with indignation. "How dare you!" What would have been shouted

was instead hissed, out of deference to the hour and fear of provoking a scene

that would fetch Lady Battle-Purfitt. "Just because a single woman chooses not

to-- to give a cornfield frolic to any man who asks her, you accuse her of all

sorts of things."



"Really, Olivia, you're pouring a gallon of outrage into a dram measure." Even

in the dark, the off-kilter gleam of Father Herrick's toothy leer was visible.

"I hope you haven't mistaken my simple expediency for any sort of genuine

attraction. Frankly, with your looks, I wouldn't wager you've had that many

offers to do more in a cornfield than frighten crows."