"Laurell K. Hamilton - Ravenloft - Death of a Darklord" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

Elaine swallowed the smile, but couldnтАЩt quite chase away the warmth that had accompanied it.

Mala refilled ElaineтАЩs mug without asking. She motioned to the mage. тАЭWould you like some more, sir?тАЭ

тАЭYes, please.тАЭ He held out his mug. He offered her the empty cookie plate, as well.

тАЭWould you like some more sweets?тАЭ

тАЭSome more of those excellent cookies would be quite nice.тАЭ Mala blushed and dropped a rough
curtsey. It wasnтАЩt as though Mala werenтАЩt complimented on her cooking often by the entire household.
Elaine watched the plump cook hurry away. Did Harry the stableman have a rival? No, that was silly.
Mala would know that Jonathan would never let a wizard court her.

ElaineтАЩs stomach clenched in a cold, icy knot. Would Jonathan be able to abide a wizard under his own
roof? Even if it were her? Mala returned with a plate of cookies for both of them. She set it on a little
stool before the fire.

тАЭThank you, Mala,тАЭ Gersalius said.

Mala giggled.

A mere thank you, and she giggled. Elaine had never seen the cook like this, not even around Harry.

Mala left to stir something at the stove. The back of her neck was red with a blush of pleasure.

Was the mage that charming, or was it a spell? Elaine wanted to ask but didnтАЩt want to embarrass Mala.

Gersalius sipped his tea and looked at Elaine. There was a twinkle in his eye that seemed to say he knew
what she was thinking. тАЭDo you know what IтАЩm thinking right now?тАЭ

тАЭYes, but it is not magic.тАЭ

тАЭHow, then?тАЭ

He leaned forward, lowering his voice. тАЭYour body posture was very disapproving when your cook
catered to me just now. Your face is like a mirror, child. Every thought chases across it.тАЭ

She frowned at him. тАЭI donтАЩt believe that.тАЭ

тАЭYou donтАЩt want to believe it,тАЭ he said. тАЭThe thought that your thoughts, your feelings, are so easily read
by a stranger frightens you.тАЭ She opened her mouth to deny it, but didnтАЩt. It wasnтАЩt so much the
mind-reading mage that bothered Elaine, but the others. Did Konrad know how she felt? Did everyone?
Was she that transparent?

тАЭI am a very noticing kind of person, Elaine. Most people arenтАЩt, even people that see you everyday. In
fact, I have found, people that have watched you grow up are often oblivious to you. You know what
they say, тАЩfamiliarity breeds invisibility.тАЩ тАЭ тАЭI thought it was, тАЩfamiliarity breeds contempt.тАЩ тАЭ тАЭWell, yes,
maybe it was, but I donтАЩt think he has contempt for you, do you?тАЭ тАЭYou are reading my mind,тАЭ she said.
She sat very straight, hands gripping her mug tight.