"Katherine Kurtz - Kelson 4 - King Kelson's Bride" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)


2
quickly from the backlash of shocked grief and outrageтАФ
though without a shred of evidenceтАФbut it could not be
denied that two of those present had greatly benefited by the
boy's death, simply resuming their regency of the previous
four years. That one of those regents was the boy's mother
had not stopped speculation in some quarters.
The Princess Morag ignored the comment, tossing her
head with a musical chiming of tiny golden bells at ears and
throat, and retrieved the wine she had abandoned earlier. The
stemmed goblet was of delicate green Vezairi glass, almost
invisible against the rich moss-green of the brocade table
covering. The wine was the color of blood.
тАЬTeymuraz, you spoke of the Haldane's intention to wed,тАЭ
she said, holding the glass to the light after she had sipped
from it. тАЬHave you heard aught regarding whom he might
choose?тАЭ
Inclining his head, Teymuraz said, тАЬI have cause to
wonder whether he might yet persuade the Nabila Rothana to
marry him. She and her young son are reported to be visiting
Rhemuth; no one knows why.тАЭ
Mahael flicked his long braid back over his shoulder with
a dismissive gesture and leaned forward to pour himself
another glass of wine.


3
aren't they? And Haldanes, too.тАЭ
тАЬSurely not of a sort we need worry about overmuch,тАЭ
Teymuraz said, with a disparaging wave of his hand.
тАЬAnd why not?тАЭ Morag asked.
Teymuraz shrugged. тАЬTheir father was Duke Richard
Haldane, uncle to Queen Jehana's late husbandтАФhardly a
contender so far as Haldane powers are concerned. Besides,
the elder girl is soon to make a Mearan match, arranged by
Kelson himselfтАФand 'tis said that the younger is all but
betrothed to Prince Cuan of Howicce.тАЭ
тАЬThen, it seems the Haldane demoiselles are safely out of
the equation,тАЭ Morag said. тАЬThat takes us back to the Orsal's
daughtersтАФbut surely they're too young.тАЭ
тАЬThe eldest isn't,тАЭ Mahael remarked. тАЬShe's called Rezza
Elisabet.тАЭ On his lips, the name carried a sibilant frisson that
caused both his companions to glance at him sharply, though
for different reasons. Teymuraz quickly schooled himself to
a more neutral deference before his elder brother.
тАЬI thought,тАЭ said Morag, тАЬthat we were talking about a
bride for Kelson.тАЭ
тАЬOh, we are,тАЭ Mahael agreed. тАЬBut the King of Gwynedd
is not alone in his quest for a rich and nubile bride.тАЭ He