"Katherine Kurtz - Adept 01 - The Adept" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

The graceful figure presiding in the background was that of Lady Laura. The likeness was faultless, but where
the children's forms were bright and solid, Lady Laura's was pale and insubstantial, like an image printed on
water. The expression in the eyes was sweet and sad, the mouth wistful as a word of farewell. The scene
glimpsed through the window behind her was of a white winter garden sleeping under a blanket of fallen snow.
Adam stared at the painting for a long moment in unbroken silence. Then he released the curtain so that it
settled gently back over the canvas.
"Now I understand," he said softly, still facing the painting. "You see it. Don't you?"
Behind him, Peregrine gave a small strangled gasp.
Surprised, Adam turned to look him squarely in the face.
Behind the wired lenses, the younger man's eyes were full of pain and bewilderment. Quite clearly, Peregrine
Lovat had no idea what had prompted him to paint what he had painted.
"I am sorry," Adam said softly, his own dark eyes softening with compassion. "I see now that you didn't
actually know. But yes, she is dying, Mr. Lovat. I doubt if half a dozen people in this world know - and she
doesn't want them to - but you can see it. Or rather," he finished quietly, "you can't help but see it."
Peregrine's gaze widened. He took two steps backward, then halted, visibly shivering. His mouth worked, but
no sound came out.
"My dear boy, it's all right," Adam murmured. "There are many ways of seeing; some of them are tantamount
to knowing. This faculty of yours is a gift, not a curse, You can learn to use it, rather than letting it use you."
Peregrine made a small, defensive gesture with trembling hands and swallowed hard. "I don't know what
you're talking about," he said hoarsely.
"No, it's clear that you don't - at least not now," Adam agreed. "But for your own sake, I hope you'll at least
consider what I've just said."
A small stir at the eastern end of the gallery prevented either of them from saying more. Lady Laura's maid
soon joined them to announce that coffee was now ready, up in the morning room, where the countess was
waiting to receive them. Peregrine excused himself from accompanying Adam, claiming that he would follow
as soon as he had a chance to wash his hands. Adam made no demur, but went on to the morning room
alone, leaving the younger man to regain at least some semblance of composure.
The morning room, in contrast with the more formal gallery, was cheerfully done up in sunny shades of gold
and leafy green. Adam arrived to find Lady Laura comfortably ensconced on a chintz-covered sofa before the
fireplace, where a log fire crackled cheerily. A matching chair faced the sofa across a small table holding the
coffee service.
"A most interesting young man," he said in response to her inquiring look, as he sat down beside her. "You
were right to bring him to my attention."
"Will he be all right?" she asked, clearly still worried. "Adam, what's wrong with him? Do you know?"
Adam patted her hand and smiled reassuringly. "On such a short contact, I can only make an educated
guess, but I believe I've given him something to think about. Let's just wait and see, shall we?"
Peregrine seemed uneasy and rigidly self-contained when he joined them a few minutes later, though the
monochromatic grey now was broken by a smart navy blazer with shiny gold buttons. He accepted a cup of
coffee from Lady Laura and sat down across from her, but he declined anything to eat. Reassured by a look
from Adam, Lady Laura smoothly took command of further conversation, embarking on a series of comic
anecdotes revolving around some of the more eccentric characters represented in the family portrait gallery.
Presently Adam set aside his cup and saucer and consulted a handsome silver pocket watch.
"Ah, do forgive me, Laura, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to run," he said, slipping the watch back into a vest
pocket. "I'm expected on rounds in half an hour, and goodness knows what new flights of speculation will lure
our fine student-doctors off in all directions, if I'm not there to supervise. Sometimes I wish that psychiatry
was a more exact science."
"You're forgiven, my dear," Laura said, smiling. "Far be it from me to monopolize your time at the expense of
your duty."
Adam stood up smoothly. "The temptation to linger," he said with a laugh, "is by no means inconsiderable.
Thank you very much for the coffee. If I may, I'll try to call round again on Wednesday."