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

"God's blood, I am not so gullible as that! I tumbled many a wench, lad,
until I met your mother..." At the mention of Lady Nichola his voice
softened.

"But I suggest you wait a few seasons and let one of the many willing serving
wenches about the court initiate youl The daughter of Sir Nyle is not for
your pawing, hear me, cockerel?"

Then, remembering Aldyth's presence just inside the tack room door, he called
softly to her,

"We are going. Put your clothes back on and go to your chamber for dry
garments."

Swathed in the blanket, she came to the door, where she could face him.

"But, Lord tienne, Ranulf has given you the right of it--he meant no harm.
Please don't punish him or tell my mother and father!"

The earl stood firm.

"Don't worry, Aldyth. You will not be blamed.

The fault is with my son, who needs to learn the meaning of treating a maid
with honor. Go now," he said, gesturing in dismissal, and she shut the door
as Ranulf was dragged off to a more stringent penance.

"I had hoped to keep him by us until Michaelmas," said Lady Nichola that
night as Lord lh. tienne held her close in their great bed. She had every
mother's reluctance to release her firstborn son to the joys and
responsibilities of manhood, though she knew it was inevitable. That was the
way of noble houses. They did not rear their own sons, lest the sons grow
too soft under their mothers' watchful eyes. Once Ranulf left the keep at
Kingsclere to join William's court, he would set his foot on the road to
manhood, leaving, she feared, his need for the love of a mother forever.

But not for the world would she have turned him aside from that road, for a
boy kept at home was forever an object of derision and not worthy of
knighthood.

"Yes, I know, mamie," answered Lord ltienne. He was sensitive to her
feelings and knew of the struggle within her to let go of her son and did not
disparage her fears.

"But you must see he is ready--today's event has proved that, if nothing
else."

Lady Nichola could not repress a chuckle.

"I'm afraid Sir Nyle would have been ready to come after your heir if he had