"Sharon Green - [ebel 01 - Rebel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

***
Adair let the servants show her to her apartment, told them what kind of tea she wanted while a small
army unpacked her things and put them away, and then, with all chores done, asked to be left alone. The
apartment she finally stood in without others around was large and lovely, but having windows again
didnтАЩt mean much. She would stay in the palace for the week sheтАЩd agreed to, but at the end of that time
she would walk out the front door. Unless she was thrown out before the end of the weekтАж
That idea made Adair smile as she took off her jacket, but the smile didnтАЩt last very long. SheтАЩd meant to
review her plans during the trip here, but sheтАЩd gotten so little sleep last night that sheтАЩd fallen asleep
almost as soon as the coach began to move. But falling asleep turned out to be a blessing instead of an
irritation; the coach seat had been well-padded, but having to sit on it after what that beast had done to
her last night hadnтАЩt been pleasant.
That beast. Adair knew that another smile now curved her lips, but not as nice a smile as the first. Mayne
had been absolutely sure of himself last night when he beat her like that, and it was almost worth the pain
sheтАЩd been given to see that assurance disappear today. She hadnтАЩt said anything when Mayne had
asked about her fatherтАЩs тАЬgoodbye visit,тАЭ but it had been perfectly clear that Mayne understood there
hadnтАЩt been any such visit.
And that understanding had shaken the man, but only, Adair thought, to the extent that a nasty suspicion
had been confirmed for him. HeтАЩd decided that he wanted to тАЬstart overтАЭ and тАЬbe friendsтАЭ with her
because he suspected heтАЩd been fed a bunch of lies, as if what they thought of each other mattered in the
least. Prince Mayne ToramтАЩs grand gesture had fallen flat and dead, and now she should only have his
brothers to deal with. And the kingтАж
Adair took off her hat and freed her hair, then toured the apartment a bit. The trunks that had held her
clothes and other possessions had been put in the very large bedchamber along with her case of books,
three trunks worth of clothes and underwear and such. The total came close to everything she owned in
the way of clothing, which really wasnтАЩt all that much. She liked gowns and skirts well enough, but every
time someone had had a fit over her wearing tights and a tunic sheтАЩd worn fewer gowns and skirts and
more tights and tunics.
But the matter of clothing was really no more to Adair than another weapon to use against her hosts.
Unlike just about everyone sheтАЩd ever known, Adair didnтАЩt judge people by what they wore. How they
acted was, in her opinion, much more important than how much gold they spent fancying up their bodies.
It was another point that showed her differences, and now it was one sheтАЩd use to get herself free.
Going back into the sitting room with the book she hadnтАЩt read from much during the trip, Adair passed
by the tea service. Along with the tea a plate of small cakes had been brought and left for her, but sight of
them did no more to stir her appetite than breakfast or lunch had done. It had always been true that the
more trapped she felt the less of an appetite she had, but sheтАЩd really have to see about eating something
at dinner. Assuming, of course, she wasnтАЩt thrown out before dinner was servedтАж
It wasnтАЩt long before the time came to dress for dinner, and after refusing the help of the maids sent to
assist her Adair saw to her own dressing. The maids would certainly have tried to talk her out of doing as
she meant to, and Adair didnтАЩt need any more argument. She was certain to get all the arguing anyone
might want once she showed up in the dining room.
A male servant waited outside her door to guide her to the dining room being used tonight, and the man
almost stuttered and tripped over his own feet when Adair appeared. He seemed taken with the emerald
green gown she wore, a gown with a low-cut bodice that showed off her breasts, tightened below those
breasts, then fell softly - and clingingly - to her shoes. AdairтАЩs only jewelry was a thin silver necklace and
matching earrings, a simplicity that went better with her black hair hanging loose and unstyled.
тАЬPlease follow me, my lady,тАЭ the servant finally managed to get out once heтАЩd stopped gawking at her.
тАЬHis MajestyтАЩs other guests are probably already there.тАЭ
Meaning that Adair was on the verge of being late, something she already knew. As she followed the