"Mercedes Lackey - EM 5 - The Wizard of London" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

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The Wizard of London by
Mercedes Lackey
1

ISABELLE Hellen Harton waited on the dock beside the gangplank for
the last of the steamer passengers from Egypt and Africa to disembark.
She was not the only person waiting there; there were a number of friends
and relations, eager to greet returning soldiers posted to distant climes,
tourists, hunters, adventurers, businessmen, and assorted missionaries.
But she was one of a small handful of quiet, soberly-dressed folk who were
waiting for some very special passengers indeed.

The vast majority of the passengers had come from Egypt; it was a
popular destination for those English who could afford it, especially in the
winter. There were not many soldiers; they generally returned on
troopships. Those who disembarked from this passenger liner were pale,
thin, sometimes missing a limb or an eye; invalided out and sent home by
the transport that they could get on firstтАФor best afford.

For those who were returning under happier circumstances, there were
the usual gay greetings, crowds swirled, made noise, and left. And at last,
the final passengers made their solemn way down the gangplank.

A little gaggle of children, none older than ten, all very quiet and
subdued, were accompanied by their guardians; three young English
nannies, none pretty, all as subdued as their charges.

Isabelle fingered the letter in her pocket; she didn't have to read it
again to know what it said. And what it did not say in words written on
the page, but in those hopes and fears scribed between the lines, in
thought and emotion.

Dear Mrs. Harton: As terrible as it is for us, we must send our
daughter Sarah out of the dangers of Africa and back to the more
healthful climate and safety of England. As we have no relatives with
which to entrust our child, we cast about for a school, and yours has
come highly recommended by those we trust. She is our only child, and
very dear to us. We have been told that you are kind and caring, which
speaks more to us than that you have French tutors and dancing
masters.

Not mentioned, of course, was that the Harton School was not