"Katherine Kurtz - Adept 02 - The Lodge of the Lynx" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

chapter three

THE rectory for St. Paul's Scottish Episcopal Church, Kinross, was a rambling Victorian cottage adjacent to
the church, set well back from the street amid an exuberant riot of rose bushes. As Adam eased the blue
Range Rover into the gravelled driveway in front of the house, avoiding a miniature pink bicycle with training
wheels, Peregrine glanced ruefully at the sky, which had clouded considerably since their pleasant ride of
earlier in the morning.
"I don't think there's anything quite so fickle as Scottish weather," he said. "It's a good thing we started when
we did. We'll be lucky if it doesn't bucket before lunch time."
As Adam cut the engine, an active, upright figure in a clergyman's collar and trenchcoat emerged from behind
a yellow-painted door, a small briefcase clutched in one hand. He gave them a jaunty wave and bounded
down off the trellised porch to meet them as they got out of the car.
"Good morning again, Adam! So glad you could make it. Is this Mr. Lovat, then?"
"The same," Adam said. "Peregrine, allow me to introduce you formally to Father Christopher Houston, a
friend of long standing."
Peregrine studied his new acquaintance over a firm handshake. Seen at close range, Christopher Houston
was lean and loose-jointed, with a wide, good-natured mouth and a flyaway shock of fine brown hair that
made him look artlessly dishevelled, like a schoolboy newly come from the playing fields. He wore his black
clerical suit with casual ease, but the brown eyes above the long, straight nose were disconcertingly shrewd.
Peregrine summoned what he hoped was an appropriate air of respect and said sincerely, "I'm very pleased
to make your acquaintance, sir."
"No, Adam's the 'sir.' I'm just Christopher," the priest said amiably.
"What my husband means is that there's no need to be so formal," said an amused female voice from behind
Christopher's shoulder. "The fact that he wears a collar is absolutely no reason to stand on ceremony -
particularly since you've come to us in Adam's company."
Taken slightly aback, Peregrine shifted his gaze and found himself looking into a fine pair of blue-grey eyes.
The face that went with the eyes was attractive rather than pretty, with a smooth, wide brow and an agreeably
determined chin. She had two little girls with her, the elder about five years old, and the other a toddler of two
or so. All three were dressed to go out, in coats and hats.
"My wife, Victoria, and my daughters, Ashley and Alexandra," Christopher explained fondly. "Vicky, did you
happen to catch the introductions just now?"
"I did," she said. Her smile afforded him a glimpse of lurking dimples. "Welcome to Rosemount, Peregrine.
I've been an admirer of your work for quite some time - though I had no idea you were so young. You should
be at least twenty years older, to paint the way you do!"
Adam chuckled and set his hand under the elbow of a blushing Peregrine, edging him back toward the car
and casting a summoning glance in Christopher's direction.
"He's an old soul, Victoria," he said casually, "but you're going to have to wait until we get back to discuss
that further. Besides that, you and the girls look like you're on your way out as well."
Victoria cast an indulgent glance in her daughters' direction. The girls were gazing up at Peregrine in
wide-eyed curiosity. The friendly innocence of their regard dispelled his own initial stiffness. Feeling all at
once at home, he smiled down at them, and had the satisfaction of seeing them smile shyly back.
"We're only going as far as my mother's," Victoria said, "if, that is, the girls will stop flirting with Peregrine.
But the three of you are going to be coming back here for lunch, aren't you?" Christopher nodded yes. "Oh,
good. We'll see you later, then. Come on, girls. Grandma was expecting us for ten, and we're already late."
"We'll be late too, if we don't get going," Christopher said.
"We're only waiting for you," Adam replied with a laugh. "Come on, man, get into the car."
Peregrine repaired to the back seat, deciding that he liked the Houstons. Christopher handed back his
briefcase, and Peregrine stashed it on the floor beside his sketchbox while Adam started the car. But as
everyone buckled up and Adam and Christopher briefly discussed the best route to take, Peregrine found
himself momentarily far more curious about the Houstons than whatever might lie in store for them in