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

hurrying servant at her own pace, she reflected that her plans were starting right, at least. Her appearance
was bound to cause trouble, but the later she arrived, the less time there would be for trouble before the
king put in an appearance. Then, of course, a different kind of trouble would startтАж
The dining room the servant led her to was more than large enough to hold the hundred or so people who
stood around talking. Servants with trays of drinks circulated through the beautifully-dressed and
carefully coifed throng, but Adair refused all offers until a man with fruit juice in his glasses came up to
her. Drinking anything alcoholic on an empty stomach would have been stupid, but even so, Adair had
time for only a single swallow of juice before the trouble sheтАЩd been expecting abruptly arrived.
тАЬSee, Aleena, I told you it was her,тАЭ a triumphant female voice exclaimed from behind Adair. тАЬKeeping
up with proper fashion always has been beyond her.тАЭ
тАЬYes, Dinra, you certainly were right,тАЭ another, very amused female voice agreed. тАЬImagine, wearing a
gown that went out of style more than a year ago. Only she would be this тАж out of touch.тАЭ
Adair turned to see the two girls whoтАЩd spoken, girls sheтАЩd known since theyтАЩd all been very small. Their
fathers were dukes just as AdairтАЩs was, but the two had never had any trouble fitting in perfectly. Dinra,
leader of the small set, had blond hair and blue eyes, AleenaтАЩs very light brown hair almost putting her in
the same category. Both girls had their hair up in intricately curled hairdos and both wore examples of the
latest style in gowns, DinraтАЩs in pink, AleenaтАЩs in yellow. Three other girls hovered behind the two,
listening to the goings-on but making no effort to join in. With Adair, their number had been brought up to
sixтАж
тАЬIf being тАШin touchтАЩ means not even having taste in oneтАЩs mouth, I accept the compliment, Aleena,тАЭ Adair
said with a mocking smile. тАЬDonтАЩt you тАж ladies have any idea how ridiculous you look?тАЭThe two girls
lost their sneering smiles immediately, most likely due to the fact that, deep down, they knew Adair was
right. The newest style in gowns had high round necks and short, cap sleeves, but that wasnтАЩt the worst
of it. The gown skirts formed narrow bells before widening at the ankles, making the wearers look like
immature barrels.
тАЬNo one ever looks ridiculous in the latest style,тАЭ Dinra stated with heavy ice coating the words, her stare
matching perfectly. тАЬBeing in style shows a womanтАЩs status, Adair, and ignoring that style shows her as
backward. If you think you can hide your backwardness with inane comments, youтАЩre just as wrong as
youтАЩve always been.тАЭ
тАЬBut werenтАЩt you saying almost the same thing only a few minutes ago, Dinra?тАЭ another female voice
asked, and then Lisni stepped forward. тАЬYou said the new style was too bloated for your taste, and - тАЬ
тАЬI said no such thing,тАЭ Dinra stated in a growl, glaring now at a new target. тАЬYouтАЩre almost as bad as
Adair is, Lisni, so just keep your comments to yourself.тАЭ
And then, with a toss of their heads, Dinra and Aleena turned and sauntered away.
тАЬThose two have always been absolute pains,тАЭ Lisni said to Adair in a soft voice as they watched the
тАЬvery importantтАЭ girls walk away. тАЬIf they end up being chosen to marry two of the princes, there wonтАЩt
be any living with them from then on.тАЭ
тАЬLike itтАЩs possible to live with them now?тАЭ Adair countered just as softly with a chuckle. Lisni had dark
brown hair and nicer blue eyes than Dinra did, and Adair had always felt that Lisni might have become a
good friend if their fathers hadnтАЩt spent so little time together. Duke Rayl, LisniтАЩs father, was too
тАЬwarlikeтАЭ to suit AdairтАЩs father, so the girls had only met on rare occasions.
тАЬItтАЩs never been possible to live with those two,тАЭ Lisni agreed with a wry smile of her own. тАЬTheyтАЩve
always been convinced that no one could ever match them, but somehow their matchless qualities have
escaped me.тАЭ
тАЬYou and me both,тАЭ Adair agreed, seeing that the last two girls were looking back and forth between
them and the two girls who had left, obviously wondering which group to join. Elmini and Nossa were
both on the mousy side, and standing aloof would have been impossible for either of them.
тАЬLook, Lisni, I appreciate the way you came into the argument on my side so youтАЩre entitled to a
warning,тАЭ Adair said just as softly as theyтАЩd been speaking. тАЬMy objective in being here is to get thrown
out as quickly as possible, so you arenтАЩt doing yourself any favors by standing here talking to me. Once