"Grant, Laurie - Lord Liar" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Laurie)

the court of the king!

And then you'll not return until you are a man! " She began to sob afresh.

"Aldyth," he began, sighing into her ear,

"Ifil be permitted visits occasionally--it's not banishment, you know.

And if the gift is more important than the giver," he added, holding her away
a little so that she could see he was teasing, " I could always pay a courier
to bring it. " " Ranulf! " she squealed, embarrassed that she had sounded
like a greedy brat in front of the friend that she adored.

"I'll show you which is more important!" She flung herself fervently against
him, press' rag her mouth to his, just as she had seen the dairy maid do to
the shepherd. Aldyth's body had not yet begun to hear the far-off echoes of
adolescence and the passionate nature that would be hers, but she did feel a
precocious delight in the strength of his sturdy hairless chest against her
and the enthusiasm with which he returned her kiss as he pulled her slight
form closer.

"Oh, Ranulf, I will miss you so much..."

"And you, too, Aldyth... I didn't know how much until this moment.

Wait for me, Aldyth. "

Then suddenly, as childish promises were being exchanged, they were blinded
as the door from the barn was opened, tentatively at first and then slammed
against the adjoining wall to the extent its rusty hinges would allow as the
two were seen. Ranulf found himself se'tzed by the shoulder and pulled out
into the sunshine near the barn's entrance by Lord ltienne himself, who
paused as he recognized the shivering, blinking girl as the daughter of his
trusted castellan, Nyle of Sherborne.

With a roar he boxed his son's ears, shouting,

"Foolish puppy! Is this how you think to prepare for knighthood? By
dishonoring the daughter of my vassal?"

"Nay, my lord," spoke up the boy, praying that his voice wouldn't quaver and
the tears that threatened would not spill over. Rarely had he had reason to
fear his sire, for the Earl of Kingsclere ruled his children with a firm but
loving hand. He saw that Lord gtienne had misread the situation and hastened
to add,

"I was but comforting Aldyth. We fell into the brook and got wet, and she
lost her ribbon" -- "And that required stripping down until you were as God
made you?" Lord ltienne gave a mirthless laugh.