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

really is the time, I ought to retrieve my own clothes and go home while there's still time for you to get a few
hours' sleep."
"Sleep is a luxury I can do well enough without, now and then," Adam said. "Besides, you're not really in any
fit state to drive. The room where you changed can be yours. I expect Humphrey can supply anything you
need." "Well, I don't want to impose," Peregrine began. "It's no imposition - simply common sense. As a
matter of fact," he continued casually, at the artist's look of continued uncertainty, "it would probably be no
bad thing if you were to move in here at Strathmourne for a few days. It's clear from what you've told me
tonight that you have a lot of soul-searching to do. And in my experience, it's generally a good idea not to
embark on that kind of inner journey without the benefit of someone standing by, ready to step in, if you feel
the need of a mediator."
Peregrine flushed slightly. "That's uncommonly generous of you, Sir Adam, and I'm very grateful - but as you
know, I didn't exactly come prepared for an extended visit." "That needn't worry you in the least," said Adam
with a deep chuckle. "It's one of the many good reasons for having a faithful manservant. I'll give your keys to
Humphrey, and he can drive down to Edinburgh first thing in the morning and collect whatever you need from
your flat."
A relieved smile eased the younger man's weariness. "You think of everything, don't you? In that case, I'll
take you up on your invitation - at least for a few days. I can't seem to summon up the energy to argue with
you."
"You'll find it rarely does any good, when I set my mind on something," Adam said lightly, getting to his feet.
"And we'll discuss the length of your stay when you're more rested. In the meantime, I highly recommend a
late-night snack before we turn in. I heard Humphrey come in a little while ago. He makes exceptionally good
hot ham sandwiches, and his recipe for cocoa, I'm convinced, has more than a touch of brandy in it."

chapter five

HALF an hour later, feeling relaxed and comfortably full-fed for what seemed like the first time in days,
Peregrine bade his host a drowsy good-night and made his way upstairs to the room he had used earlier.
Though he had been in no condition to appreciate it before, the room was spacious and elegant, like most of
what he had seen, thus far, at Strathmourne. The walls were a cool shade of Wedgewood blue, with the
woodwork and cornices picked out in white. The center section of the coffered ceiling had been painted to
resemble the sky by night. When he had shed his slippers and robe and climbed wearily under the
chintz-covered comforter, he lay back on the feather pillows and gazed up dreamily at the tempera fresco of
clouds and constellations for several minutes before switching off the bedside lamp. It was the serene image
of a starry firmament that he carried with him as he settled unresisting into deep, untroubled sleep.
Overwhelmed by sheer fatigue, he had no dreams that he could clearly remember. When at long last he
roused again to full awareness, the room was suffused with a subdued submarine glow, and from far, far
away, he could hear the sound of church bells. Shrugging himself out from under the bedclothes, he padded
barefoot over to the curtained window-bay and parted the blue damask drapes. Sunlight poured into the room,
and outside, the sky was clear and bright.
But the continued ringing of the church bells told him that it must be far later than he first had thought.
Blinking, he retired to the bedside table and snatched up his wrist watch. To his amazement, it was nearly
half past eleven. Could he really have slept so late?
He found his clothes of the night before, clean and neatly pressed, laid out over the back of a chair to the
right of the bathroom door-^Humphrey's work, no doubt. On the counter beside the bathroom sink were his
shaving kit and other small, assorted personal effects, obviously retrieved, according to plan, from his flat in
Edinburgh. A quick foray back into the bedroom to inspect chests of drawers and wardrobes revealed that a
thorough selection of the rest of his clothing had been brought as well. Marveling at the efficiency of Adam
Sinclair's soft-spoken manservant, Peregrine made shrift to bathe and dress as quickly as possible,
wondering what he had gotten himself into.
There was no sign of Humphrey, when Peregrine made his way downstairs. Nor, at first, could he find