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

arrangement. King Rodick and his sons already stood by their chairs, the king on the extreme left and
everyone else to his right.
The first of the princes was Mayne, with Lisni to his left and next to the king, and Dinra on MayneтАЩs right.
Then came Elmini, Lethan, and Nossa, with Aleena, Nallis and Adair finishing the arrangement. Adair
showed only a very small smile as a servant seated her, distantly wondering if her seat was the one that
had originally been intended for her. If sheтАЩd been put any farther away from the king, she would have
been sitting on the floorтАж
тАЬOh, Prince Nallis, this is such an honor for me!тАЭ Aleena burbled as soon as Nallis was in his chair, her
face wearing a simper that Adair thought was probably supposed to look sexy. тАЬWe were no more than
children the last time we talked, but youтАЩre certainly not a child any longer! IтАЩve been waiting and waiting
to tell you - тАЬ
тАЬExcuse me, Lady Aleena,тАЭ Nallis broke into the flowing stream of words, freezing the simper on
AleenaтАЩs face. тАЬIтАЩll be more than happy to speak to you in a few minutes, but thereтАЩs something I need to
do first. Adair, how could you speak to my father like that? If you were a man youтАЩd probably be in
chains by now.тАЭ
Adair looked to her left to find two faces staring at her, NallisтАЩs green eyes showing just a hint of
amusement, AleenaтАЩs dull eyes showing strong resentment.
тАЬShe spoke to the king like that because sheтАЩs an idiot,тАЭ Aleena stated.
тАЭAn idiot who doesnтАЩt even know enough to dress in the latest style.тАЭ
тАЬIf I were a man, Nallis, I wouldnтАЩt have had to speak to your father like that,тАЭ Adair pointed out,
completely ignoring Aleena. тАЬBesides, if someone tells you the truth and you donтАЩt like what you hear,
youтАЩre supposed to make a change for the better. Or does that go only for decent human beings rather
than kings and princes?тАЭ
тАЬJust because youтАЩre unhappy doesnтАЩt mean that everyone else is the same,тАЭ Nallis countered, joining
Adair in ignoring AleenaтАЩs gasp of outrage. тАЬIf the arrangement we have now was so bad it would have
been changed a long time ago, but it wasnтАЩt changed. That has to mean things arenтАЩt nearly as bad as
youтАЩre trying to paint them.тАЭ
тАЬOr it can mean, as it does, that men are too happy having women as their possessions to want to change
things,тАЭ Adair countered easily. тАЬSince women are raised not to speak their minds no matter whatтАЩs done
to them, you men can pretend that everything is just lovely. Well, guess what, Nallis? With me around,
pretense time is over.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩll change your mind once youтАЩre married,тАЭ Nallis said with utter conviction, his gaze warming as it
moved over her. тАЬYouтАЩre a beautiful woman, Adair, and if I end up being the lucky man to marry you IтАЩll
devote my life to making you happy. YouтАЩll enjoy that, believe me, you will.тАЭ
тАЬIf you were the poor unfortunate who had to marry me, youтАЩd find that the only thing able to make me
happy would be making you miserable,тАЭ Adair told him with a wide smile. тАЬArenтАЩt you glad now that I
wonтАЩt be getting married?тАЭ
тАЬOf course you wonтАЩt be getting married,тАЭ Aleena put in at once with a smirk while Nallis lost his
amusement and simply blinked at Adair. тАЬNo man would be dense enough to want you. I, on the other
hand, am a very desirable woman, so IтАЩd love to hear what you would do to make me happy, Prince
Nallis.тАЭ
AleenaтАЩs hand turned NallisтАЩs face back in her direction, and her smirk widened when Nallis made no
effort to turn to Adair again. By then the food was being served, so that was just as well. AdairтАЩs appetite
had definitely improved, which let her give all her attention to eating.
The meal was a long, drawn-out affair, almost a banquet, and there was even soft music to help the
dinersтАЩ digestion. When the king finally rose to signal an end to the meal and everyone else also stood up,
Adair took her time getting to her feet. Then she turned and headed for her apartment, filled with good
food and the satisfaction of a job well begunтАж
***
Mayne had indigestion even before the food was brought out. His first reaction to the seating