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

around him were exactly the same, only their faces making it possible to tell them apart.
But to go so far as to run awayтАж Mayne felt the urge to shake his head at such foolishness, that and put
the girl over his knee to teach her better.
Riding off all alone could have gotten her captured or killed, and just the fact that the gods kept a special
eye on fools had most likely been the only thing that saved herтАж
A polite knock came at his sitting room door, and when Mayne called out permission to enter it was
Duke Elden himself who walked in.
тАЬHow is she?тАЭ Mayne asked as the duke bowed to him. тАЬWas she hurt in any way?тАЭ тАЬApparently the
gods protected her,тАЭ Duke Elden answered sourly as he walked to the sideboard to pour himself a cup
of tea. тАЬOther than the fact that sheтАЩs in need of a bath, sheтАЩs completely unchanged. Unfortunately. But
sheтАЩs agreed to go to the palace in the morning.тАЭ
тАЬHow did you manage that?тАЭ Mayne asked, feeling how high his brows had risen. тАЬIf youтАЩre actually a
mage, my father will be doubly delighted.тАЭ
тАЬUsing magic is unnecessary when you know how to use words,тАЭ Duke Elden answered, his tone still
sour as he turned with his cup of tea and carried it to a chair near MayneтАЩs. тАЬShe knows nothing of the
additional arrangements His Majesty has made, so she believes she has no chance at all of being chosen
as a bride. I used that belief to tell her that if she cooperated and went to the palace, when she was
rejected and sent back to me IтАЩd finance her тАж trip away from home.тАЭ
тАЬAnd youтАЩre unhappy about having lied to her,тАЭ Mayne observed, having no trouble at all in seeing the
truth. тАЬBut youтАЩre acting for her own good, after all, and that has to count for something.тАЭ
тАЬI have no idea if anything I do counts in any way at all,тАЭ Duke Elden said with a sigh after sipping at his
tea. тАЬMaybe if her mother had lived things would have gone better with Adair. IтАЩve never had any idea
what to
say to her or do with her, so most of the time I just pretended she was like every other girl child and
ignored what didnтАЩt fit into that matrix. I was a coward, I admit it, but that wonтАЩt be true this time.тАЭ
тАЬYou seem to have made some sort of decision,тАЭ Mayne commented, trying his best not to intrude too
badly. тАЬMy first urge is to mind my own business, but since Adair will be the wife of either me or one of
my brothers as soon as we sign the contracts IтАЩm afraid that anything having to do with her is my
business. Can you tell me what your decision involves while ignoring my nosiness?тАЭ
тАЬAs you pointed out, Your Highness, youтАЩre not just being nosy,тАЭ Duke Elden replied with a very faint
smile. тАЬAnd it might even be best if my daughter becomes your wife before she leaves here, since it
makes no sense to hold off with signing the contracts. The marriage ceremony itself is a mere formality
and a custom that doesnтАЩt even have to be observed, so my daughter wonтАЩt ever be coming back to this
houseтАж Damn, I think IтАЩve made a liar of myself.тАЭ
The duke had put his cup aside to rub his eyes with both hands, a sign of distress Mayne had never seen
the man display before. The display kept Mayne from commenting about the dukeтАЩs suggestion,
something heтАЩd been about to do.
тАЬItтАЩs just come to me that I never really knew my daughter and now I never will,тАЭ Duke Elden said, the
words almost muffled as he continued to cover his eyes. тАЬI know that what IтАЩm doing is the best thing for
her, but I also know that she wonтАЩt agree. I aged years until I got word that my men had found her
unharmed and were bringing her back, and when I spoke to her a short while ago I told her sheтАЩd be
punished for the worry she caused. But how can I even try to think of a fitting punishment when thatтАЩs the
last IтАЩll ever have to do with her?тАЭ
тАЬYou arenтАЩt sending her off to be killed, man, just married,тАЭ Mayne pointed out, trying to lighten the older
manтАЩs mood. тАЬShe may yell and scream and stamp her feet, but she will survive becoming a wife a lot
more easily than running off on her own.тАЭ
тАЬYes, I know, but IтАЩd always expected to send her away already married,тАЭ Duke Elden returned with a
sigh. тАЬThis way it feels as if sheтАЩs just running off again, and I hate the way that makes me feel. If youтАЩre
all that set against marrying Adair I can understand your hesitation, but if youтАЩre notтАжтАЭ
тАЬYou know, youтАЩre making a very good point,тАЭ Mayne said slowly, examining his own feelings as well as